Why Improbable is the Real Deal for 2019 Kentucky Derby Trail

Making the Grade focuses on the winners of the key races from the previous weekend. This week we take a closer look at Improbable, winner of Grade 1, $300,000 Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity on Dec. 8 at Los Alonitros.

Improbable is unbeaten in three starts and has a potential to be a contender for the 2019 Kentucky Derby. He was bought for $200,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale and sold as a weanling for $110,00. The chestnut colt made his career debut on Sept. 29 at Santa Anita. Five weeks later he obliterated eight opponents in the one-mile Street Sense Stakes on the Breeders’ Cup “Future Stars Friday” card. His trainer Bob Baffert entered him in his graded stakes debut in December.

Improbable has won all three starts. He has enough speed to gain good position and the maturity to wait until his rider asks him to accelerate.

Justify's owner, WinStar Farm, has a significant impact on major races almost since its inception. Justify won the 2018 Triple Crown. Steve Baffert has won 11 classic races. Drayden Van Dyke has been aboard for each of Improbable's three races to date. He has 19 graded stakes wins, up from 10 in 2017, and four Grade 1 victories. He also won his first career Breeders’ Cup race when he guided Stormy Liberal to victory in the2018 Turf Sprint. Teo Ah Khing, the architect who designed Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, founded China Horse Club. Jack and Laurie Wolf”s Starlight Racing raced champions Ashado and Shanghai Bobby.

Improbable is a 2-year-old colt trained by Bob Baffert. He is going to the Kentucky Derby Trail. His sire is City Zip, a champion sprinter and a successful breeding program. The breed also produced a number of successful horses. Improbable's dam is Rare Event, who is by 1992 Belmont Stakes winner and Horse of the Year A.P. Indy. He's in good shape on the racetrack. If he were to bet on a future Kentucky derby winner, he would choose Impro probable.