Dornoch (inside pink cap) noses Sierra Leone at the wire for the win in the Remsen goes today in the Fountain of Youth. (Susie Raisher)
Key Race Previews, Leaderboard Review, Weekend Races To Watch, Races Left On The Road …
Kentucky Derby Update/Edited
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – If you didn’t have plans Saturday afternoon, now you do.
Get ready for a jam-packed day filled with action on the Road to the Kentucky Derby that features two Championship Series races and the Prep Season finale, with each race providing major implications for a spot in the starting gate in the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I).
The cross-country Derby prep races begin at 5:36 p.m. (all times Eastern) with the $300,000 Gotham (GIII) at Aqueduct where scintillating maiden winner Just a Touch is primed for his second-career start. Following the Gotham, Remsen Stakes winner Dornoch is set for his 3-year-old debut in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream Park which has a post time of 6:10 p.m. Finally, the close of the Prep Season will take place at 8:25 p.m. at Turfway Park where Epic Ride will be in search of his third-consecutive victory when he faces 11 rivals in the $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial.
On Sunday at 6:02 p.m., a field of five 3-year-olds will take the stage for the $400,000 San Felipe (GII) at Santa Anita, which was rescheduled from Saturday due to an impeding rain forecast.
The San Felipe Stakes will feature just five runners, two of which are eligible to garner points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby: Scatify and Mc Vay. Nysos, ineligible for the Kentucky Derby, is the odds-on 1-5 morning line favorite after winning his first three starts, including the seven-furlong Bob Hope (GIII) and one-mile Robert B. Lewis (GIII). The race was re-scheduled from Saturday due to impending rain in Southern California.
The Road to the Longines Kentucky Oaks will have a massive weekend on tap where defending 2-year-old champion filly Just F Y I will make her return in the $200,000 Davona Dale (GIII) at Gulfstream Park. The Championship Series will also feature Saturday’s $200,000 Busher at Aqueduct. Both races will award the top five finishers qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale towards a spot in the starting gate for the 150th running of the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday, May 3 at Churchill Downs.
The Road to the Kentucky Oaks Prep Season finale will kick off the action Friday night with the $150,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park. The Cincinnati Trophy will award the top five finishers qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale. The one-mile Santa Ysabel at Santa Anita, originally scheduled for Sunday, has been rescheduled for March 9.
Grade I Winner Locked Faces Remsen Hero Dornoch In Fountain Of Youth
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm’s Locked, the Breeders’ Futurity (Grade I) winner and favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI), will face a talented cast of eight 3-year-olds including West Paces Racing, R.A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables’ Remsen Stakes (GII) hero Dornoch in Saturday’s $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII) at Gulfstream Park.
Slated as the finale on the 14-race program, the Fountain of Youth field will head to post at 6:10 p.m. ET for the 1 1/16-mile contest.
The Fountain of Youth, the local prep for the April 30 Florida Derby (GI), will award the top five finishers qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale towards a spot in the starting gate for the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI).
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Locked is set to make his 3-year-old debut after finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as the 2-1 favorite. The son of Gun Runner jumped on to the Road to the Kentucky Derby with his gutsy half-length score over The Wine Steward in the Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland. Locked was originally targeting the Feb. 10 Sam F. Davis (GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs but missed the race with a fever.
Jockey Jose Ortiz, who’s been aboard Locked for each of his four-lifetime starts, will once again have the mount and break from post No. 8.
Among Locked’s top rivals in the race is Dornoch, the full brother to Kentucky Derby 149 winner Mage. Trained by Danny Gargan, Dornoch defeated Sierra Leone by a scant nose in the Dec. 2 Remsen, the final start of his 2-year-old season. Sierra Leone would avenge his defeat to Dornoch 10 weeks later when he won the Risen Star (GII) to kick off the Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Dornoch has never finished worse than second from four starts. In his debut, the son of Good Magic was defeated 1 ¾ lengths to Seize the Grey, who’s likely headed to the Blue Grass (GI) in early April. After his one-length defeat at second asking to Noted in the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth, Dornoch broke his maiden by an eye-catching 6 ½ lengths on Oct. 14 at Keeneland.
