Stakes Tracker: First Kentucky Derby 2019 prep takes shape
The 2019 Kentucky Derby trail officially begins Saturday under the Twin Spires when Churchill Downs hosts the Grade 3, $150,000 Iroquois Stakes.
In the last two years, the race has included 2018 contender Flameaway and 2017 Derby runner-up Lookin At Lee. Horses on similar trajectories are among probables, according to information provided by Churchill stakes coordinator Dan Bork.
Tobacco Road is following Lookin At Lee’s path as a last-out winner of the Ellis Park Juvenile. Both are owned by L and N racing and trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. A son of Quality Road, Tobacco Road looks like the one to beat.
Mark Casse, who trained Flameaway, got that one to the races as early as May of his 2-year-old season. This time, he’ll send debut Ellis Park winner My Sixth Sense to the Iroquois. The $225,000 purchase is a son of Street Sense.
Also expected to challenge is Cairo Cat, a Saratoga maiden winner trained by Kenny McPeek. The Cairo Prince colt got up by a head on Aug. 11 in a performance indicating he wants more distance. Another to know is Hog Creek Hustle, a $150,000 son of Overanalyze who won first out at Ellis Park.
Intriguing is the possibility that trainer Brad Cox wheels back Pole Setter, who broke his maiden Aug. 5 at Ellis Park, from a sixth-place finish in the Sept. 1 Kentucky Downs Juvenile on turf. He ran evenly that day and may have disliked the surface.
Entries will be taken Wednesday for the Iroquois. While Churchill hasn’t announced the 2019 Derby trail races officially, this race typically awards 10 points to the winner. It’s also a “Win and You’re In” toward the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Prospective Iroquois Stakes field:
On the Churchill card as well Saturday is the Grade 2, $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes, a co-feature for the girls that begins the 2019 Kentucky Oaks trail and offers a “Win and You’re In” spot to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Ellis Park Debutante winner Serengeti Empress will challenge Todd Pletcher-trained Saratoga maiden winner Two Dozen Roses going 8 1/2 furlongs. The former received especially high speed figures for her stakes win, which came by an eye-popping 13 1/2 lengths. Trainer Tom Amoss may have something special in his barn.
Godolphin should be represented by two entries: Carnival Colors, trained by Mike Stidham, broke her maiden last out over Arlington Park’s synthetic. Kiaran McLaughlin-trained It Justhitthe Wire is making her second start after hitting the board on debut at Saratoga.
Bob Baffert also nominated impressive first out winner Der Lu as he seeks to separate his top 2-year-old fillies.
Prospective Pocahontas Stakes field:
The multiple Grade 1 winner was vanned off after the Arlington Million back on Aug. 11, but per trainer Brian Lynch, connections discovered no problems with the 4-year-old by Kitten’s Joy. He’s back on the work tab and remains possible to run this weekend. Irish War Cry, who was expected to make his turf debut in this spot, will hold out for cooler temperatures later this year. That leaves Good Samaritan and Divisidero as the most well-known contenders, with Delta Prince an obvious threat coming out of a runner-up in the Grade 1 Fourstardave. Prospective Woodbine Mile field:
The draw for Saturday’s Grade 1, $800,000 Woodbine Mile is set for noon ET Wednesday. And a big question looms: Will Oscar Performance enter?
EARLY LOOK AT THE GRADE 1 SUMMER STAKES
Horse / Owner / Trainer
Dob Dob / Monticule / Michael Dickinson
Federal Law / Qatar Racing Limited / Archie Watson
Jungle Warrior / Stronach Stables / Sid Attard
Nashtrick / Augustin Stable / Josie Carroll
Skychief / Three Diamonds Farm / Michael Maker
Tricky Magician / Gary Barber / Mark Casse
Vineyard Sound / Vineyard Racing / Michael Dilger
Wallace / Lou Tucci / Sid Attard
War of Will / Gary Barber / Mark Casse
EARLY LOOK AT THE GRADE 1 NATALMA STAKES
Horse / Owner / Trainer
Artilena / George Philip Ledson, Braconcrest Inc., Anderson Farms Ontario Inc. & Kingfield Racing Stable, Ltd. / Catherine Day Phillips
Bold Script / Chiefswood Stable / Stuart Simon
Chicas Amigas / Qatar Racing Limited / Mrs. John Harrington
Comic Kitten / Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey / Michael Maker
Intanga Rose / Stronach Stables / Sid Attard
La Pelosa / Godolphin LLC. / Charles Appleby
My Gal Betty / William Werner / Roger Attfield
Not Orbinary / Gail Cox, John Menary & Haymarket Farm LLC / Gail Cox
Pivottina / Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and ERJ Racing, LLC / Ludovic Gadbin
Stillwater Cove / Marcus Stables / Wesley Ward
Tiz Breathtaking / Windhaven Farms Inc. / Michael Doyle
EARLY LOOK AT THE GRADE 1 NORTHERN DANCER TURF
Horse / Owner / Trainer
English Illusion / 4U Thoroughbred Racing Stable Inc. / Sylvain Pion
Final Copy / Chiefswood Stable / Roger Attfield
Hawkbill / Godolphin Racing, LLC / Charles Appleby
Johnny Bear / Colebrook Farms and Bear Stables, Ltd. / Ashlee Brnjas
Mekhtaal / Al Shaqab Racing / Graham Motion
Ming / Mohammed Hamad Kkalifa Al-Attiyah / Joseph O'Brien
Patterson Cross / James S. Karp and James Patterson / Bill Mott
Seeking Albert / Zilli Racing Stables / Michael DePaulo
Tiz a Slam / Chiefswood Stable / Roger Attfield
Vexatious / Calumet Farm / Neil Drysdale