Category Archives: 2013 Kentucky Derby News

The annual Run for the Roses is set for Saturday, May 4 at Churchill Downs – yes, it’s the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

This year’s Derby features an innovative new point system, which places extra emphasis on stakes races as we head closer and closer to May 4. As such, the field of competitors continues to evolve on a weekly basis – and with that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the horses making news as we near the ’13 Derby.

Hornung’s Making Waves with Titletown Five

— NFL Hall of Famer Paul Hornung is getting pretty excited about the Derby – and letting the world know it.

The former Heisman winner at the University of Notre Dame and four-time NFL champion with the Green Bay Packers raised some eyebrows this past week when he said that winning the Kentucky Derby with his three-year-old colt, Titletown Five, would be the biggest accomplishment of his career.

“This would be the greatest day of my life, if I had the opportunity to walk out in that winner’s circle, and to thank the people of my hometown,” Hornung said on a national racing teleconference. “Just imagine, a hometown boy winning the Kentucky Derby.”

Hornung is a Louisville native (he played high school football at Flaget High) who brought in some major star power to back Titletown Five – specifically, fellow Packers great Willie Davis and one of the Packers’ current board members, Ed Martin.

As it stands right now, Titletown Five needs some solid prep race results to even qualify for the Derby. Pundits figure he’ll need to finish either first or second in the March 30 Louisiana Derby,  his first race after a four-month layoff due to a knee chip.

Will Take Charge and Oxbow Put on a Good Show

— Legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas had a solid performance this past weekend as his horses finished first and second in Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes.

Heading into the stretch, it seemed as though Oxbow would run away with the title but he was usurped along the final leg by Will Take Charge, who won by a head at the line.

With these two horses in tow, Lukas is going to be a major player come Derby time on May 4. While he lacks the sheer volume of challengers as, say, Bob Baffert, the 77-year-old Lukas has a decided edge when it comes to winning on the big stage.

Lukas has four Derby titles on his resume and given he’s three years shy of his 80th birthday, would be the oldest trainer to capture a Derby crown should he win the ’13 race.

Mac Might be your Man on Saturday

— Keep an eye on Mac the Man this weekend at Saturday’s Grade III Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes.

Trained by former Lukas employee Jeff Greenhill, Mac the Man whipped off back-to-back stakes wins at Turfway Park this past winter and is considered a real sleeper pick not just for this weekend’s race, but the Derby as well.

With the first week of March having come and gone, we’re drawing closer and closer to the annual Run for the Roses – yes, the 2013 Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs, to be held on Saturday, May 4.

Today, we’re going to do things differently with our Kentucky Derby contenders update. As you may know, the Derby has instituted a new points system this year – points are awarded in stakes races leading up to May 4, with the point value increasing on a weekly basis.

Essentially, the closer we get to the Derby, the higher the stakes become (no pun intended. Okay, slightly intended.)

As such, we’ll take a look today at the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard (currently available for viewing at KentuckyDerby.com) and review some of the most notable names on the list.

I’ve Struck a Nerve (51 points)

The big news out of the racing community this week was that a ‘minority’ share of I’ve Struck a Nerve – the sophomore son of Yankee Gentleman – has been sold, according to trainer Keith Desormeaux.

“I don’t know too much about it, and I don’t know how the word got out so fast,” Desormeaux said in a press release. “The only thing I do know is that I’m still the horse’s trainer, and that’s nice.”

Desormeaux said he’s “very appreciative” of the fact he was kept on to train I’ve Struck a Nerve, who shot to the top of the Derby Leaderboard following his upset win at the Grade II Risen Star Stakes on February 23.

Next up for Desormeaux and I’ve Struck a Nerve? The $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 30.

“The horse is doing fine,” Desormeaux said. “He’s getting very fit and we are looking forward to running him.”

Vyjack (50 points)

Vyjack basically punched his ticket to the Derby with last Saturday’s win at the Gotham Stakes. The 2-year-old gelding is being trained by former jockey Rudy Rodriguez and looks to be a major player on May 4.

