By Richard Rosenblatt
The Fountain of Youth. The San Felipe. The Gotham. The John Battaglia Memorial. And far, far more.
An enormous dose of stakes races that includes 4 Kentucky Derby preps, three Kentucky Oaks preps, and the Santa Anita Handicap, is lined up for Saturday. From the Large A to Turfway, from Gulfstream to Santa Anita, the 2022 racing season strikes into a better gear this month.
Emmanuel- Photograph courtesy of Ryan Thompson-Coglianese Images
As normally, the Derby preps take heart stage, significantly the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. A subject of 11 is about with Antonio Sano-trained Simplification the 5-2 favourite over Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher’s Emmanuel (3-1).
The San Felipe (G2) has a subject of seven led by San Vicente (G2) winner Forbidden Kingdom because the slight 8-5 favourite over Bob Baffert-trained Doppelganger at 9-5. The Gotham (G3) drew a subject of 10 with Corridor of Fame coach Steve Asmussen’s Morello the 3-1 favourite with Pletcher’s Dean’s Record at 7-2 and Bob Baffert’s Rockefeller at 4-1.
These three Derby-qualifiers provide factors of 50-20-10-5 to the primary 4 finishers (Baffert’s horses are ineligible to earn factors because of the coach’s suspension by Churchill Downs).
Then there’s the John Battaglia at Turfway Park over the all-weather observe. A subject of 12 is entered, and coach Kenny McPeek’s Tiz the Bomb is the 5-2 favourite over Stolen Base and Bloodline, each at 7-2. Derby factors are 10-4-2-1 to the primary 4 finishers.
On TV
CNBC will broadcast the San Felipe and Fountain of Youth from 4-6 p.m. ET. FOX Sports activities’ “America’s Day on the Races” will broadcast reside racing from 4:30-7 p.m. ET.
Submit instances for the Derby preps are 5:27 p.m. (Gotham), 5:30 p.m. (San Felipe), 5:42 p.m. (Fountain of Youth), 8:14 p.m. (John Battaglia).
Oaks preps
The Oaks preps are the Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream (50-20-10-5), the Busher Invitational on the Large A (50-20-10-5), and the Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway (10-4-2-1). On Sunday, there’s one other Oaks factors qualifier – the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel (50-20-10-5).
Large ‘Cap
The eighty fifth version of the Large ‘Cap drew an eight-horse subject. 4-time Grade 2 winner Categorical Prepare is the 8-5 favourite over 5-2 second selection Stilleto Boy.
DERBY PREPS
Aqueduct Racetrack – Photograph courtesy of Nyra.com
Aqueduct
$300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3), 1 mile, 3-year-olds
Submit time: 5:27 p.m. (race 10)
Unbeaten Morello (2-for-2) is the 3-1 favourite for Corridor of Fame coach Steve Asmussen. The chestnut colt received the Jimmy Winkfield, a neighborhood prep for the Gotham, by 5 lengths in his earlier begin.
Jose Lezcano has the decision leaving from submit 9.
The ten-horse subject additionally features a pair of Todd Pletcher colts, Dean’s Record (7-2) and Golden Code (12-1) and Bob Baffert’s Rockefeller (4-1).
Santa Anita
$400,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds
Submit time 5:30 p.m. (race 6)
San Vicente (G2) winner Forbidden Kingdom is the one to beat in a subject of seven. Skilled by Richard Mandella the colt is the 8-5 favourite leaving from submit 6 below Juan Hernandez.
Armagnac (5-1) and Doppelganger (9-5) are within the subject however ineligible to gather Derby as a result of they’re skilled by Bob Baffert, who’s suspended from competing in 2022 Derby by Churchill Downs.
“He’s as fast as they arrive,” Mandella mentioned of Forbidden Kingdom.
The San Felipe is taken into account the native prep for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 9.
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park – Photograph courtesy of Joe DiOrio / BloodHorse
$400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), 1 1 /16 miles, 3-year-olds
Submit time: 5:42 p.m. (race 12)
Simplification (5-2) takes on the position of favourite after Mo Donegal was scratched coach by Todd Pletcher. Simplification drew submit 2 and will likely be ridden by Jose Ortiz.
