Triple Crown alumni: Derma Sotogake shines in return
The Triple Crown Tracker checks in with the horses who raced in the most recent Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, keeping up with what they have done since the classics.
2023 Kentucky Derby
Despite not racing since his sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby in May, Derma Sotogake looked as sharp as ever in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Tracking in range a few lengths off the lead, he finished with good energy to cross the wire second, a length behind White Abarrio.
Reincarnate also raced on Breeders' Cup Saturday, in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby on the undercard. It was his first try on the lawn since 2022, when he made his first two starts in turf-mile maiden races. After early trip trouble, he flattened late and finished ninth, 3 1/2 lengths behind winner Seal Team.
Practical Move had been entered for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile but died Oct. 31 after suffering a post-gallop cardiac event. The Tim Yakteen trainee, a son of Practical Joke, finished his career with a 8: 5-1-2 record and $923,200 in earnings. The highlight came April 8, when he won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) by a hard-fought nose over Mandarin Hero.
| Derby | Horse | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mage | 7th Travers (G1) | Missed Breeders' Cup Classic |
| 2 | Two Phil's | 1st Ohio Derby (G3) | Stands for $12,500 at WinStar |
| 3 | Angel of Empire | 3rd Jim Dandy (G2) | Off for the rest of 2023 |
| 4 | Disarm | 2nd Travers (G1) | No works since last race |
| 5 | Hit Show | 6th Oklahoma Derby (G3) | No works since last race |
| 6 | Derma Sotogake | 2nd Breeders' Cup Classic | No works since last race |
| 7 | Tapit Trice | 3rd Travers (G1) | No works since last race |
| 8 | Raise Cain | 1st, Perryville | No works since last race |
| 9 | Rocket Can | 9th Kentucky Derby | Worked 4f July 4 at SAR |
| 10 | Confidence Game | 6th, Perryville | No works since last race |
| 11 | Sun Thunder | 11th Kentucky Derby | Worked 3f Sat. at KEE |
| 12 | Mandarin Hero | 2nd Derby Grand Prix | No works since last race |
| 13 | Reincarnate | 9th Twilight Derby (G2) | No works since last race |
| 14 | Kingsbarns | 2nd Pegasus | Worked 4f July 7 at SAR |
| 15 | King Russell | 7th Matt Winn (G3) | Worked 3f Sat. at TTC |
| 16 | Verifying | 5th Perryville | No works since last race |
| 17 | Jace's Road | 17th Kentucky Derby | No works since last race |
| 18 | Cyclone Mischief | 18th Kentucky Derby | Worked 5f Fri. at CD |
| SCR | Continuar | 3rd UAE Derby (G2) | Scratched Oct. 28 at Kyoto |
| SCR | Forte | 4th Travers (G1) | Stands for $50,000 at Spendthrift |
| SCR | Lord Miles | 2nd Robert Hilton Memorial | No works since last race |
| SCR | Practical Move | 1st, Alw OC (Oct. 6 at SA) | Deceased |
| SCR | Skinner | 5th Awesome Again (G1) | Worked 5f Oct. 31 at SA |
2023 Preakness
In his best effort since winning the Preakness, National Treasure led most of the way in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, missing by a nose to repeat winner Cody's Wish. On a day when speed was playing well, National Treasure quickly made it to the front and led most of the way around. After a thrilling stretch battle with Cody's Wish, he just missed at the wire, a result that stood after an inquiry.
| Preakness | Horse | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Treasure | 2nd Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | No works since last race |
| 2 | Blazing Sevens | 3rd Curlin | No works since last race |
| 3 | Mage | 7th Travers (G1) | Missed Breeders' Cup Classic |
| 4 | Red Route One | 2nd Oklahoma Derby | Worked 5f Oct. 22 at RP |
| 5 | Chase the Chaos | 8th Canadian Derby (G3) | No works since last race |
| 6 | Perform | 5th Curlin | No works since last race |
| 7 | Coffeewithchris | 8th, Robert Hilton Memorial | Worked 4f Oct. 28 at LRL |
| SCR | First Mission | 1st Alw OC (Sat. at KEE) | Worked 4f Sat. at CD |
2023 Belmont
The top two finishers in the Belmont were retired in the days leading up to the Breeders' Cup. Arcangelo pulled a shoe on Saturday and continued to have warmth in his foot over the next few days, leading trainer Jena Antonucci to scratch him Tuesday. His owner, Jon Ebbert of Blue Rose Farm, subsequently retired him. He will stand at Lane's End Farm. The stud fee for the son of Arrogate has not yet been announced.
Forte also was retired to stand at Spendthrift Farm for $50,000. The champion 2-year-old male of 2022, the son of Violence suffered a quarter crack during his preparation for the Breeders' Cup Classic. He was not able to return to full training in time to be ready for the race, hence his retirement.
Il Miracolo, seventh in the Belmont, finished the Keeneland meet on a strong note. In his first start against his elders, the son of Gun Runner was part of a three-horse blanket finish. He crossed the wire second by a head to seasoned 6-year-old O'Connor in the Fayette (G2). Il Miracolo was, in turn, a head in front of the 4-year-old Speed Bias.
| Belmont | Horse | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arcangelo | 1st Travers (G1) | Retired to Lane's End |
| 2 | Forte | 4th Travers (G1) | Stands for $50,000 at Spendthrift |
| 3 | Tapit Trice | 3rd Travers (G1) | No works since last race |
| 4 | Angel of Empire | 3rd Jim Dandy (G2) | Off for the rest of 2023 |
| 4 | Hit Show | 6th Oklahoma Derby (G3) | No works since last race |
| 6 | National Treasure | 2nd Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | No works since last race |
| 7 | Il Miracolo | 2nd Fayette (G2) | No works since last race |
| 8 | Red Route One | 2nd Oklahoma Derby | Worked 5f Oct. 22 at RP |
| 9 | Tapit Shoes | DNF Alw (Aug. 13, SAR) | No works since last race |