When asked how good Vyjack might be, owner David Wilkenfeld offered up some serious enthusiasm.

“He’s shown he has unlimited potential,” Wilkenfeld told the Kentucky Courier-Journal. “According to Rudy and his brother, he can run all day.

“I think if he stays sound, there’s a lot more untapped potential.”

Orb (50 points)

Orb sits tied with Vyjack on points thanks in large part to an outstanding showing at the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream on February 23.

It marked the third-straight race in which Orb came from way back to claim victory, making a great charge and holding off pre-race favorite Violence to win by a half a length.

Trained by longtime horse-man Shug McGaughey, Orb has emerged as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby – even though McGaughey tried to play it cool after wining Gulfstream, telling reporters “not to worry about the Kentucky Derby” given he’s never won one.

Orb’s jockey, however, was singing a different tune.

“He was going along nice and smooth,” John Velasquez told the Associated Press following the Gulfstream victory. ”I actually had to ride him pretty hard from the half-mile to the quarter pole to keep position and I hoped it wouldn’t take anything out of him for the stretch.

“But it actually worked out great.”

We’re into March and that means one major thing in the horseracing community – just two months remain until the 2013 Kentucky Derby gets underway at Churchill Downs. Over the past two weeks, a series of stakes races have been run as horses and trainers look to qualify for the annual Run for the Roses, but there are also a number of important races on the horizon in terms of jockeying for position.

Let’s take a look back and forward…

— There were some big developments out of Palm Beach, Fla. on the weekend as Rydilluc, a Gary Contessa trainee, captured the Palm Beach Stakes in impressive fashion by outlasting Charming Kitten and Reporting Star.

While the purse was nice ($150,000), there were no Derby points awarded for this race, meaning it was mostly about show, status and claiming a spot as a legit contender heading into May.

It was also a chance for Contessa to talk up his colt, who is now 3-for-3 in his turf starts this season and showing true star potential.

“You see what he looks like turning for home with the stride he’s got,” Contessa told Bristnet.com. “He’s an amazing horse.

“At the top of the stretch(…) he kicks in like that and draws off [and] my heart is in my throat. That’s what keeps us getting up in the morning – a horse like this. It’s going to be fun getting to the bottom of it and find out exactly what he is.”

— Looking ahead, the second week in March promises to be a major one for two horses on a number of Derby watch lists: Verrazano and Flashback.

Both are undefeated this season and will put their records on the line against strong fields at Tampa Bay Downs. For Verrazano, Tampa Bay will be his first start going around two turns – meaning a lot of eyes will be on both the horse and jockey John Velazquez, who will have to show he can ratio Verrazano’s speed right from the start of the race.

Verrazano is from the Todd Pletcher stable and you have to think Pletcher will have a small bit of desire coursing through his veins as he tries to capture the Tampa Bay race for the first time in nine years. He’s had three favorites run over the last three years (Spring Hill Farm in 2012, Brethren in 2011 and Super Saver in 2010) but all three disappointed at Tampa Bay, failing to win or place.

As for Flashback, he’ll likely be the favorite heading into Tampa Bay. The Bob Baffert-trained colt has finished second in each of his last two runnings.

— Away from the track, the Kentucky Derby unveiled this year’s 2013 Pegasus Pins on Friday at an event at Louisville’s Hard Rock Café.

The pins sell annually for $5 with proceeds accounting for 25-30% of the Derby’s annual revenue. They serve as admission-like tokens to a variety of Derby events and, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal, more than 300,000 are sold annually.

We’re into March and that means one major thing in the horseracing community – just two months remain until the 2013 Kentucky Derby gets underway at Churchill Downs. Over the past two weeks, a series of stakes races have been run as horses and trainers look to qualify for the annual Run for the Roses, but there are also a number of important races on the horizon in terms of jockeying for position.

