Weekend Stakes Rundown: Final Steps on the Derby Trail
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Photo: Coady Photography
2-year-old champion male Classic Empire has one more chance to reach the Kentucky Derby gate
Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes in North America. This week we have the final preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) at Oaklawn Park and Keeneland. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern) and full previews are available through the links below.
Saturday, April 15
4:24 p.m.—$200,000 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland
Scuba returns from a five-month layoff and will try to win his fourth consecutive start. Campaigned by DARRS, Scuba won the Greenwood Cup (G3), Temperence Hill Invitational, and Marathon (G2) stakes in succession last year, almost entirely in front-running fashion going between 12 and 13 furlongs.
Ben Ali S. (G3)
Keeneland, Saturday, April 15, 2017, Race 7
- 1 1/8m
- Dirt
- $200,000
- 4 yo's & up
- 4:24 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Blofeld (KY) |
Florent Geroux | 118 | George R. Arnold, II | 8/1 |
| 2 | 2Eagle (KY) | Robby Albarado | 118 | Neil J. Howard | 5/2 |
| 3 | 3Watershed (KY) | Paco Lopez | 118 | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | 7/2 |
| 4 | 4Scuba (KY) |
Kendrick Carmouche | 120 | Brendan P. Walsh | 5/1 |
| 5 | 5Taketothestreets (KY) | Channing Hill | 118 | Kellyn Gorder | 20/1 |
| 6 | 6Bird Song (KY) | Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. | 118 | Ian R. Wilkes | 3/1 |
| 7 | 7Conquest Enforcer (ON) |
Joel Rosario | 118 | Jeffrey A. Radosevich | 5/1 |
| 8 | 8Frammento (KY) |
Nik Juarez | 118 | Nicholas P. Zito | 15/1 |
4:57 p.m.—$100,000 Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland
Lady Aurelia's 3-year-old debut appears to be no cakewalk. Not only will Stonestreet Stables, George Bolton, and Peter Leidel's group 1 winner face an overflow field, but she'll also face older horses for the first time.
Giant's Causeway S.
Keeneland, Saturday, April 15, 2017, Race 8
- STK
- 5 1/2f
- Turf
- $100,000
- 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 4:57 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Ruby Notion (WV) | Joel Rosario | 120 | Wesley A. Ward | 10/1 |
| 2 | 2Triple Chelsea (KY) |
Robby Albarado | 120 | Anthony J. Granitz | 12/1 |
| 3 | 3Nobody's Fault (KY) |
Jose Valdivia, Jr. | 120 | Neil L. Pessin | 30/1 |
| 4 | 4Exaggerated (VA) |
Flavien Prat | 120 | Arnaud Delacour | 6/1 |
| 5 | 5Rapid Rhythm (VA) |
James Graham | 120 | Michael Stidham | 6/1 |
| 6 | 6Come to Mischief (KY) |
Perry Wayne Ouzts | 120 | Valerie K. Shanyfelt | 50/1 |
| 7 | 7Lady Aurelia (KY) |
John R. Velazquez | 117 | Wesley A. Ward | 6/5 |
| 8 | 8Lots o' Lex (KY) | Jesus Lopez Castanon | 120 | Gerald Russel Aschinger | 30/1 |
| 9 | 9Bibby (KY) |
Jose Lezcano | 120 | Victoria H. Oliver | 30/1 |
| 10 | 10Pretty Perfection (KY) |
Nik Juarez | 125 | Kelly J. Breen | 5/1 |
| 11 | 11Lajatico (GB) | Florent Geroux | 120 | Doug F. O'Neill | 15/1 |
| 12 | 12Miss Katie Mae (IRE) | Jose L. Ortiz | 120 | H. Graham Motion | 12/1 |
| 13 | 13Marquee Cal Gal (KY) | Jack Gilligan | 120 | Philip A. Sims | 20/1 |
| 14 | 14Super Saks (KY) |
Declan Cannon | 120 | D. Wayne Lukas | 20/1 |
4:57 p.m.—$400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park
Former classic contender Whitmore and veteran sprinter Holy Boss are set for a rematch. Last time out in the March 11 Hot Springs Stakes, Whitmore scored by six lengths over grade 3 winner Ivan Fallunovalot, with Holy Boss another 2 3/4 lengths back in fourth.
Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3)
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, April 15, 2017, Race 7
- 6f
- Dirt
- $400,000
- 4 yo's & up
- 3:57 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Chief of Staff (CA) | Tyler Baze | 113 | Jack C. Van Berg | 20/1 |
| 2 | 2Wabel (KY) |
Javier Castellano | 113 | Brad H. Cox | 12/1 |
| 3 | 3Moe Candy (KY) | Victor Espinoza | 116 | John W. Sadler | 3/1 |
| 4 | 4Black Bear (KY) |
Calvin H. Borel | 113 | Randy L. Morse | 15/1 |
| 5 | 5Chief Cicatriz (KY) | Richard E. Eramia | 114 | Shawn H. Davis | 30/1 |
| 6 | 6Holy Boss (KY) |
Mike E. Smith | 118 | Steven M. Asmussen | 5/1 |
| 7 | 7Sharp Art (KY) | Geovanni Franco | 113 | Matt Kordenbrock | 30/1 |
| 8 | 8Whitmore (KY) | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 122 | Ron Moquett | 4/5 |
| 9 | 9Apprehender (KY) |
Alex Birzer | 114 | Gene Jacquot | 15/1 |
5:30 p.m.—$100,000 Los Angeles Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park
Two years ago, Kentuckian was a late-blooming but promising 3-year-old. He broke his maiden by 11 lengths in his debut at Golden Gate Fields, had a troubled trip and finished third in his stakes debut in the San Pedro, then romped home in the Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3). He didn't win again, however, until Feb. 20 of this year, when he won a conditional allowance race by a neck.
Los Angeles S. (G3)
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, April 15, 2017, Race 4
- 6f
- Dirt
- $100,000
- 3 yo's & up
- 2:32 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Kentuckian (KY) |
Stewart Elliott | 122 | Jerry Hollendorfer | 5/2 |
| 2 | 2Grazen Sky (CA) | Edwin A. Maldonado | 122 | Steven Miyadi | 4/1 |
| 3 | 3Ike Walker (KY) |
Santiago Gonzalez | 122 | Jerry Hollendorfer | 5/1 |
| 4 | 4Lord Simba (KY) | Martin Garcia | 122 | Bob Baffert | 5/2 |
| 5 | 5Eastwood (KY) |
Norberto Arroyo, Jr. | 122 | Richard E. Mandella | 2/1 |
5:34 p.m.—$200,000 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland
Based on recent class, Lael Stables' homebred No Dozing is the main player with four graded stakes tries on his ledger. The son of Union Rags has made two starts in 2017, both at Tampa Bay Downs, where he ran sixth in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3), then improved several lengths in a fourth-place finish behind Tapwrit in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2).
