Kentucky Derby 2023 trail: Odds, PPs, more for 3 major preps

The Kentucky Derby 2023 field should be largely determined by Saturday night.

Three major Derby preps will take place Saturday: the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Wood Memorial (G1). All three races offer Kentucky Derby points to the top five finishers at a 100-40-30-20-10 scale.

These are the last three of a series of eight races that offer 100 qualifying points to the winner. The only points-paying prep left on the schedule after this weekend is the Lexington Stakes (G3) next Saturday at Keeneland, which awards just 20 points to the victor.

Here is a look at all three of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby preps. Visit Horse Racing Nation’s free past performances page for more information on the Wood Memorial and the Blue Grass.

5:15 p.m. – $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1), 1 1/8 miles, Keeneland, NBC and FanDuel TV

Tapit Trice (5-2) has won three of his four lifetime starts, including in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 11. He drew the rail in his final tune-up for the Kentucky Derby.

Todd Pletcher trains the Tapit colt for owners Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable. Jockey Luis Saez will be up on Tapit Trice, who enters on a three-race winning streak.

Verifying (3-1) returns to a course where he was sixth three starts back last November in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The Brad Cox trainee settled for fourth as the favorite Feb. 25 in Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes (G2).

Ben Colebrook trains Raise Cain (9-2), who put himself in strong position to make the Kentucky Derby on March 4 by winning Aqueduct’s Gotham Stakes (G3). He runs at two turns in the Blue Grass after going a one-turn mile in the Gotham.

Chad Brown won the 2022 Blue Grass with Zandon and returns Saturday with Blazing Sevens (6-1). Last October’s Champagne Stakes (G1) hero was eighth March 4 at Gulfstream Park in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and adds blinkers for this start.

The Blue Grass Stakes has produced 23 Kentucky Derby victors but no horse has swept both events since Strike the Gold in 1991. Street Sense, runner-up in the 2007 Blue Grass, is the most recent runner from this prep to score in the Derby.

Zandon won the 2022 Blue Grass and was the morning-line favorite one month later for the Kentucky Derby, finishing third. Runner-up Smile Happy was eighth in the Derby.

Here is a look at the field for the 2023 Blue Grass Stakes (trainer and jockeys in parentheses) with morning-line odds:

1. Tapit Trice (Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez), 5-2

2. Clear the Air (William Walden, Ricardo Santana Jr.), 30-1

3. Verifying (Brad Cox, Tyler Gaffalione), 3-1

4. Classic Car Wash (Mark Casse, Javier Castellano), 12-1

5. Hayes Strike (Kenny McPeek, James Graham), 15-1

6. Scoobie Quando (Ben Colebrook, Luan Machado), 15-1

7. Sun Thunder (Kenny McPeek, Florent Geroux), 10-1

8. Blazing Sevens (Chad Brown, Irad Ortiz Jr.), 6-1

9. Major Blue (D. Wayne Lukas, David Cabrera), 30-1

10. Raise Cain (Ben Colebrook, Joel Rosario), 9-2

11. Mendelssohns March (Kenny McPeek, Brian Hernandez Jr.), 20-1

TimeformUS pace projections show long shot Major Blue showing the way early under jockey David Cabrera. Favorite Tapit Trice is projected to settle in last and try to benefit from a fast pace.

5:43 p.m. – $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1), 1 1/8 miles, Santa Anita, NBC and FanDuel TV

Practical Move (8-5) has won back-to-back graded stakes for trainer Tim Yakteen, including the local San Felipe Stakes (G2) on March 4. The Practical Joke colt hit the wire that day 2 1/2 lengths clear of runner-up Geaux Rocket Ride.

Owners Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. and Roger Beasley campaign Practical Move, who will have jockey Ramon Vazquez up.

Geaux Rocket Ride (3-1) takes another crack at Practical Move after his second-place finish in the San Felipe. Trained by Richard Mandella, he makes only the third start of his career here.

Yakteen’s second entry in the Santa Anita Derby is National Treasure (3-1), third-place finisher Jan. 8 locally in the Sham Stakes (G3). He moved to Yakteen from trainer Bob Baffert’s barn to Churchill Downs’s suspension of the Hall of Fame trainer.