Let’s take a look back and forward…

— There were some big developments out of Palm Beach, Fla. on the weekend as Rydilluc, a Gary Contessa trainee, captured the Palm Beach Stakes in impressive fashion by outlasting Charming Kitten and Reporting Star.

While the purse was nice ($150,000), there were no Derby points awarded for this race, meaning it was mostly about show, status and claiming a spot as a legit contender heading into May.

It was also a chance for Contessa to talk up his colt, who is now 3-for-3 in his turf starts this season and showing true star potential.

“You see what he looks like turning for home with the stride he’s got,” Contessa told Bristnet.com. “He’s an amazing horse.

“At the top of the stretch(…) he kicks in like that and draws off [and] my heart is in my throat. That’s what keeps us getting up in the morning – a horse like this. It’s going to be fun getting to the bottom of it and find out exactly what he is.”

— Looking ahead, the second week in March promises to be a major one for two horses on a number of Derby watch lists: Verrazano and Flashback.

Both are undefeated this season and will put their records on the line against strong fields at Tampa Bay Downs. For Verrazano, Tampa Bay will be his first start going around two turns – meaning a lot of eyes will be on both the horse and jockey John Velazquez, who will have to show he can ratio Verrazano’s speed right from the start of the race.

Verrazano is from the Todd Pletcher stable and you have to think Pletcher will have a small bit of desire coursing through his veins as he tries to capture the Tampa Bay race for the first time in nine years. He’s had three favorites run over the last three years (Spring Hill Farm in 2012, Brethren in 2011 and Super Saver in 2010) but all three disappointed at Tampa Bay, failing to win or place.

As for Flashback, he’ll likely be the favorite heading into Tampa Bay. The Bob Baffert-trained colt has finished second in each of his last two runnings.

— Away from the track, the Kentucky Derby unveiled this year’s 2013 Pegasus Pins on Friday at an event at Louisville’s Hard Rock Café.

The pins sell annually for $5 with proceeds accounting for 25-30% of the Derby’s annual revenue. They serve as admission-like tokens to a variety of Derby events and, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal, more than 300,000 are sold annually.

The month of February is a big one with regards to the Running of the Roses. Each year, a series of important stakes races happens across America as horses and trainers fight for a spot in the Kentucky Derby – and this year, with Churchill Downs revamping its point qualification system, the prep races have more value than ever.

With that said, let’s take a look at which horses are making noise as we count down to the 2013 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4.

Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes, Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The big story here was Orb, a Shug McGaughey-trained colt that has now won his last three starts after a stellar victory at Hallandale Beach. Orb knocked off one of Todd Pletcher’s prized Derby contenders – Violence – in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth, and instantly became a favorite for Churchill Downs in the process.

“If he keeps improving, maybe he’ll be something,” McGaughey said of Orb following the race, clearly trying to keep a low-profile heading into the Florida Derby on March 30.”He’s come so far over the winter. My people have done a great job with him.”
The Associated Press, which keeps a running ‘power rankings’ of Top 10 Derby Contenders, now has Orb in the No. 5 slot.

Grade II Risen Star Stakes, New Orleans, LA.

In a result that stunned the horse racing community, 99-1 longshot I’ve Struck a Nerve edged Code West at the wire to wow the New Orleans audience. Trained by J. Keith Desormeaux and ridden by James Graham, I’ve Struck A Nerve was something of an afterthought heading into this race, especially since pre-Derby favorite Normandy Invasion (trained by Chad Brown) was in the field.

Unfortunately for Brown, Normandy Invasion broke poorly and was never a factor in the Risen Star. But that set the stage for I’ve Struck a Nerve, the Louisiana-bred horse, to pull off a stunning upset that even took his trainer by surprise.

‘I can’t believe it,” Desormeaux said. ”We’ve always thought highly of the horse. The expectations were we would finally get a clean trip at that distance. He’s never had a clean trip around two turns.”

I’ve Struck a Nerve earned 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, which should be enough to earn him a spot in the field.

Withers Stakes at the Aqueduct, New York, NY.