Jockey Luis Saez will have the call on Dornoch from post 5.
The Fountain of Youth (with jockey and trainer):
1 Speak Easy (Irad Ortiz Jr., Pletcher)
2 Le Dom Bro (Edwin Gonzalez, Eniel Cordero)
3 Victory Avenue (John Velazquez, Gustavo Delgado)
4 Real Macho (Tyler Gaffalione, Rohan Crichton)
5 Dornoch (Saez, Gargan)
6 Merit (Edgard Zayas, Saffie Joseph Jr.)
7 Frankie’s Empire (Miguel Vazquez, Michael “Bo” Yates)
8 Locked (Jose Ortiz, Pletcher)
9 Dancing Groom (Javier Castellano, Antonio Sano)
Le Dom Bro and Frankie’s Empire are not currently nominated to the Triple Crown but their connections can do so by making a $6,000 payment by April 1.
Pletcher has stated Speak Easy, who was cross-entered in a Friday first-level allowance contest at Gulfstream Park, will run in the Fountain of Youth. Meanwhile, Joseph, whose Merit was cross-entered in the same race, stated he was likely to scratch from the Fountain of Youth and run Friday.
Since its inaugural running in 1945, 14 horses have competed in the Fountain of Youth and went on to win the Kentucky Derby, most recently being Mage in 2023.
The other horses who have used the race as a prep before the victory in the “Run for the Roses” are Orb (2013); Thunder Gulch (1995); Go for Gin (1994); Unbridled (1990); Swale (1984); Pleasant Colony (1981); Spectacular Bid (1979); Cannonade (1974); Dust Commander (1970); Forward Pass (1968); Kauai King (1966); Carry Back (1961); and Tim Tam (1958).
Fountain of Youth Quotes
Danny Gargan, trainer, Dornoch: “I kind of figured I wanted to wait until we were in Florida (to run after the Remsen). When horses run in the Breeders’ Cup, they get a break. I won the Remsen before and didn’t give them a break in the past and it didn’t work out so well for me. I just wanted him to have every chance he deserves. … I think he’s a really good horse, so we went ahead and gave him three or four weeks off and let him grow and mature. Hopefully we’re doing the right thing and it works out for him. He’s training well, he looks good. He’s a big, pretty horse. It’s his first race of the year and it’ll be nice to get him back running.”
Todd Pletcher, trainer, Locked, Speak Easy:
Locked: “We’re very excited about getting (Locked) going again. He’s a horse that we’ve always thought a lot of. I think he’s going to appreciate more distance in these races as they get a little longer. He’s always been a high-class colt and he’s training very well at the moment.”
Speak Easy: “Like always at this time of year you’ve got to remain flexible and be ready to call some audibles, like we’re doing with Locked. The good thing is there’s a prep race nearly every weekend.”
Dazzling Debut Winner Just A Touch Faces 12 Rivals In One-Mile Gotham
Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing and Marc Detampel’s dazzling debut winner Just a Touch will make the leap to stakes company and face 12 rivals entered in Saturday’s $300,000 Gotham Stakes (GIII) at Aqueduct.
Run at the one-turn, one-mile configuration, the Gotham will go as the finale on the 10-race program with a post time of 5:36 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on the Gotham at TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated. The race also will air on FS2.
Just a Touch is one of four Brad Cox trainees in the race and will break from post No. 10 under jockey Florent Geroux. The talented son of Justify debut on Jan. 27 at Fair Grounds where he easily defeated seven rivals by 4 ¼ lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight contest run over a “sloppy” surface.
Among Just a Touch’s rivals from his own stable is Jimmy Winkfield winner Bergen, who dominated his four competitors by 5 ¼ lengths as the heavy 4-5 favorite. Jockey Manny Franco will retain the mount from post 8.
