The result of the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 11, the final race offering Kentucky Derby points, did not have much effect on what the final field will look like come May 2.
Longshot TRENDSETTER (Modernist) won the 1 1/16 mile Lexington over a modest group and earned 20 points for the 152nd Derby, but that does not get him into the field.
The final points tally is listed below and 20 horses are permitted to race. Including the European and Japanese qualifiers, the top 20 trace down to Euro/Mideast qualifier SIX SPEED (Not This Time). In spot number 21 is the much-fancied CHIEF WALLABEE (Constitution) who was second in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and third in the Florida Derby (G1). The news out of Kentucky is that Stark Contrast, who is 16th on the list, will compete in the American Stakes on grass on Derby day instead and that would allow Chief Wallabee into the field.
Last week, jockey Irad Ortiz announced he would ride RENEGADE (Into Mischief) for trainer Todd Pletcher in the Derby. Ortiz had ridden COMMANDMENT, the points leader trained by Brad Cox and also a son of Into Mischief, and Jeff Ruby Steaks winner FULLEFFORT (Liam’s Map).
The Canadian content is light, but Woodbine maiden breaker SILENT TACTIC (Tacitus) tries to become the first Derby winner for perennial leading trainer Mark Casse, and Canadian J. PAUL REDDAM, originally from Windsor, is back with PAVLOVIAN (Pavlov).
The KENTUCKY OAKS (G1) picture is also close to being set (points leaders below).
Godolphin’s BELLA BALLERINA, winner of the Golden Rod (G2) and the Rachel Alexandra (G2), continued her preparations for an expected run in the $1.5-million Kentucky Oaks (G1) by working five furlongs in 1:01.80 in company Saturday morning over a fast track at Keeneland.
Watch a video of the work here:
Runner-up in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) in her most recent start for trainer Brendan Walsh, Bella Ballerina had worked a half-mile in :48.20 here last Saturday.
“It was a great work and she was very comfortable behind horses,” Walsh said of the move in which the Street Sense filly rated behind workmates Diamond Eyed Jack and Get Them Roses. “She will have one more work here next week and then her final work at Churchill Downs.”
Bella Ballerina is a half-sister to Pretty Mischievous, the champion three-year-old filly of 2023 trained by Walsh. She is following a similar path that Pretty Mischievous took toward winning the Kentucky Oaks that spring, having won the Rachel Alexandra and being runner-up in the Fair Grounds Oaks.
Casse will be represented in the Oaks as well as COUNTING STARS (Honor A.P.) comes in fresh off a big win in the Fantasy Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn.
KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS
Rank / Horse / Points / Owner(s) / Trainer / Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1. Commandment – 150 Wathnan Racing (Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani), Brad Cox $943,020
2. Further Ado – 135 Spendthrift Farm LLC (Eric P. Gustavson), Brad Cox $1,068,095
3. Renegade – 125 Robert & Lawana L. Low & Repole Stable (Mike Repole), Todd Pletcher $1,002,500
4. So Happy – 115 Norman Stables LLC (Robbie Norman) & Saints or Sinners (Hans & Ana Maron), Mark Glatt $444,000
5. Fulleffort – 110 St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola) & Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf et al), Brad Cox $507,900
6. The Puma – 106 OGMA Investments LLC (Gustavo Delgado), JR Ranch (Ramiro Restrepo et al) & High Step Racing LLC (Randy Guy, Joe Noble, Kevin Avera, Jim Ferreira & Todd Perry), Gustavo Delgado $428,000