While it was a race that happened earlier in February, it was still an important one because of who emerged the winner – Revolutionary, another horse from the Pletcher stable that’s expected to factor heavily at May’s Kentucky Derby.

Revolutionary split apart from Escapefromreality down the stretch to capture the Aqueduct crown, giving him 10 qualifying points to the Derby (which it looks like he’ll have no trouble qualifying for now.)

Revolutionary now joins the likes of Shanghai Bobby, Violence, Verrazano and Overanalyze as Pletcher horses that you can expect to see in May.

Long known as one of the most famous racetracks in the world – if not the most famous – Churchill Downs has been hosting the Kentucky Derby since 1875.

Since then, the race has become both a sporting and cultural institution, earning itself one of the most unique standings in the entertainment genre as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”.

This year, the 2013 Derby – the 139th in the race’s storied tradition – will be one of the first races of the season run at Churchill, set to go on Saturday, May 4.

While almost all the eyes of the horseracing community will be open for early May, Churchill itself actually sees its first action on Saturday, April 27 with the $175,000 Derby Trial (GIII).

It’ll be curious to see what kind of shape The Downs will be in the weekend before the Derby. The one mile oval (with a one mile chute) has always been highly regarded and, in its latest ratings, the Hoseplayers Association of North America ranked Churchill Downs No. 4 on its list of 68 racetracks in North America.

Churchill Downs is perhaps best known for its dirt surface on the main track. It’s a composite of three inches of sandy loam cushion, five inches of compacted sandy loam cushion, a 12-inch clay base and another 25 of sandy loam and natural soil.

How this will hold up in the weather? That remains to be seen. Many recall the 2012 Kentucky Derby and the pre-race thunderstorms that led to two significant developments – the cancelation of morning training for riders and, shortly thereafter, an early-morning (8:00 AM ET) “sloppy” designation for course conditions.

That said, the weather improved enough so that conditions were upgraded to “fast” by race time, the best conditions for a dirt track.

Historically speaking, wet and sloppy conditions haven’t been an issue at Churchill. The wettest Derby on record happened in 1918 – 2.31 inches of rain fell that day – with seven of the last 10 Derbys recorded as fast tracks (the other three came in as sloppy.)

As for other Churchill Downs news…

— A new on-track simulcast area has been developed and will be in operation for the 2013 Derby. Dubbed “The Parlay”, Churchill’s latest endeavor is a virtual media empire – a 14,000 square foot facility that boasts walls of 42 televisions with 70-inch high-definition screens. The area reportedly has a capacity of 600 and features a 24-foot bar, complete with an Elite Gold Room for VIP members.

— NBC Sports Group (both NBC and NBC Sports Network) announced a sort of partnership with Churchill Downs, in that the network will be airing the “Road to the Kentucky Derby”. Included are a series of stakes races, featuring races throughout March and April. NBC will also show half-hour specials focusing on the Triple Crown trail the last two Saturdays in March and the first two Saturdays in April.

With the Run for the Roses now just a few months away, let’s take a look at how the field is shaping up, and which contenders are doing what.

There are a number of big prep races ahead and the new points system is in play, so the excitement level grows – as does the competition – as jockeys and trainers look to be a part of the two most exciting minutes in sports at Churchill Downs on May 4.

Itsmyluckyday

Bred in Kentucky and trained under the watchful eye of Edward Plesa Jr., Itsmyluckyday has been a big riser amongst the contender set lately. He beat Shanghai Bobby in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on the last weekend in January, which was a big result. Itsmyluckyday is now two-for-two in 2013 and looks to be in peak form as he preps for the Grade 1 Florida Derby on Mar. 30. That’ll be his final prep race prior to the Kentucky Derby, so sharps will want to pay close attention to his form and see if he’s ready to run at Churchill.

Titletown Five

This horse has gained a lot of notoriety leading up to the Derby thanks in large part to his co-owner – former Green Bay Packers legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Hornung. (“Titletown” refers to Green Bay.) The Derby season started well for Titletown – he scored a win on October 28 – but has since had a knee chipped removed and has been out of action.