Another top 3-year-old during the Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season has been the consistent El Grande O, who will cut back to one-turn following his runner-up effort to Uncle Heavy in the 1 1/8-mile Withers Stakes (GIII). Trained by Linda Rice, El Grande O is set for his 11th start and has only finished off the board once, a disappointing sixth-place effort in the Champagne (GI) as a 2-year-old. The New York-bred son of Take Charge Indy will be ridden by Kendrick Carmouche from post 7.
The Gotham (with jockey and trainer):
1 Khanate (Jose Gomez, Todd Pletcher)
2 Maximus Meridus (Mychel Sanchez, Butch Reid)
3 Deterministic (Joel Rosario, Christophe Clement)
4 Facenda (Abel Cedillo, Doug O’Neill)
5 Deposition (Dexter Haddock, Uriah St. Lewis)
6 Air Cav (Eric Cancel, Cox)
7 El Grande O (Carmouche, Rice); Bergen (Franco, Cox)
8 Eliminate (Dylan Davis, Todd Pletcher)
9 Just a Touch (Geroux, Cox)
10 Lightline (Ramon Vazquez, Cox)
11 Slider (Jose Lezcano, John Sadler)
12 Capital Idea (Trevor McCarthy, Christophe Clement).
The Gotham will award the top five finishers qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale towards the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI).
In its 70-year history, only one horse has exited the Gotham Stakes and won the Kentucky Derby: Secretariat.
The one-mile Gotham will leave many connections with a decision following the race if they stretch their horse to two turns or remain sprinting and, effectively, off the Kentucky Derby trail.
Since 1980, there have been 48 horses who have run in both the Gotham and Kentucky Derby, but the best finish was second from Easy Goer in 1989 and Aptitude in 2000.
Gotham Quotes
Brad Cox, trainer, Air Cav, Bergen, Just a Touch, Lightline:
Air Cav: “He’s been steady enough in the morning, but he needs to step up and prove that he belongs. He’s another one that’s pointed for an allowance race here or there that didn’t go when he was ready. This is a tough spot for him, but if he steps up and gets a good trip he could be right there. We’re hoping he can take a big step forward.”
Bergen: “I was wanting to stretch out to seven-eighths, one-turn mile but just couldn’t get the right race to go. I did like the idea after Churchill of bringing him up to New York and having the options of seven-eighths, one-turn mile races for him. We ended up running three-quarters and it worked out, but I do think this is a horse that will be better going a one-turn mile. … He’s been solid enough in the morning and has been steady since his win in the Winkfield. I’m excited about giving him a little more ground to run over.”
Just a Touch: “He’s a good-sized colt and done everything right in the mornings and he showed up first time out. It’s going to be a big ask shipping him up there, but I like the idea of stretching him out to the one-turn mile. I’m hopeful he can handle that, and we’ll see how it goes. … We’ve done plenty with him since he broke his maiden and fitness-wise we’ve got him as tight as we can get him. Hopefully that will be enough to show up with a big effort.”
Lightline: “I would like to think it gives him an opportunity if the race is to collapse to pick up pieces or run them all down. He doesn’t have a tremendous amount of early speed, but he’s steady enough and he might get the right set up.”
Linda Rice, trainer, El Grande O: “He’s not a real big horse. He’s a medium-sized horse and he has a great mind. He handles training and racing exceptionally well. We’re hoping his experience and ability will stand up in a crowd in the Gotham. He’s pretty versatile. We were uncertain of the mile and an eighth, but we thought it was worth a try and I think he ran great. … Every one of us has Derby dreams. When they will come to fruition, who knows? It’s not out of the realm of possibility.”
Butch Reid, trainer, Maximus Meridus: “We added blinkers in his third start. He was having focus problems. He wasn’t paying attention and was waiting for horses to come up on the outside. That second start turned out to be an impressive race given that the winner came back to win the Swale down at Gulfstream Park. It was a legit race for an allowance race at Parx. … His father (Maximum Security) did it [stretch out] without a problem and the kid who gets on him in the morning thinks he’s waiting to go longer. He galloped out good in the breeze and we’re looking forward to the mile stretch out.”
Talented 3-Year-Old Epic Ride Returns In $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial
The Road to the Kentucky Derby “Prep Season” will conclude Saturday night at Turfway Park when Welch Racing’s Epic Ride headlines an oversubscribed field of 14 3-year-olds that were entered in the 42nd running of the $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial (Listed).
