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Mississippi hopes to catch Derby fever in Holy Bull
We’re a month in to the new year and the trail is starting to heat up as we get closer to the May 5, 2018 Kentucky Derby in Louisville.
Three Kentucky Derby prep races are on tap this weekend, each worth 10 points to the winner.
Aqueduct: G3 Withers
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Purse: $250,000
Derby Points: 10-4-2-1
Firenze Fire – 20 points
Firenze Fire, currently the no. two horse listed in the top ten on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 20 points, will face a small field of five other runners.
He’s won four of six starts beginning with a maiden score at Monmouth in his first outing going 5 furlongs last summer before taking the G3 Sanford in his next start.
His biggest win came three back from off the pace in the G1 Champagne going 1 mile vs. Good Magic. But was upended next time out in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by that rival who currently sits atop the leaderboard with 24 points . He was the winner of his last start in the 1 mile Jerome and Trevor McCarthy will ride for the first time.
Avery Island – 4 points
Avery Island will open as a slight favorite at 8 to 5 off a second place finish last time out in the G2 Remsen at this distance. The son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense races in the colors of Godolphin Racing Llc who is looking for the first ever Kentucky Derby winner. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Avery Island won back to back races in front-running fashion before the Remsen and will be ridden by regular rider Joe Bravo.
Coltandmississippi – 2 points
He’s one of three runners scheduled to start for Todd Pletcher. But the only one with any points, having earned two for his third place finish behind Firenze Fire last time out in the Jerome.
Marconi, Bal Harbour and California Night complete the field each looking for their first points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Gulfstream: G2 Holy Bull
Distance: 1 1/16 miles
Purse: $350,000
Derby Points: 10-4-2-1
If Mississippi wins the G2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream, he’ll be one of two horses named in honor of the 20th state to join the Union on December 10, 1817.
The son of Pioneer of the Nile, Mississippi will have his work cut out for him as he’ll face the best field of runners competing for prize money and points in any of the three prep races this weekend.
A maiden winner two back going 1 mile at Churchill, he returned at Gulfstream to press the pace in a 1 1/16 mile OC$75K/N1x and finish second. With that race under his belt, he’ll bring the highest last race Beyer 88 of any runner in the field, for the highly successful jockey/trainer team of Leparoux and Casse.
Enticed – 12 points
A maiden winner in his first lifetime start at 2, he was third in the G1 Champagne in his second career start behind Firenze Fire who will go in the Withers. In his last start, Enticed won the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club to end the year with 12 points towards a spot in the starting gate for the Derby. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin who will send out the Withers favorite Avery Island at Aqueduct where he’s winning at a 16% clip, Enticed would be McLaughlin’s first trip to the winner’s circle at Gulfstream this meet if he were to win. He’ll open as the 3 to 1 favorite in the field of eleven and gets a new rider in Joel Rosario who is 0 for 7 when riding for McLaughlin this meet.
The field from the rail includes Enticed, Free Drop Billy (10 points), Master Manipulator, Audible, Bandito, Hollywood Star (4 points), Tiz Mischief (4 points), Pony Up, Tip Sheet, Aequor, and Mississippi.
Santa Anita: G3 Robert B. Lewis
Distance: 1 1/16 miles
Purse: $150,000
Derby Points: 10-4-2-1
The Robert B. Lewis has never been top of the list on the Road to the Roses. However, since 2007, when it was renamed in honor of the prominent owner on the Southern California circuit who died in 2006, it has produced one Kentucky Derby winner.
Since I’ll Have Another won the 2012 Kentucky Derby on his way to winning the Preakness and a shot at the elusive Triple Crown, the Lewis has become a viable option for owners and trainers looking for points with runners who have yet to make a mark on the Derby Trail.
And so it will be on Saturday when nine horses will be called to post for the wide-open race led by lukewarm favorite Peace at 3 to 1. Trained by HOF trainer Richard Mandella for Spendthrift Farm LLC or Town and Country, Peace will be making his first start since breaking his maiden last time out as a heavy favorite. He’ll wear blinkers for the first time and is expected to be in hot pursuit of the lead and the 10 points to the winner.
Shivermetimbers – 1 point
A maiden winner two back, Shivermetimbers was no match for McKinzie last time out in the G3 Sham. After contesting the pace through three quarters, he was done at the top of the stretch and steadied in the lane before finishing fourth to earn 1 point to take the 42nd spot on the leaderboard. He’ll have Rafael Bejarano for the first time and should be contentious early while looking to add points to his total.
The field from the rail out includes Ayacara, Pepe Tono, Dark Vader, Lombo, Shivermetimbers, Inscom, Peace, Regulate and Blame the Rider. Incidentally, the later will run in the colors of Reddam Racing LLC for trainer Doug O’Neill who were the connections of I’ll Have Another when he won this race on his way to retirement in Japan after winning the first two legs of the 2012 Triple Crown.