Four-time Kentucky Derby victor D. Wayne Lukas told USA today that Titletown’s comeback effort will be difficult, but noted he’s a “very talented horse”.

Frac Daddy

Like Titletown Five, here’s another horse that’s struggling with injury at the wrong time. He finished sixth to Itsmyluckyday at the Holy Bull on January 26, fading down the stretch due to a “grabbed quarter”. (The horse grabbed its front hoof with a rear hoof, tearing skin and tissue.) How quickly Frac Daddy can return to training is the huge wildcard here. If he’s able to recuperate and get back into the Fountain of Youth (again, at Gulfstream Park) on February 23, he could turn his pre-Derby season around. If not, it could be trouble.

Dewey Square

Dewey Square finished behind Frac Daddy at Holy Bull despite not having any of the same injury issues; it was a total disaster of a performance. While it hasn’t completely derailed his Derby lead-up campaign, Frac Daddy is going to need to bounce back at the Fountain of Youth or the Florida Derby because he simply cannot have two bad performances leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

That said, jockey Dale Romans has high hopes for Dewey Square in his next two races.

“I think he’s developed mentally more than anything,” Romans said. “He seems to have more confidence out there.”

The annual Run for the Roses is set for Saturday, May 4 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY – and while that might seem like an awfully long ways away, it doesn’t mean pundits aren’t already busy handicapping the ponies in advance of the most exciting two minutes in sports.

This weekend, there are three important pre-Derby events:

— Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park (Arcadia, CA)

— Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs (Tampa, FLA)

— Grade III Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack (Jamaica, NY)

Most eyes will be on the Robert B. Lewis and a pair of entries from trainer extraordinaire Bob Baffert – Flashback and Den’s Legacy. Both are considered strong runners that should be major players in the Derby field. In 2012, this race was notably won by jockey Mario Gutierrez and I’ll Have Another who – you may recall – won the first two legs of the Triple Crown (looking great at both the Derby and Preakness) before pulling out of the Belmont in dramatic fashion.

Over at the Sam F. Davis – a race that’s part of the new points system being utilized by Churchill Downs to determine the 20-horse field for May 4 – a pair of horses currently atop the points standing will show down. Other Derby preps in the Sam F. Davis include Speak Logistics (who hasn’t run since finishing seventh behind Derby favorite Shanghai Bobby at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), along with the dual Mark Casse-trained entry of Dynamic Sky and Northern Lion.

Finally, there’s the Grade III Withers Stakes at the famed Aqueduct in Jamaica (the New York version, of course.) Named for David Dunham Withers – a famous owner and breeder who gained fame with his colt, King Eric – this race is an important one on the three-year-old circuit with its classic left-handed dirt track.

This year’s Withers features three horses that are definitely worth watching. First is Revolutionary, who wowed onlookers with a solid performance back on December 28 to get into the “one to watch” category for the Derby. The next is Escapefromreality, who many have tagged as the fastest thoroughbred in the field. The third is Siete de Oros, a bit of a sleeper who came onto the scene via a second place finish at the Jerome Stakes back in early January. In that race, Siete de Oros pushed pre-race favorite Vyjack throughout and nearly scored the upset victory. Many figure Siete did a lot of “learning” in that race which should bode well for the Withers.

All in all, this promises to be an exciting, entertaining and informative weekend as the Kentucky Derby draws near. The points are at a premium and with just 20 horses eligible to qualify for this year’s field, you can guarantee that the Lewis, Davis and Withers will be heavily watched as we’re now just four months away from the Running of the Roses.

After all the major Kentucky Derby prep races have been run, there will be two more chances for horses to collect points and qualify for the Run for the Roses. The new points system includes a “Wild Card” round; horses who win either of the following two races will earn 20 points, with eight points for second place, four points for third and two points for fourth.

