First Look: Two Derby preps lead 10 top stakes this weekend

This weekend brings two more stops on the roads to the 2021 Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks.

The Derby preps are the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct and the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs; the Oaks preps are the Las Virgenes (G3) and the Suncoast at Tampa Bay Downs. Each offers 10-4-2-1 points on toward the Churchill Downs goal.

[RELATED: See the ever-changing odds for 240 Kentucky Derby candidates]

Here's an early look at the fields for those races and this weekend's other graded stakes.

Kentucky Derby preps — Saturday

Withers (G3), Aqueduct, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds

The top two finishers in the Jerome are expected to meet again here. Capo Kane won that race by 6 1/4 lengths over Eagle Orb. Royal Number came under consideration for this spot after winning around two turns in a 1 1/16-mile Laurel Park allowance race on Jan. 9. Both Chad Brown's Risk Taking and Todd Pletcher's Overtook broke their maiden on third try in December.

2021 Withers (G3)

*Rating is based on HRN fan votes, which rank the Top Active Horses in training.

Rank	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start	Status
		Eagle Orb Orb	6.23	R. Rodriguez	2nd, 2021 Jerome (LS)	Probable
		Capo Kane Street Sense	5.93	H. Wyner	1st, 2021 Jerome (LS)	Probable
		Risk Taking Medaglia d'Oro	5.09	C. Brown	1st, Aqu MSW (12/13/2020-R4)	Probable
		Donegal Bay Uncle Mo	5.06	T. Pletcher	1st, GP MSW (12/12/2020-R7)	Probable
		Overtook Curlin	4.92	T. Pletcher	1st, Aqu MSW (12/20/2020-R4)	Probable
		Shackqueenking Shackleford	4.84	G. Capuano	3rd, 2021 Spectacular Bid Stakes (LS)	Probable
		Royal Number Palace Malice	4.12	M. Trombetta	1st, Lrl AlwOC (1/9/2021-R4)	Possible

Race Video

Sam F. Davis (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds

Two colts are expected to return here after in-the-money finishes in their first graded stakes: Smiley Sobotka, second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), and Known Agenda, third place in the Remsen (G2). Nova Rags bounced back from a fourth-place finish in the Nashua (G3) to win the Pasco last out.

2021 Sam F. Davis (G3)

*Rating is based on HRN fan votes, which rank the Top Active Horses in training.

Rank	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start	Status
		Smiley Sobotka Brody's Cause	5.94	D. Romans	2nd, 2020 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2)	Probable
		Known Agenda Curlin	5.90	T. Pletcher	3rd, 2020 Remsen (G2)	Probable
		Boca Boy Prospective	5.89	C. Winebaugh	1st, 2020 Florida Sire In Reality (RS)	Probable
		Hidden Stash Constitution	5.82	V. Oliver	1st, CD AlwOC (11/28/2020-R3)	Probable
		Nova Rags Union Rags	5.07	W. Mott	1st, 2021 Pasco (LS)	Probable
		Ricochet Tapiture	5.07	K. Danner	1st, Tam MSW (12/19/2020-R3)	Probable
		Broadway Quality Road	4.84	C. Clement	1st, Tam MSW (1/8/2021-R2)	Probable
		Joe Man Joe Uncle Mo	4.79	D. Fisher	2nd, Tam AlwOC (1/9/2021-R6)	Probable
		Candy Man Rocket Candy Ride	4.45	W. Mott	1st, GP MSW (1/9/2021-R5)	Probable
		Lucky Law No Nay Never	4.45	P. Biancone	1st, GP MSW (1/16/2021-R4)	Probable
		Runway Magic Runhappy	4.45	G. Arnold II	3rd, 2021 Limehouse (LS)	Probable
		Foreman Chitu	4.12	G. Bennett	3rd, 2021 Pasco (LS)	Probable

Race Video

Kentuky Oaks preps — Saturday

Las Virgenes (G3), Santa Anita, 1 mile, 3-year-old fillies

This is shaping up as a rematch for the top three finishers in the Jan. 3 Santa Ynez (G2). Bob Baffert is expected to bring the win and place fillies in Kalypso and Frosteria, while Brilliant Cut is expected back for Doug O'Neill. In December, Frosteria was beaten three lengths in a Los Alamitos maiden race by Moonlight d'Oro, also expected here.

2021 Las Virgenes (G2)

*Rating is based on HRN fan votes, which rank the Top Active Horses in training.