Stonestreet Lexington S. (G3)
Keeneland, Saturday, April 15, 2017, Race 9
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $200,000
- 3 yo
- 5:34 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Resiliency (KY) | Florent Geroux | 118 | Steven M. Asmussen | 6/1 |
| 2 | 2Souper Tapit (FL) | Robby Albarado | 118 | Mark E. Casse | 10/1 |
| 3 | 3Senior Investment (KY) |
Channing Hill | 118 | Kenneth G. McPeek | 5/1 |
| 4 | 4No Dozing (KY) | Joel Rosario | 118 | Arnaud Delacour | 4/1 |
| 5 | 5Time to Travel (ON) | Edgar S. Prado | 118 | Michael R. Matz | 4/1 |
| 6 | 6Convict Pike (KY) |
Angel Cruz | 118 | George R. Arnold, II | 8/1 |
| 7 | 7Capt. Grider (KY) | Jesus Lopez Castanon | 118 | Dante Zanelli, Jr. | 50/1 |
| 8 | 8He's Munnie (KY) | Miguel Mena | 118 | Dan L. McFarlane | 20/1 |
| 9 | 9Lookin At Blessing (KY) | Nik Juarez | 118 | Nicholas P. Zito | 15/1 |
| 10 | 10West Coast (KY) |
Flavien Prat | 118 | Bob Baffert | 3/1 |
6:09 p.m.—$750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at Oaklawn Park
From turf to dirt, the connections of Midnight Storm say not just his surface has changed. The horse himself has found the wisdom that comes with age, relaxing into his new role as one of the West Coast's top handicap contenders on the main track after already establishing himself as a leading turf miler under the care of trainer Phil D'Amato.
Oaklawn H. (G2)
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, April 15, 2017, Race 9
- 1 1/8m
- Dirt
- $750,000
- 4 yo's & up
- 5:09 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Texas Chrome (TX) | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 115 | J. R. Caldwell | 10/1 |
| 2 | 2Domain's Rap (IL) | Ramon A. Vazquez | 115 | Federico Villafranco | 8/1 |
| 3 | 3Midnight Storm (KY) |
Mike E. Smith | 122 | Philip D'Amato | 1/2 |
| 4 | 4Madefromlucky (KY) |
Javier Castellano | 116 | Todd A. Pletcher | 4/1 |
| 5 | 5Inside Straight (NY) |
Geovanni Franco | 114 | Robertino Diodoro | 12/1 |
| 6 | 6Cutacorner (KY) | Walter De La Cruz | 110 | Jack C. Van Berg | 30/1 |
| 7 | 7Goats Town (KY) | Jon Kenton Court | 112 | D. Wayne Lukas | 20/1 |
6:12 p.m.—$350,000 Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland
Taken individually, grade 1 winners Lady Eli, Time and Motion, and Catch a Glimpse could all vie for favoritism in any entry box they show up in. Together, the three stellar distaffers headline a spectacular field that boasts four top-level winners.
Coolmore Jenny Wiley S. (G1T)
Keeneland, Saturday, April 15, 2017, Race 10
- 1 1/16m
- Turf
- $350,000
- 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
- 6:12 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Lady Eli (KY) |
Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 123 | Chad C. Brown | 1/1 |
| 2 | 2Goodyearforroses (IRE) | Corey S. Nakatani | 120 | Richard Baltas | 20/1 |
| 3 | 3Catch a Glimpse (KY) |
Florent Geroux | 118 | Mark E. Casse | 5/1 |
| 4 | 4Dickinson (KY) | Paco Lopez | 120 | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | 8/1 |
| 5 | 5Kitten's Roar (KY) |
Joel Rosario | 118 | Michael J. Maker | 15/1 |
| 6 | 6Time and Motion (KY) | John R. Velazquez | 123 | James J. Toner | 4/1 |
| 7 | 7Illuminant (PA) |
Flavien Prat | 118 | Michael W. McCarthy | 8/1 |
| 8 | 8Quidura (GB) | Junior Alvarado | 118 | H. Graham Motion | 10/1 |
7:18 p.m.—$1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park
As the series of minor setbacks formed a small mountain, trainer Mark Casse threw one last Hail Mary pass and shipped Classic Empire to the peaceful surroundings of Winding Oaks Farm in Ocala, Fla., in hopes of getting him right there. What the Canadian Hall of Fame conditioner saw in recent weeks was enough for him to put the champion colt in the Arkansas Derby.
