Kentucky Derby 2018 Scouting Report: Central Division II

By Christine Oser 

With the year’s first Kentucky Derby 2018 preps out of the way and several horses back on the work tab, the Central division is beginning to see more action. It was the invading West Coast horses who really got the ball rolling. Instilled Regard took the Lecomte Stakes (G3) by 3 ¾ lengths over a promising Steve Asmussen-trained trio and Mourinho wired the Smarty Jones Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths, also beating out two Asmussen horses.  

• RELATED: Check out our East Coast  and West Coast reports!

(Sire – Trainer – Owner – Kentucky Derby points)

The Leader

Instilled Regard (Arch – Jerry Hollendorfer – OXO Equine LLC – 14): While based in California, the Lecomte winner might be coming back to Louisiana for the Risen Star Stakes (G2). Escaping the West’s competition of McKinzie and Solomini certainly served him well at Fair Grounds.

First Tier

Copper Bullet (More Than Ready – Steve Asmussen – Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton Racing LLC – 0): The Saratoga Special (G2) winner looked good over summer, pulling away from Hollywood Star by four lengths at the Spa. He returned to the work tab for the first time this month, putting in two easy four-furlong works at Fair Grounds.

Enticed (Medaglia d’Oro – Kiaran McLaughlin – Godolphin Racing LLC – 12): Although switching back to the East Coast’s Holy Bull Stakes (G2) Feb. 3, Enticed pulled out a gutsy win last out in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) to beat Tiz Mischief by a head. He finished third in the Champagne Stakes (G1) before that behind Firenze Fire and eventual Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Good Magic.

Free Drop Billy (Union Rags – Dale Romans – Albaugh Family Stables LLC – 10): After being the runner-up to both Firenze Fire and Sporting Chance at Saratoga, Free Drop Filly broke through in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) by four lengths. His one bad race was the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, where he finished ninth. His first two works back were this month at Gulfstream Park.

Mourinho (Super Saver – Bob Baffert – Phoenix Thoroughbred III – 10): Scratching from the Sham Stakes (G3) proved to be a good move. While his stablemate and top West Coast contender McKinzie won, Mourinho was the star attraction in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn. He could also return for the Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 19. 

Sporting Chance (Tiznow – D. Wayne Lukas – Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack – 0): Sporting Chance has turned in two works at Oaklawn Park recently, the first drills back since his Hopeful Stakes (G1) win. Jan. 15 he had the bullet for 107 four-furlong works, going in :47.60. Sporting Chance could return in either the Southwest or the Rebel Stakes (G2).

Tiz Mischief (Into Mischief – Dale Romans – Frank L. Jones Jr. – 4): The runner-up to Enticed I the Kentucky Jockey Club will likely get another shot at him. Tiz Mischief is also pointing to the Holy Bull Stakes.

Second Tier

Dak Attack (Ghostzapper – Dale Romans – Albaugh Family Stables and Brereton C. Jones – 0): After nearly a five-month layoff, the undefeated colt returned in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes to finish third. Romans did not seem concerned with the result due to it being his first start back, but he was beaten 9 ¼ lengths by Mask, who could make an appearance in the Risen Star. Dak Attack’s next start should give a better clue as to how he has come back as a 3 year old.

Hollywood Star (Malibu Moon – Dale Romans – Albaugh Family Stables LLC – 4): After running second to Copper Bullet, Hollywood Star finished second again in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) behind The Tabulator. He wrapped up 2017 with a sixth-place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Like Free Drop Billy, he has also posted his first two works back this month at Gulfstream Park.

Principe Guilherme (Tapit – Steve Asmussen – Three Chimneys Farm – 4): He was a very promising colt in his first two starts. Even as the runner-up in the Lecomte, he overcame a wide post position and faced stakes company for the first time. He’ll get another chance in the Risen Star.

Snapper Sinclair (City Zip – Steve Asmussen – Bloom Racing Stable LLC – 2): His only other dirt start resulted in a sixth-place debut, but he earned a respectable third in the Lecomte Stakes. It was a major improvement from 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). 

Ones to Watch

Asmussen has a handful of others to keep an eye on. New York Central, a 7 ¼-length maiden winner, was just caught by Higher Power, trained by Donnie Von Hemel, in an allowance race last Saturday at Oaklawn Park. Asmussen also has Retirement Fund, another 7 ¼-length maiden winner, entered in an allowance Jan. 20 at Fair Grounds, which will be his second start. Reride, sixth in the Kentucky Jockey Club after winning his first two races, gave Asmussen another win in last weekend’s Big Drama Stakes, while Combatant finished second behind Mourinho in the Smarty Jones. One race prior, Combatant was second to Greyvitos in the Remington Springboard Mile. Also in the Lecomte for Asmussen was Zing Zang, who captured fourth off a maiden win.

Aside from Sporting Chance, Lukas counts Bravazo as a potential Derby contender. His best stakes effort was a second to Free Drop Billy in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and he recently rallied to win an allowance at Oaklawn Park. Others from the Kentucky circuit include Street Sense Stakes winner Gotta Go, who is pointing to the Swale Stakes (G2) Feb. 3 for trainer Ian Wilkes, and High North, the Brad Cox trainee who overcame a troubled race to land fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club.

Curlin’s Honor is a high priced, debut winner from the Casse string and his lone race came during Keeneland’s October meet. He’s posted one work since at Casse Training Center, returning to drill three furlongs Dec. 28.

On the Shelf

Romans also has in his care Bryzzo, a maiden winner from Churchill Downs with no recent works posted. Iroquois winner The Tabulator, trained by Larry Rivelli with 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, has also been away.

Key dates

• Risen Star Stakes (G2), Fair Grounds – February 17

• Southwest Stakes (G3), Oaklawn Park – February 19

• Rebel Stakes (G2), Oaklawn Park – March 17

• Spiral Stakes (G3), Turfway Park – March 17

• Louisiana Derby (G2), Fairgrounds – March 24

• Blue Grass Stakes (G2), Keeneland – April 7

• Arkansas Derby (G1), Oaklawn Park – April 14

• Lexington Stakes (G3), Keeneland – April 14