The John Battaglia Memorial, named in honor of the longtime General Manager of Latonia Racetrack and Turfway Park, will go as Race 6 at 8:25 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 5:55 p.m.
Run at 1 1/16 miles, the John Battaglia Memorial will award the top five finishers qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 towards a spot in the starting gate for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I).
Epic Ride has been impressive in his young three-race career at Turfway Park where he won last month’s Leonatus Stakes by four lengths, the local prep for the John Battaglia Memorial. A son of Blame, Epic Ride just missed winning his career debut when he made a late surge up the rail and lost by a neck to Smokey Smokey. At second asking, Epic Ride was much the best winning by five lengths against 11 rivals in a maiden special weight contest. Jockey Adam Beschizza, who’s been aboard Epic Ride for all three of his starts, will once again have the call in the John Battaglia Memorial and break from post No. 6
Among Epic Ride’s rivals that entered the John Battaglia Memorial include a three-plied battle from top trainer Brad Cox’s stable: Encino, Fidget and Gettysburg Address.
Godolphin’s homebred Encino, who was supplemented for this race, recently won a maiden special weight contest at Turfway Park. Jockey Axel Concepcion will pilot Encino from post 12. His stablemates, WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s Smarty Jones fourth-place finisher Gettysburg Address along with Calumet Farm’s allowance winner Fidget, will break from posts 5 and 1, respectively. Jockey Gerardo Corrales has the call on Gettysburg Address while Fidget will be ridden by Fernando De La Cruz.
Another breakthrough maiden special weight winner entered in the John Battaglia Memorial is Ruis Racing’s Bolt At Midnight. Trained by his owner Mick Ruis Sr., Bolt at Midnight earned a stout 92 Brisnet Speed Rating when he broke his maiden three weeks ago at Turfway Park in front-running fashion. A son of the former Ruis-trained Bolt d’Oro, Bolt At Midnight will be ridden by Martin Garcia from post 4.
The John Battaglia Memorial (with jockey and trainer):
1 Gettysburg Address (Corrales, Cox)
2 Ode to Balius (Sonny Leon, Concepcion Torres)
3 Mr. Faversham (Orlando Mojica, Stephen Lyster)
4 Bolt At Midnight (Garcia, Ruis); Fidget (De La Cruz, Cox)
5 Epic Ride (Beschizza, Ennis)
6 Blue Eyed George (Luan Machado, Michael McCarthy)
7 Break Out (Tyler Conner, Saffie Joseph Jr.)
8 Mission Ready (Gavin Ashton, Ed Fernandez)
9 Good Bali (Colby Hernandez, Rusty Arnold)
10 Mugatu (Joe Talamo, Jeff Engler)
11 Encino (Concepcion, Cox).
Also eligible:
12 Karlwithanarl (Concepcion, Robert Medina)
13 Katheeb (Declan Cannon, Brendan Walsh).
The John Battaglia Memorial is the first of two races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at Turfway Park. The $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) is set for Saturday, March 23.
For more information about racing and gaming from Turfway Park, visit www.turfway.com.
John Battaglia Memorial Quotes
John Ennis, trainer, Epic Ride: “Coming out of his maiden win, we were testing the waters to see if he could go two turns because he was pretty quick when he broke his maiden. He handled everything great (in the Leonatus Stakes). He always trains great. He’s such a level-headed horse that it was easy for him to rate and relax throughout the (Leonatus). It’s hard to win a stakes anywhere but especially here in Kentucky in a 3-year-old stakes. To win it in the fashion he did we were very pleased.”
Down The Stretch
Saudi Derby winner Forever Young (JPN) arrived in Dubai and is likely to target the March 30 UAE Derby (GII), according to his connections. …
Nominations to the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) close Tuesday and are expected to include Rebel Stakes (GII) runner-up Common Defense and Iroquois Stakes (GIII) hero West Saratoga. …
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas stated his top 3-year-olds Just Steel and Seize the Grey are likely to be separated on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Lukas said Just Steel will likely target the Arkansas Derby and one option for Seize the Grey could be the Blue Grass Stakes.
