Saratoga Derby 2019: Post positions, odds and more
Concrete Rose kept her hopes for the Turf Tiara alive Friday when she won the inaugural Saratoga Oaks Invitational.
Henley’s Joy will try to follow her lead Sunday when he and 10 other 3-year-old males contest the inaugural $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational.
Having already won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational on July 6, Henley’s Joy can continue his pursuit of the Turf Trinity with a win Sunday.
Henley’s Joy went off at 20-1 last month at Belmont Park, but he won’t get those kinds of odds Sunday at the Spa.
The Mike Maker-trained Henley’s Joy is the 4-1 second choice on the morning line behind only 7-2 Rockemperor, an Irish-bred Chad Brown trainee.
Here’s a look at the field with the morning line:
2. Social Paranoia (6-1)
3. A Thread of Blue (12-1)
5. Eons (15-1)
6. Kadar (30-1)
7. Cape of Good Hope (IRE) (15-1)
9. Seismic Wave (6-1)
10. Mohawk (IRE) (10-1)
11. Flying Scotsman (15-1)
Timeform US predicts A Thread of Blue to come out and set an early pace Sunday, with Flying Scotsman following closely.
Digital Age and Seismic Wave, two of the expected contenders, are projected to try to close late.
Saratoga Derby on TV
Fox Sports 1 will broadcast the Saratoga Derby (post time 5:48 EDT), with Fox Sports 2 broadcasting much of the day’s undercard.
The Saratoga Derby is the ninth of 11 races on Sunday’s card from the Spa.
Saratoga Derby handicapping
Free past performances
Longshots to watch
How to play the Saratoga Pick 5
Saratoga Derby card
Race 5: Grade 3 Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes (3:21 p.m.)
Race 9: Saratoga Derby Invitational (5:48 p.m.)
Race 10: Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes (6:23 p.m.)
What they’re saying…
Select quotes via the NYRA Press Office
Trainer Mike Maker on Henley’s Joy: "He's doing good. I think maybe the distance helped him improve. He had some pretty rough trips. Last time, he finally got a clean trip and got to prove it."
Trainer Todd Pletcher on Social Paranoia: "He's knocking on the door and it'd be great to win a race like that. I think he's in good form and ran well here last year. Hopefully, he keeps moving forward."
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin on A Thread of Blue: "We're stretching him out a little bit because going a mile, there might be a little quicker pace. We don't have to be on the lead or anything, we might not get the mile and three sixteenths, but we're giving it a try. He's a nice horse, a graded winner, and he's working very well."
Trainer Arnaud Delacour on Eons: "The post matters to some degree, but with a long race on the turf, it probably matters a little bit less than on the dirt. But I was pleased with the post position. That gives us some options. Hopefully, we can negotiate a good trip from there."
Maker on Kadar: "I think the added distance will move him forward as well. I think his last race, being his first start in this country, that was a big factor."
Assistant trainer T.J. Comerford on Cape of Good Hope and Mohawk: "They went a little bit quicker (Friday morning) than (Thursday) from the 7 ½ and jogged the opposite direction to the mile there, and then they turned around and jumped off at the 7 ½. They just cantered along well and took it all in very well. They'll have three days of it, so it will be good for them."