7. Silent Tactic – 100 John C. Oxley, Mark Casse $1,020,130
8. Emerging Market – 100 Klaravich Stables Inc. (Seth Klarman), Chad Brown $600,000
9. Albus – 100 Pin Oak Stud (Dana Bernhard), Riley Mott $400,000
10. Potente – 100 Speedway Stables LLC (Peter Fluor & K.C. Weiner), Bob Baffert $220,000
11. Pavlovian – 70 Reddam Racing LLC (J. Paul Reddam), Doug O’Neill $527,000
12. $-Right to Party – 65 Chester Broman Sr., Kenny McPeek $176,000
13. Incredibolt – 60 Pin Oak Stud LLC (Dana Bernhard), Riley Mott $424,570
14. Golden Tempo – 60 Phipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito) & St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola), Cherie DeVaux $300,000
15. Ottinho – 56 Three Chimneys Farm LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba), Chad Brown $267,750
16. Stark Contrast – 50 Amerman Racing LLC (Mr. & Mrs. John Amerman), Michael McCarthy $439,900
17. Iron Honor – 50 St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola), William H. Lawrence & Glassman Racing (Cathi Glassman), Chad Brown $182,500
18. Danon Bourbon, Japan RTKD Danox Co. Ltd., Manabu Ikezoe $222,762
19. Wonder Dean (JPN), Euro/ Mideast RTKD, Yoshinari Yamamoto, Daisuke Takayanagi $725,172
20. Six Speed, Euro/Mideast RTKD, Brunetti Dugan Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds (Jake Ballis), Steve Adkisson, Swinbank Stables (Reagan Swinbank) Bhupat Seemar $314,366
21. Chief Wallabee – 50 Michael & Katherine G. Ball, Bill Mott $175,800
22. Chip Honcho – 49 Leland Ackerley Racing LLC (Lee Ackerley), James Sherwood, Jode Shupe & John Cilia, Steve Asmussen $190,000
23. Intrepido – 38 Dutch Girl Holdings LLC (Michele Arthur) & Irving Ventures LLC (Ruben Isla), Jeff Mullins $290,000
24. Grittiness – 36 Repole Stable (Mike Repole), Todd Pletcher $150,000
S-must be supplemented
KENTUCKY OAKS POINTS
(top 14 can start)
1. Meaning- 126 Bridlewood Farm (John & Leslie Malone) & Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (Aron Wellman et al), Michael McCarthy $280,000
2. Life of Joy – 122 Will Stroud, Andrew Farm (Richard Brodie), Mountmellick Farm (David Fennelly) & For the People Racing Stable LLC (T. Mike Morgan), Brad Cox $401,420
3. Percy’s Bar – 114 Hat Creek Racing (Gatewood Bell et al), Ben Colebrook $962,808
4. *Bella Ballerina – 110 Godolphin LLC (Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum et al), Brendan Walsh $498,440
5. Counting Stars – 100 West Point Thoroughbreds (Terry Finley et al), Mark Casse $834,156
6. Prom Queen – 100 Gary & Mary West, Brad Cox $151,900
7. Always a Runner – 100 Douglas Scharbauer & Three Chimneys Farm LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba), Chad Brown $110,000
8. Explora – 95 Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman, Bob Baffert $1,016,250
9. *Zany – 80 Repole Stable (Mike Repole), Todd Pletcher $345,625
10. She Be Smooth – 75 Calumet Farm (Brad Kelley), Todd Pletcher $146,020
11. My Miss Mo – 75 Averill Racing LLC (Richard Averill), Mathis Stables LLC (Billy Mathis) & Tristan De Meric, Saffie Joseph Jr. $113,200
12. Search Party – 67.5 Tracy Farmer, Mark Casse $409,025
13. Luv Your Neighbor – 65 Lael Stables (M. Roy Jackson), Mike Stidham $151,500
14. Pashmina – 63 Red White and Blue Racing LLC (Randy Gullatt), Rob Atras $81,500
15. Paradise – 62.5 NK Racing (Nancy Favreau & Kathy Psoinos) & LNJ Foxwoods (Jaime Roth), Brad Cox $134,000
16. Bottle of Rouge – 57.5 Natalie J. Baffert, Bob Baffert $517,000
17. $-Lorelei Lee – 50 Skychai Racing LLC (Harvey Diamond), Mike Maker $179,040
18. Labwah – 50 Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Salem bin Ghadayer $130,704
19. Brooklyn Blonde – 50 Sun-Kissed Stables & Bobby Flay, Michael McCarthy $40,000
More News
