Triple Crown tracker: See the latest on 10 alumni from 2024
The Triple Crown Tracker checks in with the horses who raced in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, keeping up with what they have done since the classics.
2024 Kentucky Derby
Forever Young has been one of the world’s most exciting and consistent dirt horses all year long, but he had yet to break through with a win at the top level despite money finishes in both the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. That changed Sunday at Oi, when he drew on all his class to defeat the older Wilson Tesoro in the Grade 1 Tokyo Daishoten.
Two others from the 2024 Kentucky Derby field were in action at the top level stateside in the seven-furlong Malibu (G1) on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Stronghold, shortening up to seven furlongs for his first start since the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), rallied for second behind proven sprinter Raging Torrent. Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, making his first start since the Belmont, never fired and finished sixth and last.
Others from the Kentucky Derby field who raced in recent weeks included Track Phantom and Epic Ride. Track Phantom stepped up to stakes company for the Tenacious on Dec. 21, his second start since the Kentucky Derby. He set the early pace but was no match in the second half of the race and settled for fourth behind Saudi Crown. Epic Ride returned to Turfway, the track where he showed his best form early in the year, for an allowance Dec. 21. Bet to odds-on favoritism, he tracked the pace and led midstretch but was worn down late by long shot B D Valeski.
Just a Touch, who had been off the work tab since a second-place finish in the Iowa Derby in July, returned to the work tab for the first time since that race on Dec. 22. The Brad Cox trainee went three furlongs in 37 seconds, fastest of 14 drills at Payson Park that day.
| Pl. | Kentucky Derby | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mystik Dan | 6th Malibu (G1) | No works since last race |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 1st Breeders’ Cup Classic | No works since last race |
| 3 | Forever Young | 1st Tokyo Daishoten (G1) | No works since last race |
| 4 | Catching Freedom | 4th Ohio Derby (G3) | Worked 4f Dec. 22 at PAY |
| 5 | T O Password | 5th Kentucky Derby | Out for the rest of the year |
| 6 | Resilience | 10th Belmont | No works since last race |
| 7 | Stronghold | 2nd Malibu (G1) | No works since last race |
| 8 | Honor Marie | 8th Travers | No works since last race |
| 9 | Endlessly | 5th Belmont Derby (G1) | Worked 5f Aug. 10 at DMR |
| 10 | Dornoch | 4th Travers | Stands for $40,000 at Spendthrift |
| 11 | Track Phantom | 4th Tenacious | No works since last race |
| 12 | West Saratoga | 9th alw. (Nov. 6 at CD) | Sold to race in Dubai |
| 13 | Domestic Product | 3rd Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile | Stands for $30,000 at Ashford |
| 14 | Epic Ride | 2nd alw. (Dec. 21 at TP) | No works since last race |
| 15 | Fierceness | 2nd Breeders’ Cup Classic | No works since last race |
| 16 | Society Man | 2nd alw. OC (Oct. 24 at KEE) | Worked 4f Dec. 22 at PMM |
| 17 | Just Steel | 5th Preakness | Recovering from leg surgery |
| 18 | Grand Mo the First | 2nd Virginia Derby (G3) | Worked 4f Oct. 6 at GP |
| 19 | Catalytic | 2nd alw. OC (Dec. 15 at GP) | No works since last race |
| 20 | Just a Touch | 2nd Iowa Derby | Worked 3f Dec. 22 at PAY |
| scr | Encino | 1st Lexington (G3) | Worked 4f Sun. at FG |
| scr | Mugatu | 7th alw. OC (Dec. 22 at TAM) | No works since last race |
2024 Preakness
Fellow Preakness entrant Imagination also contested the Malibu on Saturday. The Bob Baffert trainee tracked in range through the early stages. Although he didn’t have enough kick late to reel in Raging Torrent or Stronghold, he chased on for third and earned his second career Grade 1 placing.
Just a week after finishing seventh in an allowance at Gulfstream, Mugatu raced in allowance company again Dec. 22 at Tampa Bay Downs, a first-level race at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. The Jeff Engler trainee tracked the early pace but weakened in the lane to cross the wire seventh behind the hot favorite Havildar.
| Pl. | Preakness | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seize the Grey | 8th Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile | Stands for $30,000 at Gainesway |
| 2 | Mystik Dan | 6th Malibu (G1) | No works since last race |
| 3 | Catching Freedom | 4th Ohio Derby (G3) | Worked 4f Dec. 22 at PAY |
| 4 | Tuscan Gold | 4th Preakness | Worked 4f Dec. 22 at PAY |
| 5 | Just Steel | 5th Preakness | Recovering from leg surgery |
| 6 | Uncle Heavy | 4th Pennsylvania Derby (G1) | No works since last race |
| 7 | Imagination | 3rd Malibu (G1) | No works since last race |
| 8 | Mugatu | 7th alw. OC (Dec. 22 at TAM) | No works since last race |
2024 Belmont Stakes
Protective returns to the races Sunday at Gulfstream Park for his first start since a fourth-place finish in an October allowance at Keeneland. The race is a 1 1/2-mile test on the grass and drew a full field of 12 first-level allowance horses plus two on the also-eligible list. Protective, trained by Todd Pletcher, drew the 12 gate.
Mindframe, unraced since a second-place finish behind Dornoch in the Haskell (G1), continues his comeback. He worked three furlongs Friday at Palm Beach Downs, his first drill since the Haskell.
| Pl. | Belmont | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dornoch | 4th Travers (G1) | Stands for $40,000 at Spendthrift |
| 2 | Mindframe | 2nd Haskell (G1) | Worked 3f Fri. at PBD |
| 3 | Sierra Leone | 1st Breeders’ Cup Classic | No works since last race |
| 4 | Honor Marie | 8th Travers (G1) | No works since last race |
| 5 | Antiquarian | 5th Belmont | No works since last race |
| 6 | Protective | 4th Alw (Oct. 25 at KEE) | Entered in Alw OC Sun. at GP |
| 7 | Seize the Grey | 8th Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile | Stands for $30,000 at Gainesway |
| 8 | Mystik Dan | 6th Malibu (G1) | No works since last race |
| 9 | The Wine Steward | 9th Belmont | Worked 5f Mon. at GP |
| 10 | Resilience | 10th Belmont | No works since last race |