Skinner (4-1) was third in the San Felipe for trainer John Shirreffs. He has not finished better than third in three graded-stakes starts.

The Santa Anita Derby has been a productive Kentucky Derby prep, graduating 13 Derby victors over the last 50 years. Notable runners to sweep both events include Sunday Silence (1989), California Chrome (2014) and Triple Crown heroes Affirmed (1978) and Justify (2018).

2022 Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba was one of three runners from that event to make the Kentucky Derby, in which none finished higher than 12th.

Here is a look at the field for the 2023 Santa Anita Derby (trainers and jockeys in parentheses) with morning-line odds:

1. I Don’t Get It (Doug O’Neill, Mario Gutierrez), 20-1

2. Dazzlemesilver (Keith Desormeaux, Kent Desormeaux), 50-1

3. Geaux Ricket Ride (Richard Mandella, Flavien Prat), 3-1

4. One in Vermillion (Eric Kruljac, Hector Berrios), 50-1

5. Practical Move (Tim Yakteen, Ramon Vazquez), 8-5

6. National Treasure (Tim Yakteen, John Velazquez), 3-1

7. Skinner (John Shirreffs, Victor Espinoza), 4-1

8. Mandarin Hero (Terunobu Fujita, Kazushi Kimura), 8-1

9. Low Expectations (Antonio Garcia, Umberto Rispoli), 30-1

TimeformUS pace projections show Geaux Rocket Ride taking the early lead under jockey Flavien Prat. Practical Move is projected to run mid-pack through the opening stages.

6:16 p.m. – $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2), 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct, FOX

Hit Show (5-2) already owns a Kentucky Derby trail win over this track and distance, having taken the Withers Stakes (G3) on Feb. 11. He skipped the one-mile Gotham Stakes (G3) to await the Wood.

Cox trains the Candy Ride colt, a homebred for owners Gary and Mary West. Jockey Manny Franco will be tasked with giving Hit Show a good trip from the No. 13 post.

Dreamlike (7-2) will try to make the first win of his career come in a major Kentucky Derby prep. He was second in his first two starts, both maiden races at Gulfstream, for Pletcher.

Cox’s second Wood Memorial entry is Slip Mahoney (6-1), who has made all four of his career starts at Aqueduct. He was runner-up March 4 in the Gotham.

Arctic Arrogance (6-1) is a familiar name along Aqueduct’s series of Kentucky Derby preps. He was second in the Remsen Stakes (G2), Jerome Stakes and Withers.

Funny Cide (2003) is the most recent of 20 Wood Memorial runners to win the Kentucky Derby. The last 3-year-old to sweep both events was Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000.

2022 Wood Memorial winner Mo Donegal was fifth on the first Saturday in May but earned a Belmont Stakes victory five weeks later for Pletcher.

Here is a look at the field for the 2023 Wood Memorial (trainers and jockeys in parentheses) with morning-line odds:

1. Dreamlike (Todd Pletcher, Jose Ortiz), 7-2

2. Shadow Dragon (Bill Mott, Eric Cancel), 12-1

3. Knox (Saffie Joseph Jr., Jose Antonio Gomez), 50-1

4. General Banker (James Ferraro, Frankie Pennington), 20-1

5. Slip Mahoney (Brad Cox, Dylan Davis), 6-1

6. Clear the Air (William Walden, Heman Harkie), 15-1

7. Arctic Arrogance (Linda Rice, Jose Lezcano), 6-1

8. Lord Miles (Saffie Joseph Jr., Paco Lopez), 30-1

9. Crupi (Todd Pletcher, Kendrick Carmouche), 12-1

10. Uncle Jake (Brittany Russell, Jevian Toledo), 20-1

11. Classic Catch (Todd Pletcher, Trevor McCarthy), 10-1

12. Mr. Swagger (Juan Carlos Avila, Carlos Olivero), 30-1

13. Hit Show (Brad Cox, Manny Franco), 5-2

TimeformUS pace projections show long shot Uncle Jake making a narrow early lead under jockey Jevian Toledo. Favorite Hit Show is projected to sit in the back half of the field through a fast early pace.

