Kentucky Derby 2020 update: Upcoming prep headliners
The 2020 Kentucky Derby trail resumes on New Year’s Day, and from then on weekends without a points-paying prep are rare through mid-April, when the prospective field will be set. While it’s a quiet time of the season for budding 2-year-old colts, many are said to be targeting specific races, with a rundown leading off this weekly Derby update.
Jan. 1 Jerome Stakes: Independence Hall
Off since an open-lengths victory in the Nov. 3 Nashua Stakes (G3), this son of Constitution will look to back up that performance as a heavy favorite here.
Jan. 4 Sham Stakes: Honor A. P.
Trainer John Shirreffs has played it slow with the Oct. 13 maiden breaker, who excelled once stretched out. Honor A. P. finally gets his stakes debut at Santa Anita Park.
Jan. 18 Lecomte Stakes (G3): Shotski
The longshot Remsen Stakes (G2) winner could show up here for trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer or go the same course/distance as his last victory in the Feb. 1 Withers (G3) at Aqueduct.
Jan. 24 Smarty Jones Stakes: Three Technique
A New York maiden and allowance winner, he’s relocated to Arkansas for the winter and could go favored on opening day at Oaklawn Park. NFL Hall of Famer Bill Parcells campaigns him.
Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis Stakes: Storm the Court
Trainer Peter Eurton is working around some wet weather in southern California but says he’d like to see the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner back in this spot. Leaving town remains an option, too.
Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes (G3): Tiz the Law
Defeated in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), this Grade 1-winning New York-bred will get back going at Gulfstream Park. He has continued conditioning at south Florida's Palm Meadows training center.
Feb. 15 El Camino Real Derby: Anneau d’Or
Connections will have to decide on running him at home on Golden Gate Fields’ synthetic or over the dirt at Santa Anita. They won this event last year with Anothertwistafate.
Feb. 29 Fountain of Youth (G2): Dennis’ Moment
There’s plenty of time for the hype to rebuild after a stumble cost him in the Breeders’ Cup. A win here, and it’s on to potential Derby favoritism.
March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2): Thousand Words
The Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) hero has the Bob Lewis as an option, too, but this figures to be the race where he’s in to win. Bob Baffert's six San Felipe victories lead all trainers.
March 14 Rebel Stakes (G2): Basin
The Grade 1 winner of Saratoga’s Hopeful (G1) missed the rest of his 2-year-old season with a minor injury. If he indeed comes back here, it would mark a two-turn debut.
Top Kentucky Derby headlines
• Independence Hall leads compact Jerome field
• Shin issues slowed Derby hopeful American Theorem
• Storm the Court works with Derby prep options
• Lukas at Oaklawn with 'grandiose' prep plans
• Scabbard has the Lecomte as an option
Three for the Derby Radar
Todd Pletcher-trained Carpe Omnious, wearing the WinStar Farm silks, emerged from a strong-looking Gulfstream Park maiden special weight flight on Saturday with a determined run up the rail. On debut, he was off a step slow and boxed in early, yet fought on under jockey Javier Castellano.
Later Saturday at Fair Grounds, Mark Casse-trained Lynn’s Map won a key allowance race that figures to produce multiple Lecomte starters. Mr. Monomoy faces distance questions but deserves a shot at the preps after a narrow defeat.
Soros, winner of Gulfstream’s Smooth Air Stakes, will run in some new colors next time after Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners purchased the colt following his Nov. 30 victory. Assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. says starting in a 1 1/8-mile prep is preferred.
A look at Kentucky Derby odds
Via VSiN’s Ron Flatter, based in Las Vegas, the full list of Vegas and offshore offerings for the Derby…
Current Kentucky Derby leaderboard