This brings some interesting scenarios into play. Most of the top Kentucky Derby contenders will already be locked in by the time the Blue Grass Stakes are over. It’s been decades since the top thoroughbred horses were put on the track with so little time in between races. Trainers and handicappers alike prefer that horses get 3-4 weeks of rest before the Kentucky Derby. However for the third-tier contenders, a handful of points could be the difference between making it into the Derby and going home.

Desperate horses call for desperate measures. Our look at the Road to the Kentucky Derby concludes, fittingly enough, in Kentucky.

April 20: Lexington Stakes (1 1/16 Mile, Synthetic, Keeneland)

When Keeneland first opened in 1936, one of the first races on the card was the Lexington Stakes, then a six-furlong sprint open to 2-year-olds. Two years later, it became a simple overnight handicap race at 1 1/4 miles – no frills, no hype. There was even a period between 1973 and 1983 when this event was an overnight allowance race, albeit a fairly important one, called the Calumet Purse. It wasn’t until 1984 that the Lexington Stakes were reborn, earning Grade 3 status in 1986. From 1988 through 2010, this was a Grade 2 stakes race before reverting to Grade 3, where it remains today.

The purse for 2013 stands at $200,000, probably not enough to draw any contenders that aren’t on the Kentucky Derby bubble. The purse was as high as $350,000 before falling to its current level in 2011, prompting the demotion to Grade 3. Last year’s Lexington, won by All Squared Away, didn’t draw any Kentucky Derby starters. However the change in qualification from purse money to points may bring in some better competition this year.

Only one horse has ever won the Lexington Stakes and then the Kentucky Derby. That was Charismatic in 1999; he shattered the modern-day race record at an even 1:41. No other horse has managed to finish the Lexington in under 1:42. Charismatic had finished fourth behind General Challenge at the Santa Anita Derby and was a 31-1 long shot to win the Kentucky Derby, but he beat Menifee by a head, and he beat him again at the Preakness Stakes before breaking his leg just as he was about to win the Belmont Stakes and complete the Triple Crown.

Charismatic finished third and had successful surgery, so there was something of a happy ending to what the National Thoroughbred Racing Association called the “Moment of the Year” for 1999. Perhaps the Lexington can help produce another magic moment in 2013.

April 27: The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (1 Mile, Dirt, Churchill Downs)

The Road to the Kentucky Derby finally ends at Churchill Downs with the Derby Trial Stakes. It’s the main event of the Opening Night card at Churchill Downs, a Grade 3 stakes race since 2000, and like the Lexington Stakes, it carries a purse of $200,000. Also like the Lexington Stakes, the Derby Trial couldn’t draw any Kentucky Derby contenders last year because of the relatively small prizes and the very small rest period in between.

The big difference between the two is the rich heritage behind the Derby Trial Stakes. It started back in 1924 when Black Gold won the inaugural Trial the week before claiming the 50th anniversary running of the Kentucky Derby. Citation won this race in 1948 en route to the Triple Crown. Hill Gail (1952), Dark Star (1953) and Tim Tam (1958) were all double champions at Churchill Downs.

This was back when the Trial was held the Tuesday before the Kentucky Derby, not the Saturday before. The switch was made in 1982, but by then, modern training methods had made this concession moot. It’s been nearly 40 years since a horse won the Kentucky Derby with just a week in between races – that was Cannonade in 1974.

So why would any top thoroughbreds bother signing up for the Derby Trial? They just might because it’s become a very useful prep race for the Preakness, which takes place exactly three weeks later, and is also the shortest of the Triple Crown races at 1 3/16 miles. Although the Trial hasn’t produced a Preakness winner since making the switch to Saturday, it has produced three second-place finishers: Alydeed (1992), Cherokee Run (1993) and Macho Again (2008).

Even better, the Derby Trial has produced two Belmont Stakes champions: Caveat (1983) and Creme Fraiche (1985). Don’t overlook this somewhat hidden gem of thoroughbred racing. Plus, you get an extra week to try out your mint julep recipe before you throw that Kentucky Derby party.