Prospective Kentucky Derby field

The top 18 points earners nominated for the Kentucky Derby will earn a spot in the starting gates for the Grade 1, $3 million race May 6.

One spot is reserved for the top points earners on the European and Japanese Derby trails. Churchill Downs officials do not expect any of the runners from the European trail to make the trip, thus opening up a 19th spot for a U.S. trail entrant.

Here is a look at who would make up the current field.

1. Forte, 190

2. Angel of Empire, 154

3. Two Phil’s, 123

4. Derma Sotogake, 100

5. Kingsbarns, 100

6. Practical Move, 60

7. Rocket Can, 60

8. Confidence Game, 57

9. Raise Cain, 54

10. Wild On Ice, 50

11. Tapit Trice, 50

12. Mage, 50

13. Reincarnate, 45

14. Jace’s Road, 45

15. Cyclone Mischief, 45

16. Major Dude, 40

17. King Russell, 40

18. Disarm, 40

19. Sun Thunder, 34

Japan. Continuar

Kentucky Oaks trail

Two races Saturday for 3-year-old fillies award points toward the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale. Post times are EDT.

1:27 p.m. – $250,000 Gazelle Stakes (G3), 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct, FS1

Occult (2-1) returns to Aqueduct’s Kentucky Oaks trail for her first start since winning the local Busanda Stakes on Jan. 14. Trainer Chad Brown and jockey Dylan Davis team up with the Into Mischief filly. Brad Cox trains Capella (3-1), third-place finisher March 4 in another local Oaks trail event, the Busher Stakes. Shidabhuti (7-2) won the Busher for Brown, finishing two lengths clear of odds-on stablemate Asset Purchase.

8:24 p.m. – $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2), 1 1/16 miles, Santa Anita, FanDuel TV

Faiza (9-5) is an undefeated Grade 1 winner but is ineligible for the Kentucky Oaks points this race offers due to trainer Bob Baffert’s Churchill Downs suspension. Jockey Flavien Prat will climb aboard the Girvin filly, whose last start was a Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) score March 5 at Santa Anita. Peter Miller trains And Tell Me Nolies (4-1), a Grade 1 winner as a juvenile who was second in the Santa Ysabel. Clearly Unhinged (4-1) debuted a winner Feb. 5 going 6 1/2 furlongs over this course for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Prospective Kentucky Oaks field

1. Wet Paint, 170

2. Affirmative Lady, 110

3. Defining Purpose, 107

4. Pretty Mischievous, 103

5. Southlawn, 100

6. Botanical, 70

7. Dorth Vader, 70

8. The Alys Look, 54

9. Flying Connection, 50

10. Mimi Kakushi, 50

11. Shidabhuti, 50

12. Wonder Wheel, 48

13. Taxed, 48

14. Julia Shining, 46

Other Saturday stakes

Here is a look at other graded stakes taking place Saturday outside of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks trails. All post times are EDT.

2:50 p.m. – $300,000 Commonwealth Stakes (G3), 4-and-up, seven furlongs, Keeneland, FanDuel TV

Nakatomi (2-1) runs at trainer Wesley Ward’s Keeneland base off a third-place finish March 4 at Aqueduct in the Tom Fool Handicap (G3). Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will be up on the 4-year-old Firing Line gelding. Bret Calhoun trains Run Classic (3-1), who cuts back to one turn off a third-place finish Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds in the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) going 1 1/16 miles. Get Her Number (4-1), who owns a Grade 1 win from 2020, was third March 11 at Santa Anita in the San Carlos Stakes (G3) for trainer Peter Miller.

3:09 p.m. – $200,000 Bay Shore Stakes (G3), 3-year-olds, seven furlongs, Aqueduct, FS2

Joey Freshwater (2-1) has risen from maiden claiming flight to being the morning-line favorite in a graded stakes for trainer Linda Rice. Jockey Kendrick Carmouche will climb aboard the Jimmy Creed colt, who was second March 19 in a local allowance race. Bill Mott trains Victory Way (5-2), a debut victor March 4 at Aqueduct. Gilmore (7-2) made his last two starts on the Kentucky Derby trail and was sixth March 4 for trainer Brendan Walsh at Turfway Park in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes.

