First Look: Derby, Oaks preps lead 11 weekend graded stakes

First Look: Derby, Oaks preps lead 11 weekend graded stakes
Photo: Liz Lamont / Eclipse Sportswire

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Two more races Saturday offer 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winners. Forte looks to move back atop the leaderboard Saturday as the morning-line favorite in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, and Reincarnate is the early favorite in the Arkansas Derby (G1).

Gulfstream and Oaklawn also will host points preps for the Kentucky Oaks with 100 points on offer to the winners.

Here’s an early look at the likely fields.

Kentucky Derby preps

Saturday

Florida Derby (G1), Gulfstream Park, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds, 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Forte, a top contender for the Kentucky Derby since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile amid a winning streak in four graded stakes, is the 4-5 favorite here on the morning line. In his last start, he beat Rocket Can here in the Fountain of Youth (G2) by 4 1/2 lengths. Second on the morning line is Fort Bragg, who is coming off a fifth-place finish in the San Felipe (G2). The former Bob Baffert trainee, now with Tim Yakteen, has a record of 5: 1-1-2. The next choice is Dubyuhnell, the Remsen (G2) winner who finished eighth in the Sam F. Davis (G3) in his only start since.

2023 Florida Derby G1

Post Silks Horse / Sire Rating Trainer / Jockey Last Start / Next Start HRN
1 Horse Silk Jungfrau Jungfrau
Arrogate
6.27 William I. Mott
Paco Lopez
6th, 2023 Withers G3 20-1
Last Race 6th, 2023 Withers G3
2 Horse Silk West Coast Cowboy West Coast Cowboy
West Coast
4.79 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
Sonny Leon
3rd, 2023 Holy Bull G3 20-1
Last Race 3rd, 2023 Holy Bull G3
3 Horse Silk Shaq Diesel Shaq Diesel
Khozan
3.79 Christos Gatis
Miguel A. Vasquez
10th, 2023 Risen Star G2 30-1
Last Race 10th, 2023 Risen Star G2
4 Horse Silk Mage Mage
Good Magic
5.07 Gustavo Delgado
Luis Saez
4th, 2023 Fountain of Youth G2 10-1
Last Race 4th, 2023 Fountain of Youth G2
5 Horse Silk Mr. Peeks Mr. Peeks
California Chrome
6.12 ian wil
Edwin Gonzalez
2nd, GP MSW (3/12/23-R3) 30-1
Last Race 2nd, GP MSW (3/12/23-R3)
6 Horse Silk Nautical Star Nautical Star
Dixie Chatter
6.62 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
Leonel Reyes
1st, OP MSW (2/18/23-R7) 30-1
Last Race 1st, OP MSW (2/18/23-R7)
7 Horse Silk Il Miracolo Il Miracolo
Gun Runner
5.48 Antonio Sano
Jesus M. Rios
6th, 2023 Fountain of Youth G2 30-1
Last Race 6th, 2023 Fountain of Youth G2
8 Horse Silk Mr Ripple Mr Ripple
Dialed In
6.42 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
Edgard J. Zayas
2nd, GP Allow (3/2/23-R8) 30-1
Last Race 2nd, GP Allow (3/2/23-R8)
9 Horse Silk Cyclone Mischief Cyclone Mischief
Into Mischief
6.05 Dale L. Romans
Javier J. Castellano
3rd, 2023 Fountain of Youth G2 8-1
Last Race 3rd, 2023 Fountain of Youth G2
10 Horse Silk Fort Bragg Fort Bragg
Tapit
6.10 Tim Yakteen
Joel Rosario
5th, 2023 San Felipe G2 5-1
Last Race 5th, 2023 San Felipe G2
11 Horse Silk Forte Forte
Violence
8.43 Todd A. Pletcher
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
1st, 2023 Fountain of Youth G2 4-5
Last Race 1st, 2023 Fountain of Youth G2
12 Horse Silk Dubyuhnell Dubyuhnell
Good Magic
6.45 Danny Gargan
Jose L. Ortiz
8th, 2023 Sam F. Davis G3 6-1
Last Race 8th, 2023 Sam F. Davis G3

Arkansas Derby (G1), Oaklawn, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds, 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Yakteen has the morning-line favorite here with another former Baffert colt, Reincarnate. He finished third last out in the Rebel (G3) behind Confidence Game and Red Route One. Before that, he won the Sham (G3). Red Route One is looking for his first win since breaking his maiden in September. He’s 0-for-5 since, though he also finished second in the Southwest (G3). Rocket Can was runner-up to Forte last out in the Fountain of Youth (G2). Before that, he won the Holy Bull (G3).