The Florida-bred colt completed second within the Holy Bull (G3) in his final out and received the Mucho Macho Man in his 3-year-old debut, each at Gulfstream.
Pletcher sends out second selection Emmanuel at 3-1. Emmanuel has received each of his begins, most not too long ago a 4 ½-length victory in an allowance non-obligatory claimer on Dec. 11. Luis Saez rides from submit 8.
The 12-horse subject is a troublesome one, with Rattle N Roll (8-1) set for his 3-year-old debut for coach Kenny McPeek. The colt received the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland again in October. He will likely be ridden by Mind Hernandez, Jr., from submit 6.
Additionally within the subject are Road Sense winner Howling Time (15-1), and Saratoga Particular (G2) winner Excessive Oak (8-1).
Emmanuel is one among a number of Derby contenders for Pletcher.
“We’ll see how we do within the Fountain of Youth and take it from there,” Pletcher mentioned.
Turfway Park – Photograph courtesy of americasbestracing
Turfway Park
$125,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, all-weather, 3-year-olds
Submit time: 8:14 p.m. (race 5)
Tiz the Bomb seems to bounce again from a seventh-place end within the Holy Bull (G3) for coach Kenny McPeek. In a subject of 12, Tiz the Bomb is the 5-2 favourite, with Bloodline and Stolen Base every at 7-2.
The race is the native prep for the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on April 2.
As a 2-year-old, Tiz the Bomb received the Bourbon Stakes (G2) and was the runner-up within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
Jockey Alex Achard will journey leaving from submit 10.
A have a look at another stakes race on Saturday:
AQUEDUCT
$250,000 Busher Invitational, 1 mile, 3-year-old fillies
Radio Days, skilled by Corridor of Famer Shug McGaughey, is the 7-5 favourite in a subject of six, with Magic Circle is the second selection at 3-1 for coach Rudy Rodriguez.
Radio Days comes into the race with two victories and a second-place end within the Ahead Gal (G3) at Gulfstream on Feb. 5.
$200,000 Tom Idiot Handicap (G3), 6 furlongs, 4 and up
Submit time: 1:52 p.m. (race 3)
Chateau, a 7-year-old gelding, makes his 40th profession begin because the 4-5 favourite in a five-horse subject. Skilled by Rob Atras, Chateau has a document 8-10-10 and earnings of $615,019.
He comes into the race off a Gravesend Stakes at Aqueduct in December. Chateau received this race final yr.
GULFSTREAM PARK
Along with the Fountain of Youth, there are seven different graded stakes races on the cardboard. Right here’s a have a look at a few of them:
$200,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2), 1 mile, 3-year-old fillies
Submit time: 2:40 p.m. (race 6)
An evenly matched subject of seven is entered, with Brad Cox-trained Lady With a Dream the 3-1 favourite off her win within the Ahead Gal in her final outing.
Todd Pletcher sends out Elegant Version at 7-2 and Candy Dani Lady is 4-1 for coach Carlo Vaccarezza.
$200,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2), 1 mile, 4 and up
Submit time: 4:40 p.m. (race 10)
Speaker’s Nook is the 5-2 favourite over Todd Pletcher’s Fearless (3-1) in a subject of 9. Additionally operating are Diamond Oops (6-1), Endorsed (6-1), and Ny Site visitors (9-2).
Speaker’s Nook, skilled by Corridor of Famer Invoice Mott, drew submit 3 and may have Junior Alvarado aboard. The 4-year-old colt comes into the race off a victory over Fearless within the Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream on Jan. 29.
$200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2), 1 3/8 miles, turf, 4 and up
Submit time: 5:10 p.m. (race 11)
Abaan seeks a fourth straight win when he takes on 10 rivals because the 8-5 favourite for Todd Pletcher. The 5-year-old gelding drew the rail and will likely be ridden by Luis Saez.