If you’re training a horse for the Kentucky Derby, do you go for maximum points on the second leg of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series? That might depend on how well your horse does in the earlier prep races. In theory, you could point your horse at one of the three March 30 events, then come back two weeks later and go for another 100 points at one of the two prep races on April 13. Of course, money also matters – both these races feature very large purses.

This is the first year of the Road to the Kentucky Derby point system, so we’re bound to see a few missteps along the way. Be that as it may, we’re also likely to see some very strong fields going at it as the Championship Series hits the final turn.

April 13: Arkansas Derby (1 1/8 Mile, Dirt, Oaklawn Park)

There’s nothing like a visit to Hot Springs, Ark. in April to get the juices flowing. Horses and horse lovers alike have been coming to Oaklawn Park since it opened in 1905, but it wasn’t until 1936 that the first Arkansas Derby was held with a princely sum of $5,000 (about $80,000 in today’s money) up for grabs. By the end of 1943, the purse was double that. By 1965, it was $50,000, and today, it stands at an even $1 million.

Still not impressed? How about $5 million? In 2004, Oaklawn Park created a special bonus for any horse that could win both the Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby, and then go on to win the Kentucky Derby. Wouldn’t you know it, Smarty Jones did just that. It was a worthwhile investment for Oaklawn; the interest surrounding Smarty Jones helped lift the Arkansas Derby’s profile to new heights, and even more top Kentucky Derby contenders started coming to Hot Springs. By 2010, the Arkansas Derby was elevated from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status.

Aside from Smarty Jones, the only other Arkansas Derby champion to win the Kentucky Derby was Sunny’s Halo in 1983. However four champions (including Smarty Jones) went on to win the Preakness Stakes, and two Arkansas Derby winners doubled up at the Belmont Stakes. Not only that, but 1994 winner Concern also took the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Classic later that year. The 2012 Arkansas Derby champion, Bodemeister, finished second to I’ll Have Another at both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

Trainer Bob Baffert considers Oaklawn Park to be his second home, so we’re likely to see some of his horses entered into the Arkansas Derby, but which ones? Maybe not Power Broker or Flashback, who are pointed at the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park and might stay there awhile. We could end up seeing one of Baffert’s  lesser-known horses do well enough in the smaller Kentucky Derby prep races to make an appearance at the Arkansas Derby; Rolling Fog, Z Big Apple, War Academy and Super Ninety Nine have all generated some buzz with their early performances.

April 13: Blue Grass Stakes (1 1/8 Mile, Synthetic, Keeneland)

What’s this? Only $750,000 to the winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes? Keeneland needs to get with the program. This race has been run since 1911 and has been an important Kentucky Derby prep race since the beginning – which makes sense, seeing as both Keeneland and Churchill Downs are located in Kentucky. No fewer than 11 horses have won the Blue Grass Stakes and then the Kentucky Derby:

1991: Strike the Gold
1979: Spectacular Bid
1972: Riva Ridge
1970: Dust Commander
1968: Forward Pass
1965: Lucky Debonair
1964: Northern Dancer
1963: Chateaugay
1959: Tomy Lee
1942: Shut Out
1926: Bubbling Over

In addition, another 12 entrants into the Blue Grass Stakes have gone on to win the Run for the Roses. Street Sense was the most recent after finishing second behind Dominican in 2007. However the most successful of them all was Whirlaway, the 1941 Triple Crown champion. He finished second behind Our Boots at the Blue Grass Stakes. Our Boots was the top 2-year-old in 1940, also beating Whirlaway at the Futurity Trial and the Futurity Stakes, but he could only manage eighth place the following year at the Kentucky Derby.

The 2012 Blue Grass Stakes winner was Dullahan, who came in third behind I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister at the Kentucky Derby. As we go to press, it remains to be seen who will wind up in Lexington for the 2013 running; there are only two other races at Keeneland on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, including the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity (already won by Joha) and the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes, which is a “Wild Card” race held the following week. That’s right, the Blue Grass Stakes is not the last stop before Louisville, but it just might be the most important of them all.