Timberlake Vaults To Top Of Leaderboard
Through 22 races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, recent Rebel Stakes (GII) winner Timberlake tops the leaderboard with 66 points. The Brad Cox trainee is possible to make his final start before the “Run for the Roses” in either the Arkansas Derby (GI), Blue Grass (GI) or Louisiana Derby (GII).
Here are the Top 20 horses on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard:
| Position | Horse | Trainer | Resume | Possible Next Start | Points |
| 1 | Timberlake | Brad Cox | 1st – Rebel1st – Champagne4th – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | March 30 Arkansas Derby (GI); April 6 Blue Grass (GI) | 66 |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | Chad Brown | 1st – Risen Star2nd – Remsen | April 6 Blue Grass (GI) | 55 |
| 3 | Track Phantom | Steve Asmussen | 1st – Lecomte1st – Gun Runner32nd Risen Star | March 23 Louisiana Derby (GII) | 55 |
| 4 | Fierceness | Todd Pletcher | 1st – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile3rd – Holy Bull | March 30 Florida Derby (GI) | 36 |
| 5 | Common Defense | Kenny McPeek | 2nd – Rebel5th – Southwest | March 23 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) or Louisiana Derby (GII) | |
| 6 | Stronghold | Phil D’Amato | 1st – Sunland Derby2nd – Los Alamitos Derby | TBA | 25 |
| 7 | Catching Freedom | Brad Cox | 1st – Smarty Jones3rd – Risen Star | March 23 Louisiana Derby (GII | 25 |
| 8 | Mystik Dan | Kenny McPeek | 1st – Southwest5th – Smarty Jones | March 30 Arkansas Derby (GI) | 21 |
| 9 | Hades | Joe Orseno | 1st – Holy Bull | March 30 Florida Derby (GI) | 20 |
| 10 | Uncle Heavy | Butch Reid | 1st – Withers | April 6 Wood Memorial (GII) | 20 |
| 11 | No More Time | Jose D’Angelo | 1st – Sam F. Davis | March 9 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) or March 30 Florida Derby (GI) | 20 |
| 12 | Locked | Todd Pletcher | 1st – Breeders’ Futurity3rd – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | TBA | 19 |
| 13 | Liberal Arts | Robert Medina | 1st – Street Sense3rd – Southwest3rd – Iroquois | March 30 Arkansas Derby (GI) or April 6 Blue Grass (GI) | 19 |
| 14 | Northern Flame | Kenny McPeek | 3rd – Rebel4th – Breeders’ Futurity5th – Street Sense | March 23 Hot Springs Stakes; April 30 Arkansas Derby (GI); April 13 Lexington (GIII) | |
| 15 | West Saratoga | Larry Demeritte | 1st – Iroquois3rd – Sam F. Davis5th – Breeders’ Futurity | March 2 John Battaglia Memorial or March 9 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) | 17 |
| 16 | Just Steel | Wayne Lukas | 2nd – Southwest2nd – Smarty Jones | Feb. 24 Rebel (GII) | 15 |
| 17 | Honor Marie | Whit Beckman | 1st – Kentucky Jockey Club5th – Risen Star | March 23 Louisiana Derby (GII) | 15 |
| 18 | El Grande O | Linda Rice | 2nd – Withers2nd – Jerome | March 2 Gotham (GIII) | 15 |
| 19 | Nash | Brad Cox | 2nd – Lecomte3rd – Gun Runner | TBA | 13 |
| 20 | Agate Road | Todd Pletcher | 2nd – Sam F. Davis | March 9 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) | 10 |
Key Races To Watch To Watch
This weekend there are several races around the world that could have implications on the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. Here are some of the key races:
Friday
2:15 p.m. ET, Dundalk 6, $41,500 Patton Stakes, 3yo, 1 M (All Weather)
4:08 p.m. ET, GP 7, OC $75k n1x, 3yo, 1 1/8 M
8:25 p.m. ET, TP 6, $150,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes, 3yo f, 1 M (All Weather)
Saturday
11:44 a.m. ET, GP 2, MSW, 3yo, 7 F
12:13 p.m. ET, GP 3, $200,000 Colonel Liam Stakes, 3yo, 1 M (Turf)
2:45 p.m. ET, GP 8, $200,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes (GIII), 3yo f, 1 M (Turf)
3:17 p.m. ET, GP 9, $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes (GII), 3yo f, 1 M
4:01 p.m. ET, AQU 7, $200,000 Busher Stakes, 3yo f, 1 M