3:25 p.m. – $400,000 Appalachian Stakes (G2), 3-year-old fillies, one mile (turf), Keeneland, FanDuel TV

Pleasant Passage (5-2), a Grade 2 winner, makes her first start since finishing as runner-up over this same Keeneland course Nov. 4 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Gaffalione gets the call on the More Than Ready filly for trainer Shug McGaughey. Todd Pletcher trains Cairo Consort (3-1), who followed a Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3) win in February by running third March 4 at Gulfstream in the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3). Alpha Bella (9-2), another Pletcher entry, was runner-up March 11 at Tampa in the Florida Oaks (G3).

4 p.m. – $600,000 Madison Stakes (G1), 4-and-up fillies and mares, seven furlongs, Keeneland, FanDuel TV

Goodnight Olive (2-5) returns to the site of her Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint score for her first start of 2023. Chad Brown trains and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. rides the 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare, who has won each of her last six races. Steve Asmussen trains Society (3-1), a Grade 1 victor who was seventh over this Keeneland course in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Maryquitecontrary (6-1) has won five straight starts, including the Inside Information Stakes (G2) on Jan. 28 at Gulfstream.

4:19 p.m. – $300,000 Carter Handicap (G1), 4-and-up, seven furlongs, Aqueduct, FS2

Repo Rocks (9-5) carries the highweight of 122 pounds off the strength of four straight victories, including the local Stymie Stakes on Feb. 25, for trainer Jamie Ness. Jockey Andrew Wolfsont, who has never won a Grade 1 race, stays aboard the 5-year-old Tapiture gelding, a Grade 3 winner. Little Vic (3-1) made the grade on that same March 4 Aqueduct card, scoring in the Tom Fool for trainer Juan Carlos Avila. George Weaver trains Today’s Flavor (6-1), who owns four straight wins at Aqueduct, the last coming against allowance foes Feb. 18.

4:35 p.m. – $350,000 Shakertown Stakes (G2), 3-and-up, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf), Keeneland, FanDuel TV

Caravel (8-5), winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, joins Goodnight Olive as 2022 Breeders’ Cup victors returning to Keeneland for their seasonal bows. Gaffalione will get a leg up for trainer Brad Cox on the 6-year-old Mizzen Mast mare, who also won the local Franklin Stakes (G3) last October. Ward trains Arrest Me Red (9-2), a Grade 2 winner who was eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Artemus Citylimits (5-1) for trainer Mike Maker is yet another Shakertown runner exiting the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, in which he ran fifth.

5:02 p.m. – $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2), 4-and-up, 1 1/4 miles (turf), Santa Anita, FanDuel TV

Gold Phoenix (2-1) runs for a second straight graded score after earning Grade 1 laurels March 4 in the local Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes. Jockey Kazushi Kimura has the mount on the 5-year-old Belardo gelding for trainer Phil D’Amato. D’Amato also trains Masteroffoxhounds (2-1), a Grade 2 winner who was sixth in the Kilroe Mile. The George Papaprodromou-trained Opry (4-1) has not won a graded stakes race since 2018 and was third Feb. 5 in the local San Marcos Stakes (G3).

7:53 p.m. – $200,000 Monrovia Stakes (G3), 4-and-up fillies and mares, about 6 1/2 furlongs (downhill turf), Santa Anita, FanDuel TV

Amy C (7-2) enters off back-to-backs stakes triumphs, including in the local Las Cienegas Stakes (G3) last out Jan. 2 for D’Amato. Jockey Umberto Rispoli rides the 5-year-old Charming Thought mare. D’Amato also trains Leggs Galore (4-1), a Grade 2 winner who was runner-up Oct. 15 at Santa Anita in the California Distaff Handicap. Canoodling (5-1), twice a Grade 3 victor for trainer Mike Puype, returns off a layoff dating to a fourth-place finish May 30 at Santa Anita in the Gamely Stakes (G1).