Points up for grabs in three Kentucky Derby prep races

By RICHARD ENG SPECIAL TO THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

9 years ago

In this March 5, 2016, file photo provided by the New York Racing Association, Shagaf, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, competes in the Gotham Stakes horse race at Aqueduct in New York. Shagaf has drawn the inside No. 1 post in a field of eight entered for the $1 million Wood Memorial, New York’s major prep race before the Kentucky Derby. The unbeaten 3-year-old colt will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., the nation’s second-leading rider in earnings. (Adam Coglianese/New York Racing Association via AP, File)

A week after a dazzling win by unbeaten Nyquist in the Florida Derby, three more Kentucky Derby prep races will be contested Saturday.

The Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, the Blue Grass at Keeneland and the Santa Anita Derby offer a $1 million purse. But more important, the first three finishers will earn enough points to make the Derby field.

Win or place in one of these preps and a 3-year-old can go from zero to 100 or 50 points. That’s one reason we are seeing maidens and horses with one career win filling the fields.

Call it, to some degree, a Kentucky Derby lottery.

The Wood is headed by Shagaf (2-1), Outwork (5-2) and Matt King Coal (3-1). Shagaf is an undefeated stablemate of Mohaymen, who entered the Florida Derby unbeaten but finished fourth. Shagaf drew the rail, where he can save all the ground while stalking the early pace.

Matt King Coal figures to be the pacesetter in the Wood. He will be tested for class, as this is his first stakes start. His pedigree is questionable for the 10-furlong Kentucky Derby distance, but the Wood is a furlong shorter.

Outwork showed early speed when second in the Tampa Bay Derby to stablemate Destin. He should be forwardly placed in a race with a lot of pace to it.

An overlooked colt in the Wood is Flexibility (8-1). He was second twice to Mohaymen in paceless races. With a strong pace likely, he has a good chance to run by the leaders late.

The Blue Grass drew an overflow field of 16. Zulu (5-2) and Brody’s Cause (4-1) are the morning-line favorites. The field includes three maidens and eight runners with only one career win. Thus, while the field is long on numbers, it is short on victories.

Zulu is the most likely favorite to win Saturday. Trainer Todd Pletcher is adding blinkers, so I expect this son of Bernardini to go right to the front.

Brody’s Cause was a no-show seventh in the Tampa Bay Derby. His stablemate, Cherry Wine (12-1), figures to be running on late for sure.

Could you imagine if Nyquist had waited for the Santa Anita Derby? It is a strong enough field without him. Mor Spirit (8-5), Danzing Candy (9-5) and Exaggerator (4-1) make up the best Derby prep of the spring.

Danzing Candy beat Mor Spirit by two lengths in the San Felipe last time. But the Bob Baffert factor — he’s the trainer of last year’s Triple Crown champ, American Pharoah — kicks in with Mor Spirit.

Danzing Candy reminds me of Matt King Coal in the Wood, white hot early speed with possible distance limitations. There is a sprinter stretching out in Iron Rob (12-1), who could duel Danzing Candy up front.

Most of the rest will be hoping that happens. Mor Spirit and Exaggerator are two late runners who could fare better at Churchill Downs than in the Santa Anita.

That’s because a fast pace is the norm in the Kentucky Derby. I’m calling for Exaggerator to finally put it all together and upset the Santa Anita Derby.

Richard Eng’s horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. You can get his Santa Anita picks by emailing him at rich_eng@hotmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick