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Horse Racing: Ky Derby preps on April 5: UAE Derby (Dubai), Wood Memorial (NY), Blue Grass (KY) and Santa Anita Derby (CA)

Sunday, March 23, 2025

  • Jockeys: The Ortizbrothers are 1-2 in victories during the young 2025 North America racing calendar. But some lesser-known riders are also tearing it up.
    • Third Place: Manny Franco gets some of the best horses this time of year in New York and is generally a local favorite especially while other riders head for warmer or juicier locations such as Fair Grounds, Oaklawn or Florida's tracks.
    • Fifth Place: Samuel Marin is the leading rider at Tampa Bay Downs. He is in his fourth year riding in the US. He began riding at Monmouth (NJ) in 2022.
    • Eighth Place: Erik Barbaran rides mainly on the Ohio-West Virginia circuit during the year but all 56 of his wins have come at Mahoning Valley (OH) where he is the leading jock.
Fair Grounds (Louisiana):
  • Closing Day: The important meet began November 22.
    Handle: $248 million for 76 days, down about six million but with more than 500 lesser betting interests. All-in-all Fair Grounds held steady with last season's total.
  • Jose Ortiz rode five winners. His decision to move his tack from the east coast seems to have been wise. His 98 wins and $4.2+ million earned at the meet were almost doubled his closest challenger.
  • Joe Sharp led all trainers with 41 wins. He finished strongly with five wins among 11 sytarters the final three days.
 
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Gulfstream (FL) -- March 29 -- Florida Derby awards 100-50-25-15-10 point scale to the Kentucky Derby

Florida Derby:
  • 2025: Sovereignty, one of the leading riders, will not have the services of Junior Alvarado who was injured this weekend. Alvarado could return for the Kentucky Derby.
  • HISTORY: One of the biggest Kentucky Derby preps with 15 horses claiming both races. The most recent winner is Always Dreaming (2017). Todd Pletcher has the most Florida Derby wins with seven. In the last 35 years, Florida-breds have won this race four times: Unbridled (1990), the most recent to have also won the Kentucky Derby, Holy Bull (1994), Captain Bodgit (1997) and Hal’s Hope (2000).
  • CHEAT SHEET: 2025 Florida Derby Cheat Sheet
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Race #PurseRace TypeDistanceSurfacePost Time
1$96,000Allowance Optional Claiming1 1/16 MTurf11:30 AM ET
2$96,000Allowance Optional Claiming7 FDirt11:59 AM ET
3$165,000Cutler Bay S.7 1/2 FTurf12:28 PM ET
4$165,000Orchid S.1 1/2 MTurf12:57 PM ET
5$94,000Maiden Special Weight7 FDirt1:26 PM ET
6$215,000Pan American S. presented by Rood & Riddle1 1/2 MTurf1:56 PM ET
7$165,000Ghostzapper S. presented by FanDuel TV1 1/16 MDirt2:26 PM ET
8$97,000Allowance Optional Claiming1 MTurf2:56 PM ET
9$250,000Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks1 1/16 MDirt3:31 PM ET
10$165,000Sanibel Island S.7 1/2 FTurf4:06 PM ET
11$165,000Army Mule S.7 FDirt4:40 PM ET
12$165,000Sand Springs S.1 1/16 MTurf5:15 PM ET
13$165,000Appleton S. presented by MyRacehorse1 MTurf5:57 PM ET
14$1,000,000Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa1 1/8 MDirt6:42 PM ET

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Oaklawn (AR) -- March 29 -- Arkansas Derby awards 100-50-25-15-10 point-scale to the Kentucky Derby.

Arkansas Derby:
  • 2025: Cornucopian, second-time-out, will have the eyes of plenty after his decisive maiden victory on the same track last month. The race is loaded. Sandman is an enigma to me (7 2-1-2) and could be a defining moment.
  • HISTORY: One of the most anticipated Kentucky Derby preps especially in recent years. Todd Pletcher and Bob Baffert have the most winners with five.