5:15 p.m. ET, OP 8, OC $75k n1x, 3yo, 1 1/16 M
5:36 p.m. ET, AQU 10, $300,000 Gotham Stakes, 3yo, 1 M
6:10 p.m. ET, GP 14, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII), 3yo, 1 1/16 M
8:25 p.m. ET, TP 6, $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, 3yo, 1 1/16 M (All Weather)
Sunday
3:09 p.m. ET, GP 7, MSW, 3yo f, 7 F
3:17 p.m. ET, OP 4, OC $125k n1x, 3yo f, 1 1/16 M
6:02 p.m. ET, SA 6, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (GII), 3yo, 1 1/16 M
TV/WAGERING SCHEDULE – Fans can watch and wager on all the action for the Road to the Kentucky Derby on TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
FanDuel TV will be on-site at Gulfstream Park and Turfway Park for the Fountain of Youth and John Battaglia Memorial, respectively. Fans can also catch the Gotham Stakes broadcast on FS2.
The 10th season of “Inside Churchill Downs” with Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein will begin Friday, April 5 on ESPN 680/105.7 in Louisville.
Upcoming Road To Kentucky Derby Races
March 9 (eight weeks out) – $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), 1 1/16 miles, Tampa Bay Downs (Top 5: 50-25-15-10-5)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Agate Road (Todd Pletcher); Domestic Product (Chad Brown); No More Time (Jose D’Angelo)March 23 (six weeks out) – $1 million Louisiana Derby (GII), 1 3/16 miles, Fair Grounds (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Catching Freedom (Brad Cox); Common Defense (Kenny McPeek); Honor Marie (Whit Beckman); Track Phantom (Steve Asmussen)March 30 (five weeks out) – $1 million UAE Derby (GII), 1 3/16 miles, Meydan Racecourse (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Forever Young (Yoshito Yahagi); Killer Collect (Bhupat Semar); Mendelssohn Bay (Bhupat Semar)March 23 (six weeks out) – $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), 1 1/8 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Common Defense (Kenny McPeek); Le Gris (Al Stall Jr.); Moonlight (Todd Pletcher); Tennessee (Brad Cox); West Saratoga (Larry Demeritte)March 30 (five weeks out) – $1 million Florida Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Gulfstream Park (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Fierceness (Todd Pletcher); Hades (Joe Orseno)March 30 (five weeks out) – $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn Park (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Catching Freedom (Brad Cox); Liberal Arts (Robert Medina);Mystik Dan (Kenny McPeek); Northern Flame (Kenny McPeek); Stronghold (Phil D’Amato); Timberlake (Brad Cox)
April 6 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Wood Memorial (GII), 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Catching Freedom (Brad Cox); Uncle Heavy (Butch Reid)April 6 (four weeks out) – $1 million Blue Grass (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Keeneland (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Catching Freedom (Brad Cox); Sierra Leone (Chad Brown); Seize the Grey (D. Wayne Lukas); Stronghold (Phil D’Amato); Timberlake (Brad Cox)April 6 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Santa Anita (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Stronghold (Phil D’Amato); Tessuto (George Papaprodromou)April 13 (three weeks out) – $400,000 Lexington (GIII), 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland (Top 5: 20-10-6-4-2)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Northern Flame (Kenny McPeek)
Note: The possible fields for upcoming Kentucky Derby Championship Series races are fluid as owners and trainers vie for points. Known possible horses mentioned to be under consideration for each race are based on published news reports and other sources. Horses listed in italics are possible for multiple races.