Pletcher will saddle two others within the race – Shamrocket (6-1) and Gloucestershire (8-1). Abaan received the W.L. McKnight Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream on Jan. 29 and earlier than that he took the 2-mile H. Allen Jerkens Stakes.
“I feel he discovered his specialty in these marathon turf races,’’ Pletcher mentioned. Now he’s proven that he can go two miles, after which he backed up and ran effectively. It looks like what he enjoys essentially the most.”
Santa Anita Park (photograph by Jim Safford).
SANTA ANITA
$200,000 San Carlos Stakes (G2), 7 furlong, 4 and up
Submit time: 4:28 p.m. (race 4)
Bob Baffert-trained Cezanne is the slight 5-2 favourite over stablemate Eight Rings (3-1) and Craig Lewis-trained Brickyard Experience (3-1).
Flavien Prat has the decision on Cezanne, whereas John Velazquez rides Eight Rings.
Cezanne seems to rebound off a third-place end within the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) final outing. Eight Rings is searching for his first stakes win since taking the 2019 American Pharoah Stakes (G1). He ran third in his earlier three races – the Native Diver (G3), the San Antonio (G2), and the San Pasqual (G2) in his 5-year-old debut on Feb. 5.
$500,000 Beholder Mile (G1), 1 mile, 4 and up fillies and mares
Submit time: 7 p.m. (race 9)
A compact subject of 5 fillies and mares line up with Bob Baffert’s As Time Goes By the 4-5 favourite. Flavien Prat will journey.
Envoutante, skilled by Kenny McPeek, is the 8-5 second selection.
As Time Goes By comes into the race off a pair of Grade 3 wins – the Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos to shut out 2021, and the La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita to open her 5-year-old marketing campaign. She ran second to Swiss Skydiver within the 2021 Beholder Mile.
$500,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1), 1 mile, turf, 4 and up
Submit time: 7:29 p.m. (race 10)
Rely Once more tops a 12-horse subject because the 7-2 favourite over 5-1 second selection Area Traveller.
Skilled by Phil D’Amato, Rely Once more ended a five-race dropping streak with a victory within the Thunder Street Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita on Feb. 5 in his 7-year-old debut.
Area Traveller, skilled by Brendan Walsh, comes into the race off a 3rd within the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and will get the providers of jockey Jamie Spencer.
$650,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), 1 ¼ miles, 4 and up
Submit time 8 p.m. (race 11)
Categorical Prepare – Photograph Courtesy of Benoit Photograph
Categorical Prepare is rolling into this one off a powerful victory within the San Pasqual Stakes (G2) final month.
Skilled by John Shirreffs, the 5-year-old son of Union Rags is the 8-5 favourite in a subject of eight. Stilleto Boy is the second selection at 5-2.
Categorical Prepare completed off his 4-year-old marketing campaign with a nostril victory within the San Antonio Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 earlier than his profitable 5-year-old debut.
Corridor of Fame rider Victor Espinoza has the decision leaving from submit 6 as Categorical Prepare seems to avenge a second-place end in final yr’s Large ‘Cap.
Stilleto Boy has run with the perfect over the previous yr and completed third within the Pegasus World Cup (G1) on Jan. 29. Skilled by Ed Moger, Jr., the 4-year-old son of Shackleford will likely be ridden by John Velazquez.
In his final three begins in 2021, Stilleto Boy was second within the Superior Once more (G1), fifth within the Breeders’ Cup Basic (G1) and third within the Malibu Stakes (G1)
Others within the subject embody Brad Cox-trained Warrant – third within the Louisiana Stakes (G3) behind stablemate Mandaloun – and Bob Baffert-trained Spielberg, crushed 6 ½ lengths by Categorical Prepare within the San Pasqual.
Over time whereas working at The Related Press, Wealthy Rosenblatt grew to become a well-known identify to legions of the horse racing followers and business insiders along with his award-winning articles on horse racing and his tales from the backstretch.
Along with being an astute observer of sports activities, Rosenblatt is the co-author of The All-American Chili Cookbook. His work has been seen in nearly each publication on the planet, together with The New York Occasions, The Washington Submit and Time Journal.
