It’s a coast-to-coast stakes buffet this weekend with 255 Kentucky Derby qualifying points on the line. The San Felipe, Gotham and Tampa Bay Derby all offer 50 for first place, 20 for second, 10 for third and 5 for third. With several contenders this weekend already on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard things should shake up a bit.
Undefeated Maxfield starts in the Santa Anita Handicap. Last year’s Tampa Bay Derby winner, King Guillermo, runs in the Big ‘Cap with Independence Hall, Tizamagician and four other older horses.
Essential Quality, number three on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 40 points, was made the 7-2 morning line favorite in the field of 24 betting choices for Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW), which will open on Friday.
Other horses on the leaderboard with an opportunity to move up are Life Is Good (10 points) starting in the San Felipe and in the Tampa Bay Derby are Candy Man Rocket (10 points) and Sittin On Go (10 points).
Greatest Honour is first on the leaderboard with 60 points followed by Mandaloun with 52 points.
MARCH 6, 2021
■ AQUEDUCT 10-race card, first post 12:50 pm
Busher Invitational $250k, 3yo f, 8f, Dirt, Race 6, post 3:29 pm
Tom Fool H (G3) $200k, 4&up, 6f, Dirt, Race 7, post 4:02 pm
Heavenly Prize Invitational $125k, 4&up f/m, 8f, Dirt, Race 8, post 4:36 pm
Gotham S (G3) $300k, 3yo, 8f, Dirt, Race 9, post 5:07 pm
Kentucky Derby Qualifier 50-20-10-5
1. Atlantic Road (KY) – J A Vargas, Jr. – Todd Pletcher
2. The Reds (KY) – P Morales – John Kimmel
3. Highly Motivated (KY) – Javier Castellano – Chad Brown
4. Wipe the Slate (KY) – K Carmouche – Doug O’Neill
5. Crowded Trade (KY) – Eric Cancel – Chad Brown
6. Capo Kane (CA) – Dylan Davis – H Wyner
7. Freedom Fighter (KY) – Manny Franco – Bob Baffert
8. Weyburn (ON) – T McCarthy – J A Jerkens
Mischevious Alex wins the 2020 Gotham.
■ FAIR GROUNDS 10-race card, 1:00 pm CT first post
Red Camelia S $60k, 4&up f/m S, 8f, Turf, Race 5, post 2:56 pm CT
Allen “Black Cat” Lacombe Memorial S$75k, 3yo f, 8f, Turf, Race 9, post 4:53 pm CT
■ FONNER race card, first post
Ogataul S $15k, 3&up S, 6f, Dirt
■ GULFSTREAM PARK 12-race card, first post 12:10 pm
Hutcheson S $75k, 3yo, 6f, Dirt, Race 9, post 4:14 pm
Captiva Island $75k, 4&up f/m, 5f, Turf, Race 10, post 4:46 pm
Any Limit S $75k, 3yo f, 6f, Dirt, Race 11, post 5:19 pm
■ JRA
▪ NAKAYAMA
Ocean S (G3T) $838k, 4&up, 6f, Turf
▪ HANSHIN
Tulip Sho (G2T) $1,072k, 3yo f, 8f, Turf
■ OAKLAWN PARK 10-race card, first post 1:00 pm CT
Honeybee S (G3) $300k, 3yo f, 8.5f, Dirt, Race 9, post 5:10 pm CT
Kentucky Oaks Qualifier 50-20-10-5
1. Tabor Hall (KY) – D Cohen – Kenny McPeek
2. Will’s Secret (KY) – Jon Kenton Court – Dallas Stewart
3. Willful Woman (KY) – Ricardo Santana, Jr. – Steve Asmussen
4. Sun Path (KY) – Joe Talamo – Brad Cox
5. Pauline’s Pearl (KY) – Francisco Arrieta – Steve Asmussen
6. Absolute Anna (KY) – Ramon A Vazquez – Jerry Hollendorfer
7. Oliviaofthedesert (KY) – David Cabrera – Kenny McPeek
8. Coach (KY) – Florent Geroux – Brad Cox
Shedaresthedevil wins the 2020 Honeybee Stakes
■ SANTA ANITA 11-race card, first post 12:00 pm PT
China Doll S $75k, 3yo f, 8f, Turf, Race 1, post 12: 00 pm PT
San Felipe S (G2) $300k, 3yo, 8.5f, Dirt, Race 6, post 2:30 pm PT
Kentucky Derby Qualifier 50-20-10-5
1. Life Is Good—Mike Smith—122
2. Dream Shake—Joel Rosario–120
3. Medina Spirit—John Velazquez—122
4. None Above the Law—Flavien Prat—120
5. The Great One—Abel Cedillo—120
6. Govenor’s Party—Mario Gutierrez—120
7. Roman Centurian—Juan Hernandez—120
San Carlos S (G2) $200k, 4&up, 7f, Dirt, Race 8, post 3:30 pm PT
1. Storm the Court—John Velazquez—120
2. Extra Hope—Juan Hernandez—122