2023 Arkansas Derby G1

Post Silks Horse / Sire Rating Trainer / Jockey Last Start / Next Start HRN
1 Horse Silk Bourbon Bash Bourbon Bash
City of Light
5.84 D. Wayne Lukas
Reylu Gutierrez
5th, 2023 Rebel Stakes G2 15-1
Last Race 5th, 2023 Rebel Stakes G2
2 Horse Silk Interlock Empire Interlock Empire
Classic Empire
0.00 Kenneth G. McPeek
David Cabrera
1st, OP MSW (3/11/23-R8) 20-1
Last Race 1st, OP MSW (3/11/23-R8)
3 Horse Silk Harlocap Harlocap
Justify
5.47 Steven M. Asmussen
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
6th, 2023 Risen Star G2 15-1
Last Race 6th, 2023 Risen Star G2
4 Horse Silk Two Eagles River Two Eagles River
Cloud Computing
5.12 Chris A. Hartman
Nik Juarez
1st, OP AlwOC (2/19/23-R8) 10-1
Last Race 1st, OP AlwOC (2/19/23-R8)
5 Horse Silk Airtime Airtime
American Freedom
3.79 Robertino Diodoro
Cristian A. Torres
1st, OP AlwOC (2/18/23-R6) 15-1
Last Race 1st, OP AlwOC (2/18/23-R6)
6 Horse Silk Angel Of Empire Angel Of Empire
Classic Empire
5.26 Brad H. Cox
Flavien Prat
1st, 2023 Risen Star G2 9-2
Last Race 1st, 2023 Risen Star G2
7 Horse Silk Rocket Can Rocket Can
Into Mischief
6.18 William I. Mott
Junior Alvarado
2nd, 2023 Fountain of Youth G2 4-1
Last Race 2nd, 2023 Fountain of Youth G2
8 Horse Silk Reincarnate Reincarnate
Good Magic
6.74 Tim Yakteen
John R. Velazquez
3rd, 2023 Rebel Stakes G2 5-2
Last Race 3rd, 2023 Rebel Stakes G2
9 Horse Silk King Russell King Russell
Creative Cause
3.79 Ron Moquett
Rafael Bejarano
1st, OP MSW (2/25/23-R4) 30-1
Last Race 1st, OP MSW (2/25/23-R4)
10 Horse Silk Red Route One Red Route One
Gun Runner
5.87 Steven M. Asmussen
Tyler Gaffalione
2nd, 2023 Rebel Stakes G2 3-1
Last Race 2nd, 2023 Rebel Stakes G2
11 Horse Silk Kolomio Kolomio
Constitution
3.79 J. Keith Desormeaux
James Graham
3rd, SA Str (2/3/23-R1) 30-1
Last Race 3rd, SA Str (2/3/23-R1)

Kentucky Oaks preps

Saturday

Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), Gulfstream Park, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies, 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points

The morning-line favorite is Miracle, who hasn’t won since breaking her maiden in her first start. She was second in her last three starts, including a loss to Pretty Mischievous last out in the Rachel Alexandra (G2). Dorth Vader is 4-for-7 and won the Davona Dale (G3) here by 4 3/4 lengths last out.

2023 Gulfstream Park Oaks G2

Fantasy (G3), Oaklawn, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies, 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points

Wet Paint has three wins and a second in her last four starts, most recently winning the Honeybee (G3) by three lengths over Condensation and others expected here. She’s Lookin Lucky broke her maiden by 13 1/4 lengths in her third start then was second in an optional-claiming allowance race here.

2023 Fantasy G3

Other graded stakes

Saturday

Pan American (G2), Gulfstream, 1 1/2 miles (turf), 4-year-olds and up

Master Piece is 0-for-4 since winning the Eddie Read (G2) in July, but he rallied to finish third last out in the Mac Diarmida (G2). Therapist tries his first graded stakes after winning a starter allowance by 4 1/2 lengths. Ry’s the Guy was off for all of 2022, coming back to finish 10th in an optional-claiming allowance race March 4.

2023 Pan American G2

Royal Heroine (G2), Santa Anita, 1 mile (turf), fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Rhea Moon would make her 2023 debut after closing out last year with three wins, including in the American Oaks (G1) and the Autumn Miss (G3). The first- through fifth-place finishers from the Buena Vista (G2) could start here, led by winner Quattroelle, who also won the Megahertz (G3) in February.

2023 Royal Heroine Stakes G2

Ghostzapper (G3), Gulfstream, 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up

First Captain makes his first start of the year after an 0-for-3 finish to 2022. That included a second by a nose in the Suburban (G2), and before that he won the Pimlico Special (G3). Simplification took on all comers in 11 graded stakes last year, but he was winless in nine starts, including a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, after a victory in the Fountain of Youth (G2).

