Kentucky Derby 2023 trail: Odds, free PPs, previews for 3 preps
The road to Kentucky Derby 2023 has entered its final stretch run. Eight races over the next three weeks – three of which are Saturday – pay Derby points to the top five finishers on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale.
Saturday’s trio of Derby preps are the $1 million UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan Racecourse, the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds and the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park. Visit Horse Racing Nation’s free past performances page
Here is a closer look at all three races for 3-year-olds.
9:50 a.m. – $1 million UAE Derby (G2), 1 3/16 miles, Meydan Racecourse, FanDuel TV/FS2
Cairo (5-2) aims to punch the internationally renowned duo of trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore a Kentucky Derby ticket.
Coolmore connections campaign the 3-year-old, Irish-bred Quality Road colt. The Group 3 victor is favorite for this race off back-to-back wins, including in the Patton Stakes on March 3 at Dundalk.
The shortest-priced U.S. runner in this race is maiden Worcester (5-1), third-place finisher Feb. 4 at Santa Anita in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3). He is ineligible for Kentucky Derby points due to trainer Bob Baffert’s Churchill Downs suspension.
U.S. trainer Doug O’Neill has a pair of entries in Tall Boy (10-1) and Ah Jeez (12-1). Both runners prepped for this race by winning events at Meydan, with Tall Boy’s coming Feb. 10 in the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3).
The UAE Derby has been unproductive as a Kentucky Derby prep. None of the 18 Derby starters who prepped in this event have ever hit the board at Churchill Downs.
2022 UAE Derby runners Crown Pride and Summer Is Tomorrow finished 13th and 20th, respectively, last year in Kentucky. They were both part of the rapid early pace that opened the door for Rich Strike’s late-running upset.
Here is a look the field for the 2023 UAE Derby (trainers and jockeys in parentheses) with morning-line odds from Brisnet. Runners are listed by program number, followed by post position number.
1, 7. Es-Unico (Antonio Cintra, Joao Moreira), 20-1
2, 4. Ah Jeez (Doug O’Neill, Tyler Gaffalione), 12-1
3, 5. Cairo (Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore), 5-2
4, 12. Continuar (Yoshito Yahagi, Ryusei Sakai), 15-1
5, 1. Derma Sotogake (Hidetaka Otonashi, Christophe Lemaire), 10-1
6, 8. Dura Erede (Manabu Ikezoe, Cristian Demuro), 6-1
7, 2. Go Soldier Go (Fawzi Nass, Adrie de Vries), 15-1
8, 13. Goraiko (Koichi Shintani, Yuga Kawada), 8-1
9, 9. Lahresh (Musabbeh Al Mheiri, Mickael Barzalona), 30-1
10, 6. Mr Raj (Ahmad bin Harmash, Ray Dawson), 20-1
11, 3. Perriere (Yoichi Kuroiwa, Oisin Murphy), 15-1
12, 10. Tall Boy (Doug O’Neill, William Buick), 10-1
13, 11. Worcester (Bob Baffert, Frankie Dettori), 5-1
6:25 p.m. – $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), 1 1/8 miles (all-weather track), Turfway Park, CNBC/FanDuel TV
Major Dude(5-2) owns two graded stakes wins over turf for trainer Todd Pletcher. He took the Pilgrim Stakes (G2) in October, then returned to the winner’s circle Feb. 4 at Gulfstream Park when taking the Kitten’s Joy Stakes (G3).
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. visits Northern Kentucky on Saturday to pilot the Bolt d’Oro colt for Pletcher and owner Spendthrift Farm.
Larry Rivelli trains Two Phil’s (7-2), winner of the Street Sense Stakes (G3) last October at Churchill Downs. He switches to the synthetic surface after finishing third Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds in the Risen Star Stakes (G2).
Congruent (5-1) won the local prep for this event, the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, on March 4 by 3 1/2 lengths for trainer Antonio Sano. He was a 17-1 long shot that day.
Funtastic Again (6-1) also exits a Turfway stakes score, his coming Jan. 21 in the Leonatus Stakes for trainer Wesley Ward.
Rich Strike in 2022 became the third runner to participate in this event and then win the Kentucky Derby. He was third last year in the Jeff Ruby for trainer Eric Reed.
Animal Kingdom (2011) and Lil E. Tee (1992) swept both races.
Here is a look the field for the 2023 Jeff Ruby Steaks (trainers and jockeys in parentheses) with morning-line odds.
1. Major Dude (Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr.), 5-2
2. Scoobie Quando, SCR
3. Event Detail, SCR
4. Funtastic Again (Wesley Ward, Gerardo Corrales), 6-1
5. Maker’s Candy (Mike Maker, Umberto Rispoli), 12-1
6. Baby Billy (Jack Sisterson, Joe Talamo), 30-1
7. Bluebirds Over (Saffie Joseph Jr., Edgard Zayas), 15-1
8. Congruent (Antonio Sano, Sonny Leon), 5-1
9. Escapologist (Kenny McPeek, Adam Achard), 30-1
10. Two Phil’s (Larry Rivelli, Jareth Loveberry), 7-2
11. Wadsworth (Brad Cox, Chris Landeros), 8-1
12. Point Proven (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez), 15-1
TimeformUS pace projections show Maker’s Candy taking the early lead under jockey Umberto Rispoli and setting a fast pace. Favorite Major Dude is projected to run toward the back through the early stages.
6:42 p.m. – $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2), 1 3/16 miles, Fair Grounds, CNBC/FanDuel TV
Instant Coffee (2-1) brings a 3-for-4 career record into his final prep for the Kentucky Derby. He followed a Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) win last November at Churchill Downs by winning Fair Grounds’ Lecomte Stakes (G3) on Jan. 21.
Trained by Brad Cox, the 3-year-old Bolt d’Oro colt will have jockey Luis Saez up. Owner Gold Square teamed up with Cox on 2022 Arkansas Derby (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) hero Cyberknife.
Kenny McPeek trains Sun Thunder (5-1), who was runner-up Feb. 18 in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at 17-1 odds.
Kingsbarns (6-1) is off to a 2-for-2 start for trainer Todd Pletcher. After winning an allowance event Feb. 12 at Tampa Bay, he jumps onto the Kentucky Derby trail Saturday in New Orleans.
Tapit’s Conquest (10-1) gets another chance to make an impression on Fair Grounds’ series of Derby preps after running fourth in the Risen Star. He is also a Cox trainee.
Mandaloun (2021) and Country House (2019) both raced in the Louisiana Derby before being promoted to Kentucky Derby victories. The only two runners to sweep both events were Grindstone (1996) and Black Gold (1924).
2022 Louisiana Derby victor Epicenter was a hard-luck runner-up on the first Saturday in May. He went on to earn 3-year-old champion male honors after a campaign highlighted by a Travers Stakes (G1) score.
Here is a look the field for the 2023 Louisiana Derby (trainers and jockeys in parentheses) with morning-line odds.
1. Shopper’s Revenge (Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana Jr.), 12-1
2. Instant Coffee (Brad Cox, Luis Saez), 2-1
3. Curly Jack (Tom Amoss, Edgar Morales), 12-1
4. Sun Thunder (Kenny McPeek, Brian Hernandez Jr.), 5-1
5. Disarm (Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario), 10-1
6. Kingsbarns (Todd Pletcher, Flavien Prat), 6-1
7. Cagliostro (Cherie DeVaux, Cristian Torres), 12-1
8. Single Ruler (Keith Desormeaux, David Cohen), 15-1
9. Tapit’s Conquest (Brad Cox, Manny Franco), 10-1
10. Denington (Kenny McPeek, Junior Alvarado), 12-1
11. Jace’s Road (Brad Cox, Florent Geroux), 12-1
12. Baseline Beater (Neil Pessin, Corey Lanerie), 20-1
TimeformUS pace projections show Kingsbarns enjoying an uncontested early lead under jockey Flavien Prat. Favorite Instant Coffee is projected to sit among a group of runners in the middle of the field.
Prospective Kentucky Derby field
The top 18 points earners nominated for the Kentucky Derby will earn a spot in the starting gates for the Grade 1, $3 million race May 6. One spot is reserved for the top Triple Crown-nominated points earners on the European and Japanese Derby trails. Here is a look at who would make up the current field.
1. Forte, 90
2. Practical Move, 60
3. Confidence Game, 57
4. Angel of Empire, 54
5. Raise Cain, 54
6. Tapit Trice, 50
7. Rocket Can, 40
8. Red Route One, 33
9. Instant Coffee, 32
10, Classic Car Wash, 26
11. Sun Thunder, 24
12. General Banker, 24
13. Two Phil’s, 23
14. Congruent, 20
15. Hit Show, 20
16. Geaux Rocket Ride, 20
17. Slip Mahoney, 20
18. Classic Legacy, 19
Europe. Cairo
Japan. Perrière
Flatter Pod: Dooley, Avello, Midland discuss Ky. Derby preps | Ky. Derby preps: Identifying styles that win 4 weekend preps
Kentucky Oaks preps
Saturday’s action at Fair Grounds and Turfway also features a pair of races that award points toward the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 5.
The Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) pays points on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale and the Bourbonette Oaks pays points on a 50-20-15-10-5 basis. Here is a look at top 3-year-old fillies in both events.