3. Major Cabbie—Flavien Prat—120
4. Manhattan Up—Tiago Pereira—120
5. Strongconstitution—Florent Geroux—120
6. Brickyard Ride—Alexis Centeno—120
7. Loud Mouth—Abel Cedillo—120
8. Tigre Di Slugo—Joel Rosario—120
Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1T) $400k, 4&up, 8f, Turf, Race 9, post 4:00 pm PT
1. Smooth Like Strait—Umberto Rispoli—122
2. Hit the Road—Florent Geroux—122
3. Social Paranoia—Abel Cedillo—122
4. Royal Ship—Mike Smith—120
5. Spirit Animal—Joel Rosario—120
6. Flavius—Flavien Prat—120
7. Casa Creed—John Velazquez—120
8. Count Again—Juan Hernandez—122
9. Ride a Comet—Drayden Van Dyke—122
10. Flying Scotsman—Tyler Baze—120
Santa Anita H (G1) $400k, 4&up, 10f, Dirt, Race 10, post 4:30 pm PT
1. Independence Hall—Flavien Prat—120
2. Maxfield—Florent Geroux—124
3. Kiss Today Goodbye—Mike Smith—119
4. Coastal Defense—John Velazquez—116
5. Express Train—Juan Hernandez—123
6. Idol—Joel Rosario—119
7. Tizamagician—Drayden Van Dyke—119
8. King Guillermo—Abel Cedillo—116
Combatant wins the 2020 Santa Anita Handicap
■ TAMPA BAY 12-race card, first post 12:17 pm
Challenger S (G3) $100k, 4&up, 8.5f, Dirt, Race 5, post 2:18 pm
Columbia S $75k, 3yo, 8f, Turf, Race 7, post 3:22 pm
Hillsborough S (G2T) $225k, 4&up f/m, 9f, Turf, Race 9, post 4:25 pm
Florida Oaks (G3T) $200k, 3yo f, 8.5f, Turf, Race 10, post 4:55 pm
Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) $400k, 3yo, 8.5f, Dirt, Race 11, post 5:25 pm
Kentucky Derby Qualifier 50-20-10-5
1. My Liberty (KY) – Tomas Mejia – Maria Ines Mejia
2. Super Strong (KY) – Antonio Gallardo – Saffie Joseph, Jr.
3. Candy Man Rocket (KY) – Junior Alvarado – Bill Mott
4. King of Dreams (KY) – Sammy Camacho – Juan Carlos Avila
5. Boca Boy (FL) – Angel Arroyo – Cheryl Winebaugh
6. Awesome Gerry (KY) – Hector Diaz, Jr. – Saffie Joseph, Jr.
7. Moonlite Strike (KY) – Daniel Centeno – Saffie Joseph, Jr.
8. Hidden Stash (KY) – Rafael Bejarano – Victoria Oliver
9. Unbridled Honor (KY) – Julien Leparoux – Todd Pletcher
10. Helium (KY) – Jose Ferrer – Mark Casse
11. Promise Keeper (KY) – Luis Saez – Todd Pletcher
12. Sittin On Go (KY) – Roberto Alvarado, Jr. – Dale Romans
King Guillermo wins the 2020 Tampa Bay Derby
MARCH 7, 2021
■ AQUEDUCT race card, first post
Biogio’s Rose S $100k, 4&up f/m S, 8f, Dirt
■ JRA
▪ NAKAYAMA
Yayoi Sho (G2T) $1,120k, 3yo, 10f, Turf
■ SANTA ANITA race card, first post
Santa Ysabel S (G3) $100k, 3yo f, 8.5f, Dirt
Kentucky Derby Leaderboard
Rank – Horse – Points
1 – Greatest Honour – 60
2 – Mandaloun – 52
3 – Essential Quality – 40
4 – Midnight Bourbon – 26
5 – Proxy – 24
6 – Keepmeinmind – 18
7 – Spielberg – 17
8 – Jackie’s Warrior – 14
9 – Rombauer – 14
10 – Medina Spirit – 14
11 – Capo Kane – 12
12 – Papetu – 11
13 – Hot Rod Charlie – 10
14 – Get Her Number – 10
15 – Sittin On Go – 10
16 – Risk Taking – 10
17 – Candy Man Rocket – 10
18 – Caddo River – 10
19 – Brooklyn Strong – 10
20 – Life Is Good – 10
March Kentucky Derby Prep Races
Mar 5, 2021
Patton Stakes
Dundalk
20-8-4-2
Mar 6, 2021
Gotham
Aqueduct
50-20-10-5
Tampa Bay Derby
Tampa Bay Downs
50-20-10-5
San Felipe
Santa Anita Park
50-20-10-5
Mar 13, 2021
Rebel
Oaklawn Park
50-20-10-5
Mar 20, 2021
Louisiana Derby
Fair Grounds
100-40-20-10
Mar 27, 2021
Jeff Ruby Steaks
Turfway Park
100-40-20-10
Florida Derby
Gulfstream Park
100-40-20-10
UAE Derby
Meydan Racecourse
100-40-20-10
Fukuryu
Nakayama
Mar 27, 2021
40-16-8-4
Information: BloodHorse, Equibase and Kentucky Derby. Click on links for Equibase card for each track.
All times Eastern unless otherwise noted. All times, entries and odds are subject to change.
Information compiled by Maribeth Kalinich, Editor
Photo: Santa Anita starting gate (Santa Anita/Benoit)
