What to watch for: McKinzie eyes bigger targets after San Pasqual

While Kentucky Derby preps start ramping up on both the East and West Coasts, one of last year’s top sophomores will on Saturday make his debut as an older horse. Bob Baffert-trained McKinzie is expected to make some noise in the handicap division this year, and he’ll get his first chance against older competition this weekend since his off-the-board finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Here’s what we’ll be watching for: 

McKinzie uses San Pasqual as prep

While connections decided to skip the Pegasus World Cup, McKinzie is probable to gear up for either the March 9 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) or March 30 Dubai World Cup (G1) in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

The multiple Grade 1 winner begins his 4-year-old campaign off a commanding victory in the Malibu (G1) cutting back to seven furlongs back on Dec. 26. But trainer Bob Baffert won't keep him sprinting, with the San Pasqual at 1 1/8 miles.

McKinzie, who missed the Kentucky Derby due to injury, returned from a seven-month layoff to win the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) but was a flat 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in his first try agains elders. That performance makes his appearance intriguing with San Pasqual competition including Grade 1 winners Battle of Midway and Pavel, among others.

Battle of Midway runs back from the San Antonio Stakes (G2), also on opening day at Santa Anita Park, where East Coast transfer Gift Box ran him down to win by a half length in his first start for trainer John Sadler.

Gunmetal Gray stretches back out in Lewis

The Grade 3, $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes is another Saturday highlight at Santa Anita. Kentucky Derby points are up for grabs in this two-turn test as Sham (G3) winner Gunmetal Gray goes from a mile to 1 1/16 miles, the same distance as he ran while second in the American Pharoah (G1) and fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Both races were won by recently crowned champion Game Winner.

Gunmetal Gray is expected to meet Sham runner-up Sueno again as well as Mucho Gusto, the Bob Hope (G3) winner and Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) runner-up. Mucho Gusto took a backseat to stablemate Improbable in the Los Alamitos Futurity.

Nolo Contesto is also a highly regarded maiden winner coming from the Sadler barn. The Robert B. Lewis marks his stakes debut.

Streak on the line in Holy Bull

Back on the East Coast, the Grade 2, $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes is another 1 1/16-mile Derby prep, this one at Gulfstream Park. Maximus Mischief will attempt to stay undefeated. After two victories at Parx, his home track, he won the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct before traveling to Florida for the winter. 

Mihos isn't one to overlook, either, after he rallied despite a wide trip earlier in January to win the Mucho Macho Man Stakes over this track. The Holy Bull will mark his first start beyond a mile.

Trophy Chaser has two stakes placings from the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Mucho Macho Man, but is looking for that breakthrough win. Also looking to step up is allowance winner Federal Case, maiden winner Come On Gerry, and Epic Dreamer, a maiden winner who ran sixth as the favorite in the Remington Springboard Mile in December.

Withers a chance to break through

The Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes will send Derby hopefuls 1 1/8 miles over Aqueduct’s main track on Saturday, with maiden winners Admire and Moretti looking like the ones to beat.

Dale Romans-trained Admire broke his maiden at the Withers distance closing day of the Churchill Downs meet over a sloppy surface. Moretti already has two races at Aqueduct and broke his maiden just over a month ago, also at nine furlongs.

Our Braintrust, Tax, and Not That Brady already have stakes experience at Aqueduct.

Our Braintrust won the Tremont back in June at Belmont. He returned at the end of December to run second in the Maryland Juvenile Futurity, then second in the Jerome on New Year’s Day. He has since been transferred to trainer Mark Casse.

Tax came from a maiden claiming victory to run third in the Remsen (G3) behind Maximus Mischief, and Not That Brady is taking on open company after winning the Damon Runyon for New York-breds on New Year’s Eve.

Sunland Derby winner returns

Runaway Ghost last raced more than 10 months ago when he won the Sunland Derby (G3), then exited the Derby trail due to a cannon bone fracture. Rehabbed and ready to run again, the colt  is entered for his comeback race in Saturday’s $75,000 Ft. Bliss Stakes at Sunland Park. 

The Ft. Bliss runs at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up. Runaway Ghost is the 8-5 morning line favorite in the field of seven.

Trainer Todd Fincher provided a recent update on the 4-year-old Ghostzapper colt, saying “You expect a big race from him, but also it’s been 10 months since he’s run – over 10 months – so it’s hard to say. But I’m pretty confident he’ll run a big race.”