Arkansas Derby (G1)
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, April 15, 2017, Race 11
- 1 1/8m
- Dirt
- $1,000,000
- 3 yo
- 6:18 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Rockin Rudy (IA) |
Mario Gutierrez | 118 | Doug F. O'Neill | 12/1 |
| 2 | 2Classic Empire (KY) |
Julien R. Leparoux | 122 | Mark E. Casse | 8/5 |
| 3 | 3Silver Dust (KY) |
Corey J. Lanerie | 118 | Randy L. Morse | 20/1 |
| 4 | 4Petrov (KY) |
Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 118 | Ron Moquett | 12/1 |
| 5 | 5Grandpa's Dream (KY) | Alex L. Canchari | 118 | Chris A. Hartman | 30/1 |
| 6 | 6Lookin At Lee (KY) |
Luis Contreras | 122 | Steven M. Asmussen | 15/1 |
| 7 | 7Sonneteer (KY) | Kent J. Desormeaux | 118 | J. Keith Desormeaux | 15/1 |
| 8 | 8Rowdy the Warrior (OK) | Luis S. Quinonez | 118 | Donnie K. Von Hemel | 30/1 |
| 9 | 9Untrapped (KY) |
Mike E. Smith | 118 | Steven M. Asmussen | 6/1 |
| 10 | 10One Dreamy Dude (FL) | Geovanni Franco | 118 | Jack C. Van Berg | 50/1 |
| 11 | 11Conquest Mo Money (NY) |
Jorge Carreno | 122 | Miguel L. Hernandez | 15/1 |
| 12 | 12Malagacy (KY) |
Javier Castellano | 122 | Todd A. Pletcher | 2/1 |
Sunday, April 16
4:53 p.m.—$100,000 Star Shoot Stakes at Woodbine
Gustav Schickedanz's homebred Will She ended her 2-year-old season with an impressive 8 3/4-length romp in the Fanfreluche Stakes at Woodbine and will return to the Canadian track to make her 3-year-old debut in the Star Shoot, where she'll take on fellow stakes winner Red Lodge.
Star Shoot S.
Woodbine, Sunday, April 16, 2017, Race 8
- STK
- 6f
- All Weather Track
- $100,000
- 3 yo Fillies
- 4:53 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Goldrush Glory (BC) | Patrick Husbands | 117 | Kelly L. Callaghan | 8/1 |
| 2 | 2Red Lodge (KY) | Jose Valdivia, Jr. | 117 | Wesley A. Ward | 5/2 |
| 3 | 3R Naja (FL) |
Luis Contreras | 117 | Michael Stidham | 8/1 |
| 4 | 4Sister Nation (KY) |
Gary Boulanger | 117 | Michael P. De Paulo | 6/1 |
| 5 | 5Crumlin Queen (ON) | David Moran | 117 | Michael J. Doyle | 15/1 |
| 6 | 6Gilded Lily (KY) |
Rafael Manuel Hernandez | 117 | Michael J. Maker | 4/1 |
| 7 | 7Will She (ON) | Jesse M. Campbell | 119 | Michael Keogh | 2/1 |
7:30 p.m.—$75,000 San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Rockingham Ranch's Bobby Abu Dhabi likely was overmatched in his first stakes start—when he ran fourth in the Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity (G1)—but bounced back in his 3-year-old debut March 19, winning won a 6 1/2-furlong allowance at Santa Anita by 1 1/4 lengths.
San Pedro S.
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, April 16, 2017, Race 8
- STK
- 6f
- Dirt
- $75,000
- 3 yo
- 4:44 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Bobby Abu Dhabi (KY) |
Norberto Arroyo, Jr. | 120 | Peter Miller | 9/5 |
| 2 | 2Aristocratic (KY) |
Rafael Bejarano | 120 | Doug F. O'Neill | 3/1 |
| 3 | 3Taxman's Quest (OK) | Flavien Prat | 124 | Richard E. Mandella | 3/1 |
| 4 | 4Rebel War (FL) | Joseph Talamo | 120 | Bobby Wayne Grayson | 8/1 |
| 5 | 5Big League (KY) |
Edwin A. Maldonado | 120 | Peter Miller | 5/2 |