Ky Derby 150: Pass or Play – Track Phantom

April 27, 2024

Track Phantom out on the track Saturday morning. The Quality Road colt did five furlongs in 1:00.80 in his last timed work on Equibase April 21. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)

The Past the Wire annual Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby seminar, the best in the game DETAILS HERE 

Ashley Tamulonis and Laura Pugh

Track Phantom emerged as a leading candidate for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby with back-to-back victories in the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes and Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fairgrounds. The son of Quality Road has been ultra consistent in his career, only landing off the board once. In his most recent race, the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, Track Phantom finished 4th

Coming off back-to-back losses at Fair Grounds in the Grade 2 Risen Star and the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby has put a question mark next to his name. Can he rebound in the Run for the Roses or will his losing streak stretch to three? Ashley Tamulonis and Laura Pugh give their arguments for whether the colt is a must play or a toss.

Track Phantom lost much of his luster after a disappointing fourth place finish in the Louisiana Derby. He will get the chance to rebound in the 150th Kentucky Derby, but can he? A questionable pedigree and concerns of distance limitations having Ashley taking a firm pass. Laura, on the other hand, thinks that with a less aggressive ride, the son of Quality Road could have a shot to outlast the closers. So, what is your take? Is Track Phantom a Pass or Play?

Contributing Authors

Ashley Tamulonis

Ashley Tamulonis

Ashley has been an avid horse racing fan since she was introduced to the sport through the Joanna Campbell series "Thoroughbred." As a Georgia native...

View Ashley Tamulonis
Laura Pugh

Laura Pugh

Laura Pugh got her first taste of Thoroughbred racing when she watched War Emblem take the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2002. At that...

View Laura Pugh

Great hit!

Ryan Oleston @roleston View testimonials

Facebook