    Coal Battle is a dream horse for the smaller-stables across the land: a $75,000 purchase who has earned in excess of $1,000,000 with five wins in seven starts including entering off a win in the Rebel Stakes here.
  • CHEAT SHEET: 2025 Arkansas Derby Cheat Sheet
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RacePurseRace TypeDistanceSurfacePost Times
1$45,000Starter Allowance1 1/8 MDirt11:20 AM CT
2$110,000Maiden Special Weight6 FDirt11:50 AM CT
3$110,000Maiden Special Weight6 FDirt12:22 PM CT
4$130,000Allowance Optional Claiming6 FDirt12:52 PM CT
5$110,000Maiden Special Weight6 FDirt1:24 PM CT
6$250,000Matron S.6 FDirt2:04 PM CT
7$131,000Allowance Optional Claiming6 FDirt2:40 PM CT
8$500,000Oaklawn Mile S.1 MDirt3:17 PM CT
9$110,000Maiden Special Weight1 1/8 MDirt3:53 PM CT
10$145,000Eclipse Overnight S.6 FDirt4:32 PM CT
11$145,000American Pharoah Overnight S.1 1/16 MDirt5:12 PM CT
12$750,000Fantasy S.1 1/16 MDirt6:02 PM CT
13$1,500,000Arkansas Derby1 1/8 MDirt6:48 PM CT
14$130,000Allowance1 1/16 MDirt7:24 PM CT

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Nakayama (Funabashi, Chiba, Japan) -- March 29 -- Fukurya Stakes awards 40-20-12-8-4 point-scale to the Kentucky Derby.

As the fourth and final event on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Fukuryu S. boasts the largest number of points – on a scale of 40-20-12-8-4 – to the top five finishers. The allowance race is also the longest of the Japanese qualifiers, contested at about 1 1/8 miles, and it is the only one staged at a right-handed track, Nakayama. SOURCE: KentuckyDerby.com

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Luxor Cafe, bred in Kentucky, won for the fourth straight time in six lifetime starts to win the Fukuryu (Japanese road to the Kentucky Derby). Connections will decide midweek as to whether they will accept the invitation.to the first leg of the US Triple Crown.
 
Hall of Famer and multiple Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Nick Zito in the Gulf winner's circle for a rare time in South Florida. Overall, Zito entered today just 11-for-277 (3.9%) since the start of 2021.
 
Saturday, March 29. 2025
  • Safie Joseph trained four winners, all in stakes.
Nakayama • (Funabashi, Chiba, Japan)
  • Kentucky Derby Prep: Luxor Cafe, bred in Kentucky, won for the fourth straight time in six lifetime starts to win the Fukuryu. Connections will decide midweek as to whether they will accept the invitation.to the first leg of the US Triple Crown. The win is worth 40 points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.
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Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Handle: $32.3 million.
  • Card: 14 races, 10 stakes including 5 graded.
  • Race 14: Tappan Street (Luis Saez/Brad Cox) won the $1.2 million Grade 1 Florida Derby. The important Kentucky Derby prep has a 100-50-25-15-10 points distribution system. Tappan Street is a $1,000,000 son to Into Mischief. He was lightly raced entering today with just two starts. Now he is known to all in the racing community.
  • Luis Saez rode winners in two stakes.
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  • Saffie Joseph entered 11 races and returned three winners, all in stakes. He ended 18 3-1-2. He was the lone trainer with multiple winners.
Turfway (Kentucky):
  • Closing Day: The meet began January 1 and ended Saturday night.
  • Leading Jockey: Luan Machado.
  • Leading Trainer: Michael Maker with 19 wins. Larry Rivelli had a 32% win rate which topped the eight trainers with 10+ wins.
Oaklawn (Arkansas):
  • Crowd: 68,000, a gigantic number.
  • Handle: $21.8 million.
  • Card: 14 races, six stakes of which three were graded.
  • Race 13: Sandman (Jose Ortiz/Mark Casse) won the $1.5 million Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. The important Kentucky Derby prep has a 100-50-25-15-10 points distribution system. I have been on Sandman since early in his career but got tired of seeing "close but no cigar" moments. Today he delivered with his first win in five graded stakes opportunities. He has returned as my top pick for the Kentucky Derby again. The $1.2 million son of Tapit, who is now 24 years of age, is 8 3-1-2 lifetime. Pace-setters Speed King and Cornucopian distributed wild fractions of 22.46, :45.21, and 1:10.37
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  • Chalk: The day began with a $60 winner but it was mostly chalk and some of the lowest payouts a card could produce. Oaklawn generally provides opportunities but this day was for the chalk players. Nancy Holthus, a track handicapper, nailed seven straight races which ended with a loss in the Arkansas Derby.
  • Jose Ortiz rode three winners including two graded stakes. He is having an excellent 2025 and is on a path to be a finalist for Outstanding Jockey of the Year through the early stages.
  • Francisco Arrieta rode three winners.
  • David Jacobson trained three winners, the only trainer who won multiple times.
 
