Triple Crown Tracker: 9 alumni compete in recent stakes

Photo: Johnny Voodoo / Eclipse Sportswire

The Triple Crown Tracker checks in with the horses who raced in the most recent Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, following what they do after the Triple Crown season ends.

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2022 Kentucky Derby

Five runners from the 2022 Kentucky Derby competed in the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 5.

Though Breeders' Cup Classic winner Flightline was a 4-year-old who did not compete in the Kentucky Derby, the third- and fourth-place finishers in the Classic both were present in this year's Run for the Roses. Taiba tracked well behind the leading pair and chased on to finish third, 8 3/4 lengths behind the winner but only half a length behind second-place Olympiad. Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike employed his usual late-running style, getting up for fourth in the end. Epicenter, second in the Kentucky Derby, was pulled up on the backstretch with a condylar fracture and is recovering after surgery to repair it.

Two other Kentucky Derby contenders competed in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Cyberknife made an early move and led on the far turn but was caught late by favored Cody's Wish, who won by a head. Simplification, relegated to mid-pack after a rough start, flattened out to finish seventh, 13 lengths behind the winner.

Rattle N Roll also was in action at Keeneland during Breeders' Cup weekend. He stretched out and faced older horses in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2), where he was sent off the favorite but finished fourth, thirteen lengths behind strong wire-to-wire winner Next.

In Japan, Crown Pride also tried older horses in the JBC Classic, a race that has Grade 1 status in Japan but only listed status internationally. He finished second behind T O Keynes, a 5-year-old who won the Champions Cup (G1) in 2021.

DerbyHorseLast raceNotes
  1Rich Strike4th, Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)No works since last race
  2EpicenterDNF, Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)Condylar surgery Nov. 6
  3Zandon2nd, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)Worked 4f Friday at BEL
  4Simplification7th, Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1)No works since last race
  5Mo Donegal1st, Belmont (G1)Retired to stud at Spendthrift
  6Barber Road7th, Belmont (G1)Worked 4f Nov. 6 at TTC
  7Tawny Port10th, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)No works since last race
  8Smile Happy8th, Kentucky Derby (G1)No works since last race
  9Tiz the Bomb4th, NMR Hall of Fame (G2)No works since last race
10Zozos10th, Kentucky Derby (G1)Worked 4f Friday at CD
11Classic Causeway6th, Bryan StationNo works since last race
12Taiba3rd, Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)No works since last race
13Crown Pride (JPN)2nd, JBC ClassicNo works since last race
14Happy Jack6th, H. Allen Jerkens (G1)No works since last race
15Messier11th, alw OC (Nov. 5 at KEE)No works since last race
16White Abarrio5th, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)Worked 5f Friday at GP
17Charge It1st, Dwyer (G3)Worked 4f Sept. 27 at BEL
18Cyberknife2nd, Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1)No works since last race
19Pioneer of Medina8th, alw OC (Thursday at KEE)Worked 4f Wednesday at CD
20Summer Is Tomorrow20th, Kentucky Derby (G1)No works since last race
SCREthereal Road5th, alw OC (Nov. 4 at KEE)No works since last race
SCRRattle N Roll4th, T'bred Aftercare Alliance (G2)No works since last race

2022 Preakness Stakes

Aside from the horses who also ran in the Kentucky Derby, the only other Preakness entrant who also raced in the Breeders' Cup is Secret Oath. In her first start against older horses, she made an early move and was in range to the furlong mark, but flattened to finish fifth, 5 1/2 lengths behind Malathaat.

PreaknessHorseLast raceNotes
  1Early Voting8th, Travers (G1)Retired to stud at Ashford
  2EpicenterDNF, Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)Condylar surgery Nov. 6
  3Creative Minister6th, alw OC (Oct. 20 at KEE)Worked 4f Nov. 4 at CD
  4Secret Oath5th, Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1)
No works since last race
  5Skippylongstocking9th, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)Worked 3f Nov. 5 at PMM
  6Simplification7th, Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1)No works since last race
  7Armagnac5th, Shared BeliefNo works since last race
  8Happy Jack6th, H. Allen Jerkens (G1)No works since last race
  9Fenwick6th, alw OC (Oct. 30 at WO)No works since last race

2022 Belmont Stakes

Other than Rich Strike, the only Belmont Stakes horse who raced in the Breeders' Cup was Nest, who made her second start against older fillies and mares in the Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 5. Sent off the 7-5 favorite against her elders, she turned for home in close range but could not keep pace with the battle between Malathaat, Blue Stripe and Clairiere late. She crossed the wire fourth, 3 1/4 lengths behind the battling line.

BelmontHorseLast raceNotes
  1Mo Donegal1st, Belmont (G1)Retired to stud at Spendthrift
  2Nest4th, Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1)No works since last race
  3Skippylongstocking9th, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)Worked 3f Nov. 5 at PMM
  4We the People8th, Pennsylvania Derby (G1)No works since last race
  5Creative Minister6th, alw OC (Oct. 20 at KEE)Worked 4f Nov. 4 at CD
  6Rich Strike4th, Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)No works since last race
  7Barber Road7th, Belmont (G1)Worked 4f Nov. 6 at TTC
  8Golden Glider6th, CurlinWorked 4f Nov. 2 at CAA

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