Three major 2019 Kentucky Derby prep and points races will be run Saturday. The Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, the Blue Grass at Keeneland, and the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita.
The Wood Memorial drew 11 horses led by Tampa Bay Derby winner Tacitus, and Gotham winner Haikal. The Blue Grass drew a full field of 14 led by Vekoma, Signalman, and Win Win Win. The Santa Anita Derby drew the smallest field with only 6 entries led by the Bob Baffert pair of Roadster, and two year old Eclipse Award Champion Game Winner. Two other entrants are trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, More Ice, and Instagrand.
The role of favoritism in the 2019 Kentucky Derby should become a lot clearer after Saturday. The Arkansas Derby and Lexington, both point races will still need to be run, but the picture of what things will look like come the first Saturday in May when they run for the roses should come into better focus.