2023 Ghostzapper G3

Orchid (G3), Gulfstream, 1 1/2 miles (turf), fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Personal Best has finished in the money in eight of her nine starts and rallied to win the La Prevoyante (G3) by a neck last out. Viburnum is coming off a win in the listed Via Borgese and has won three of her last four starts. After a 10-month break, Transient has finished in the money in five straight starts – including that loss by a neck in the La Prevoyante.

2023 Orchid G3

Oaklawn Mile (G3), Oaklawn, 1 mile, 4-year-olds and up

Caddo River returns after winning an optional-claiming allowance by a neck for new trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Forbidden Kingdom was second in the San Carlos (G3) in his first start of the year after closing out 2022 with a second to Taiba in the Malibu (G1). Zozos took a break after finishing 10th in the Kentucky Derby last year, returning in December and going 2-for-3 since.

2023 Oaklawn Mile G3

Appleton (G3), Gulfstream, 1 mile (turf), 4-year-olds and up

Three runners from the Canadian Turf (G3) return here, including second-place finisher Steady On, who lost to stablemate Emmanuel. Fort Washington was third by a neck in his first start this year. Winfromwithin also was beaten by Emmanuel, in the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3) in February.

2023 Appleton G3

Post Silks Horse / Sire Rating Trainer / Jockey Last Start / Next Start HRN
1 Horse Silk He'spuregold He'spuregold
Vancouver
4.45 Kelly J. Breen
Paco Lopez
5th, 2023 Tampa Bay Stakes G3 Entered
Last Race 5th, 2023 Tampa Bay Stakes G3
2 Horse Silk Souper Dormy Souper Dormy
Into Mischief
5.12 Martin Drexler
Emisael Jaramillo
7th, 2023 Canadian Turf G3 Entered
Last Race 7th, 2023 Canadian Turf G3
3 Horse Silk Gray's Fable Gray's Fable
Gio Ponti
6.09 Brian A. Lynch
Joel Rosario
10th, 2022 Keeneland Turf Mile G1 Entered
Last Race 10th, 2022 Keeneland Turf Mile G1
4 Horse Silk Striker Striker
War Front
0.00 Josie Carroll
Antonio A. Gallardo
7th, 2022 Kennedy Road G2 Entered
Last Race 7th, 2022 Kennedy Road G2
5 Horse Silk Fort Washington Fort Washington
War Front
4.59 Claude R. McGaughey III
Jose L. Ortiz
3rd, 2023 Canadian Turf G3 Entered
Last Race 3rd, 2023 Canadian Turf G3
6 Horse Silk Steady On Steady On
Pioneerof the Nile
0.00 Todd A. Pletcher
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
2nd, 2023 Canadian Turf G3 Entered
Last Race 2nd, 2023 Canadian Turf G3
7 Horse Silk Winfromwithin Winfromwithin
Into Mischief
5.07 Jorge Delgado
Chantal Sutherland
2nd, 2023 Tampa Bay Stakes G3 Entered
Last Race 2nd, 2023 Tampa Bay Stakes G3
8 Horse Silk Lucky Curlin Lucky Curlin
Curlin
5.19 Fernando Abreu
Jose Morelos
1st, WO AlwOC (8/18/22-R5) Entered
Last Race 1st, WO AlwOC (8/18/22-R5)
9 Horse Silk Churchtown Churchtown
Air Force Blue
4.59 Roger L. Attfield
Luis Saez
7th, 2022 Tropical Park Derby LS Entered
Last Race 7th, 2022 Tropical Park Derby LS
10 Horse Silk Roaring Forties Roaring Forties
Stormy Atlantic
4.79 Katerina Vassilieva
Shaun X. Bridgmohan
1st, 2023 Sunshine Turf RS Entered
Last Race 1st, 2023 Sunshine Turf RS
11 Horse Silk County Final County Final
Oxbow
5.62 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
Edgard J. Zayas
9th, 2023 Turf Dash LS Entered
Last Race 9th, 2023 Turf Dash LS
12 Horse Silk Dreams of Tomorrow Dreams of Tomorrow
Speightstown
5.67 Claude R. McGaughey III
Javier J. Castellano
3rd, Aqu AlwOC (11/10/22-R6) Entered
Last Race 3rd, Aqu AlwOC (11/10/22-R6)

Sunday

American (G3), Santa Anita, 1 mile (turf), 4-year-olds and up

Earls Rock won the Thunder Road (G3) by a nose last out for his second win in a row. Du Jour has two seconds in two starts this year, including missing by a neck in the Thunder Road and again by a neck last out in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1). Vanzzy is making his first start since finishing ninth in this race last year, when it was held in June.

2023 American Stakes G3

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