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Sunday, March 30. 2025

Aqueduct (New York):
  • Closing Day: The meet that began January 1st came to an odd conclusion over nearby noise from a car show. NYRA opted to cancel the race day stating that safety for jockeys and horses were at risk. Resorts World Casino, who operated the car show, and NYRA were at a standstill despite some prior rules put into effect.
  • Leading Jockey: Manny Franco with 64 wins.
  • Leading Trainer: Linda Rice with 51 wins dominated the show while many of the larger stables headed elsewhere for the winter. The closest challenger had 18 wins.
  • Stephen Schauer is in his first year of training. He was a handicapper and owner and is nearing the age of 60 but his rookie year training has been met with success: 9 5-1-2.
Tampa Bay Downs (Florida):
  • Handle: Over $7.7 million bet on the 22nd edition of the Florida Cup.
  • Luis Saez rode three winners. He could be Jockey of the Week in North America.
Gulfstream (Florida):
  • Champion Meet Finale: The meet that began November 28 came to a sudden halt as a marine advisory and dangerous weather interrupted the day, caused a power outage and then caution reigned with the cancellation midway through the card.
  • Leading Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr. with 109 wins.
  • Leading Trainer: Saffie Joseph, Jr. with 70 wins.
 
Aqueduct (NY) on April 5.
  • Wood Memorial (Grade 2) -- Race 12 is a Kentucky Derby prep.
  • Points: 100-50-25-15-10
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Race PurseTypeDistanceSurfacePost Time
1$32,000Maiden Claiming6 1/2 FDirt12:10 PM ET
2$84,000Allowance Optional Claiming7 FDirt12:45 PM ET
3$36,000Maiden Claiming6 1/2 FDirt1:17 PM ET
4$28,000Claiming1 MDirt1:50 PM ET
5$74,000Maiden Special Weight1 MDirt2:22 PM ET
6$30,000Claiming1 MDirt2:55 PM ET
7$175,000Distaff S.7 FDirt3:29 PM ET
8$76,000Allowance7 FDirt4:02 PM ET
9$200,000Gazelle S.1 1/8 MDirt4:34 PM ET
10$300,000Carter S. Presented by NYRA Bets7 FDirt5:06 PM ET
11$150,000Excelsior S.1 1/4 MDirt5:38 PM ET
12$750,000Wood Memorial S. Presented by Resorts World Casino1 1/8 MDirt6:10 PM ET
13$78,000Allowance Optional Claiming7 FDirt6:44 PM ET

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Santa Anita (CA) on April 5:
  • Santa Anita Derby (Grade I) -- Race 10 is a Kentucky Derby prep
  • Points: 100-50-25-15-10; however, due to the scheduled amount of entrants, points will be reduced.


RacePurseTypeDistanceSurfacePost Time
1$65,000Maiden Special Weight6 FTurf12:00 PM PT
2$125,000Echo Eddie S.6 1/2 FDirt12:30 PM PT
3$67,000Allowance Optional Claiming1 MTurf1:00 PM PT
4$200,000Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks1 1/16 MDirt1:30 PM PT
5$100,000Monrovia S. presented by Ketel OneAbout 6 1/2 FDownhill turf2:00 PM PT
6$125,000Evening Jewel S.6 1/2 FDirt2:30 PM PT
7$65,000Maiden Special Weight6 FTurf3:00 PM PT
8$65,000Maiden Special Weight6 FDirt3:30 PM PT
9$67,000AllowanceAbout 6 1/2 FDownhill turf4:00 PM PT
10$500,000Santa Anita Derby1 1/8 MDirt4:30 PM PT
11$67,000Allowance Optional ClaimingAbout 6 1/2 FDownhill turf5:00 PM PT
12$69,000Allowance Optional Claiming1 MTurf5:30 PM PT

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On hold for Keeneland's card April 5 which has yet to be released. Rain could interrupt the opening weekend.

Keeneland (KY) on April 5.
  • Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I)-- Race (xx) is a Kentucky Derby prep.
  • Points: 100-50-25-15-10

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Keeneland
 
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Meydan Racecourse on April 5.
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  • UAE Derby (Grade 2) -- Race 5 is a Kentucky Derby prep.
  • Points: 100-50-25-15-10
Dubai, UAE Local Times (eight hours ahead of ET and 11 hours ahead of Pacific Time) -- SUBJECT TO CHANGE
  • 1 -- 4:35 Dubai Kahayla Classic (8:35 am ET)
  • 2 -- 5:10 Dubai Gold Cup
  • 3 -- 5:45 Godolphin Mile
  • 4 -- 6:20 Al Quoz Sprint
  • 5 -- 7:00 UAE Derby (11:00 am ET)
  • 6 -- 7:40 Dubai Golden Shaheen
  • 7 -- 8:15 Dubai Turf
  • 8 -- 8:50 Dubai Sheema Classic
  • 9 -- 9:30 Dubai World Cup (1:30 pm ET)
 
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