5:43 p.m. – $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks, 1 1/16 miles (all-weather track), Turfway Park
Botanical (2-1) enters Saturday on a three-race winning streak and picked up 20 Oaks points March 4 by winning the local Cincinnati Trophy Stakes. Trainer Brad Cox has tabbed jockey Chris Landeros to pilot the 3-year-old Medaglia d’Oro filly. George Papaprodromou trains Ag Bullet (7-2), who travels east to Kentucky off a Lady of Shamrock Stakes win Feb. 12 at Santa Anita. Flashy Gem (4-1), a second Cox entry, makes her stakes bow after winning a local allowance race Feb. 16 at one mile.
6:08 p.m. – $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), 1 1/16 miles, Fair Grounds
Pretty Mischievous (8-5) is 2-for-2 over this Fair Grounds oval, following an Untapable Stakes win in December by taking the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) on Feb. 18. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rides the Into Mischief filly for trainer Brendan Walsh. Brad Cox trains The Alys Look (2-1), who also scored a Fair Grounds win on the Kentucky Oaks trail Jan. 21 in the Silverbulletday Stakes. Hoosier Philly (2-1), a Grade 2 winner for trainer Tom Amoss, was third in the Rachel Alexandra as a 2-5 favorite after bobbling and bumping a rival at the start.
Prospective Kentucky Oaks field
1. Wet Paint, 70
2. Pretty Mischievous, 63
3. Dorth Vader, 50
4. Mimi Kakushi, 50
5. Shidabhuti, 50
6. Wonder Wheel, 48
7. Red Carpet Ready, 35
8. And Tell Me Nolies, 30
9. Hoosier Philly, 25
10. The Alys Look, 24
11. Gambling Girl, 21
12. Dreaming of Snow, 20
13. Botanical, 20
14. Condensation, 20
Other Saturday stakes
Here is a look at other stakes races of note taking place Saturday across the U.S. All post times are EDT and races can be seen on FanDuel TV.
Internationally, Saturday’s action is highlighted by the Dubai World Cup (G1). See analysis of the race that features Bob Baffert-trained star Country Grammer.
5:04 p.m. – $500,000 New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2), 4-and-up, 1 1/8 miles, Fair Grounds
Art Collector (8-5) scored his second Grade 1 win Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), airing by 4 1/2 lengths as a 16-1 long shot. Jockey Junior Alvarado goes to New Orleans to ride the 6-year-old son of Bernardini for trainer Bill Mott. Brad Cox trains West Will Power (2-1), a Grade 2 winner who was second Feb. 18 at Oaklawn Park in the Razorback Handicap (G3). Pioneer of Medina (9-2) prepped for this race by scoring in the local Mineshaft Stakes (G3) on Feb. 18 for trainer Todd Pletcher.
5:13 p.m. – $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes, 4-and-up, 1 1/8 miles (all-weather track), Turfway Park
Santin (3-1) won a pair of Grade 1 turf races in 2022 for trainer Brendan Walsh and makes his 2023 bow Saturday over the synthetic. Jockey Adam Beschizza will be up on the 5-year-old son of Distorted Humor, whose last start was a fourth-place run Nov. 26 at Del Mar in the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2). Mike Maker trains Grade 2 winner King Cause (7-2), who drops in class after finishing sixth Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). Wolfie's Dynaghost (6-1) aims to make the grade for trainer Jonathan Thomas off a handicap win on the Pegasus card.
5:36 p.m. – $300,000 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes Presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2), 4-and-up, about 1 1/8 miles (turf), Fair Grounds
Atone (5-2) made the grade in style Jan. 28, closing from sixth at the top of the stretch to deliver trainer Maker a Pegasus Turf score. Jockey Luis Saez will climb aboard the 6-year-old Into Mischief gelding Saturday. Hugh Robertson trains Grade 1 victor and 2022 Muniz Memorial hero Two Emmys (3-1), who aims for a repeat win off a Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) triumph Feb. 18. Gentle Soul (5-1) was second in the Fair Grounds Stakes for trainer Bret Calhoun, 4 1/4 lengths back of Two Emmys.
7:37 p.m. – $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes (G3), 4-and-up fillies and mares, six furlongs, Santa Anita
Elm Drive (6-5) won a Grade 2 race two years ago as a juvenile but has not finished better than third in four subsequent graded races. Jockey Ramon Vazquez and trainer Phil D’Amato team up with the 4-year-old Mohaymen filly, sixth-place finisher Sept. 24 at Pimlico in the Weather Vane Stakes. Mark Glatt trains Dance to the Music (3-1), the 2022 Desert Stormer runner-up whose last race was a ninth-place showing Feb. 20 in a local allowance event. Stella Noir (3-1) settled for sixth Feb. 18 in Santa Anita’s Wishing Well Stakes for trainer Keith Desormeaux.
