$3.1 Million Nashville Derby Draws Overflow Field

With Kentucky Downs set to give away $3.1 million, the Aug. 31 Nashville Derby Invitational (G3T) drew an overflow field of 14 3-year-olds whose connections want in on a cut of that massive prize.

The purse for the 1 5/16-mile turf race includes $1.2 million from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, and only the field's Kentucky-breds are eligible for that added money. But the remaining $1.9 million was still good enough to draw three European-based colts in Sea The Thunder , Stromberg , and 7-2 morning-line favorite Bellum Justum .

Bellum Justum, trained by Andrew Balding, won the April 23 Blue Riband Trial at Epsom Racecourse and finished seventh in the Epsom Derby (G1), beaten 13 1/4 lengths by City of Troy  on ground rated good to soft. The Sea The Stars  colt owned by King Power Racing came back to form with a third in the Hampton Court Stakes (G3) at Ascot and a second in the Gordon Stakes (G3) at Goodwood. Both of those recent runs came on good to firm ground and the distance here should suit him. Frankie Dettori replaces regular rider Oisin Murphy.

Teme Valley's Stromberg, trained by Joseph O'Brien, finished a well-beaten 11th behind Bellum Justum in the Hampton Court but rebounded to run third in the Aug. 11 Prix Nureyev at Deauville.

Sea The Thunder broke his maiden June 26 in a handicap at Carlisle. On paper he appears to be a long shot while making his first start stateside for trainer Cherie DeVaux and owners John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services.

"If you hit the board, that's a win most places," DeVaux said. "It's a good race, as all the races shape up for this little meet. But so much of this depends on if the horse can handle the course. I think the European horses that have run on courses with a configuration like this probably have a little bit of an advantage."

West Point Thoroughbreds has interests in two of the primary contenders. West Point co-owns Audubon Stakes winner Cugino  with Jimmy Kahig, and Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) winner Carson's Run  with Steven Bouchey. Cugino, who drew the outside post 12, won the June 1 Audubon at Churchill Downs by 4 1/4 lengths in his most recent start. Trainer Shug McGaughey added blinkers to the Twirling Candy   colt's equipment two back.

Carson's Run, a colt by Cupid  , comes in riding a two-race win streak for trainer Christophe Clement.

Stalwart turf trainer Chad Brown entered Jim Bakke's and Gerald Isbister's White Palomino . The son of Kitten's Joy finished second, beaten just a head, in both the Pennine Ridge Stakes (G2T) and Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T). He looks like one of the primary pace players and has Jose Ortiz named to ride.

Also in with a chance is the improving Cameo Performance , winner of the Aug. 3 Kentucky Downs Preview Nashville Derby at Ellis Park. Brendan Walsh trains the Oscar Performance   colt for Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel, and Fergus Galvin.