E J Won the Cup Looks to Make the Grade in OK Derby

Superfecta King Stable's E J Won the Cup  makes another journey to the Midwest in an attempt to add the title of graded stakes winner to his growing resume when he lines up for the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) Sept. 29 at Remington Park.

Since breaking his maiden in February for trainer Doug O'Neill, the son of Omaha Beach   has rattled off three black-type stakes victories in his last five outings. Sandwiched in between his Turf Paradise Derby and Texas Derby victories, he also placed a strong third to Stronghold  and Imagination  in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). The improving colt dazzled in his latest trip to the winner's circle, cruising gate-to-wire by 9 1/4 lengths under regular rider Mike Smith in the Aug. 24 St. Louis Derby at FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing. It's worth noting it was the chestnut's first stakes win without being treated with the anti-bleeder medication, Furosemide (Lasix).

Unraced since that effort, E J Won the Cup ships East from his Southern California home base with Smith in the irons.

E J Won the Cup is one of three West Coast shippers in the 1 1/8-mile Oklahoma Derby. Trainer John Sadler will also send out a pair of 3-year-olds in Indispensable , runner-up last time out to Muth  in the Shared Belief Stakes, and recent high figure Del Mar maiden winner Canada Gate . Both colts are sons of Constitution  .

Gary and Mary West's homebred Most Wanted , an undefeated 3-for-3, has been made the 5-2 morning line favorite in Sunday's contest. The speedy Candy Ride   colt, trained by Brad Cox, scored a frontrunning victory in the Aug. 11 Ellis Park Derby in his latest trip to the post. He netted the co-highest Equibase Speed Figure of 105 for that performance, which was only matched by Indispensable in the Shared Belief Stakes.

Kentucky Derby (G1) alum Society Man  makes for an intriguing contender shipping into town for trainer Danny Gargan. The workmate of Belmont Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) hero Dornoch  , the Good Magic   gelding rebounded from his poor Derby finish with a sparkling 2 1/2-length win in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) June 9 at Churchill Downs. He then checked in third, behind Dragoon Guard  and Oklahoma Derby rival Dimatic , in the West Virginia Derby (G3) Aug. 4.

One race earlier, the Brad Cox-trained Alpine Princess  makes her first start since the March 23 Bourbonette Oaks in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks. A one-time Kentucky Oaks candidate, Alpine Princess was a decisive frontrunning winner of the Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds to begin her sophomore season. The daughter of Classic Empire  was then fourth in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) and third in the Bourbonette Oaks before being shelved.

Owned by Full of Run Racing II and Madaket Stables, Alpine Princess has been on a steady work pattern throughout the summer at Churchill Downs. Florent Geroux has the call in the 1 1/16-mile affair.

Stakes performers Candy Gray , Just Be Quiet , Miss Code West , and Wonder Ride  are among the field of nine 3-year-old fillies.