Rank	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start	Status
		Kalypso Brody's Cause	6.18	B. Baffert	1st, 2021 Santa Ynez (G2)	Probable
		Moonlight d'Oro Medaglia d'Oro	5.77	R. Mandella	1st, LRC MSW (12/13/2020-R5)	Probable
		Javanica Medaglia d'Oro	5.34	E. Harty	2nd, 2020 Blue Norther Stakes (LS)	Probable
		Frosteria Frosted	4.48	B. Baffert	2nd, 2021 Santa Ynez (G2)	Probable
		Brilliant Cut Speightstown	4.45	D. O'Neill	3rd, 2021 Santa Ynez (G2)	Probable
		Honor America Into Mischief	4.27	S. Ruis	1st, SA MSW (1/10/2021-R3)	Possible
		Moraz Empire Maker	4.12	M. McCarthy	1st, SA MSW (1/8/2021-R4)	Probable
		American Heights American Pharoah		C. Gaines	4th, SA MSW (1/2/2021-R3)	Probable

Race Video

Suncoast, Tampa Bay Downs, 1 mile, 40 yards, 3-year-old fillies

After losing two at Woodbine in October, Curlin's Catch relocated for trainer Mark Casse and broke her maiden at Gulfstream on Jan. 3. Special Princess won the Gasparilla last out and is expected to face third-place finisher Feeling Mischief again here.

2021 Suncoast Stakes (LS)

*Rating is based on HRN fan votes, which rank the Top Active Horses in training.

Rank	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start	Status
		Feeling Mischief Into Mischief	4.84	M. Campbell	3rd, 2021 Gasparilla (LS)	Probable
		Honorifique Honor Code	4.79	E. Kenneally	2nd, 2021 Cash Run (LS)	Probable
		Scenic Overlook Nyquist	4.79	E. Harty	1st, Tam MSW (1/15/2021-R4)	Probable
		Curlin's Catch Curlin	4.67	M. Casse	1st, GP MSW (1/3/2021-R4)	Probable
		Special Princess Bahamian Squall	4.45	W. Woodard	1st, 2021 Gasparilla (LS)	Probable
		Be Sneaky Into Mischief		A. Delacour	3rd, 2020 Smart Halo Stakes (LS)	Possible

Race Video

Other graded states — Saturday

San Marcos (G2), Santa Anita, 1 1/4 miles (turf), 4-year-olds and up

Masteroffoxhounds would make his third U.S. start here after an allowance race win at Del Mar in November and a seventh-place finish earlier that month. Before that, he made the board in four of six races in Ireland. And this could be a rematch for Border Town and Salvator Mundi, who finished first and third, respectively, in a Jan. 8 allowance race here.

2021 San Marcos (G2)

*Rating is based on HRN fan votes, which rank the Top Active Horses in training.

Rank	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start	Status
		Multiplier The Factor	6.60	P. Miller	4th, 2021 San Gabriel Stakes (G2)	Probable
		Cleopatra's Strike Smart Strike	5.67	R. Hess, Jr.	6th, 2021 San Gabriel Stakes (G2)	Probable
		Oscar Dominguez Zoffany	5.47	R. Baltas	6th, 2020 Hollywood Turf Cup (G2)	Probable
		Acclimate Acclamation	5.34	P. D'Amato	3rd, 2021 Unusual Heat Turf Classic (RS)	Probable
		Border Town War Front	5.12	R. Mandella	1st, SA AlwOC (1/8/2021-R7)	Possible
		Salvator Mundi Artie Schiller	4.79	P. D'Amato	3rd, SA AlwOC (1/8/2021-R7)	Probable
		Starting Over Liam's Map	4.79	R. Falcone, Jr.	7th, 2020 Gio Ponti (LS)	Probable
		Masteroffoxhounds War Front		R. Baltas	1st, Dmr AlwOC (11/28/2020-R1)  https://youtu.be/Rvj-CJ6nkaI	Probable

Race Video

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

Hembree has been on the board in six of his last seven starts, including wins in his last two races. The most recent win was in the Joe Hernandez (G2) here on New Year's Day, where Blitzkrieg came in third. Bob and Jackie has a record of 4-2-1 from nine starts but has yet to win a graded stakes.

2021 Thunder Road Stakes (G3)

*Rating is based on HRN fan votes, which rank the Top Active Horses in training.

Rank	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start	Status
		Bob And Jackie Twirling Candy	6.09	R. Baltas	2nd, 2021 San Gabriel Stakes (G2)	Probable
		Hembree Proud Citizen	5.84	P. Miller	1st, 2021 Joe Hernandez (G2)	Probable
		Hit The Road More Than Ready	5.62	D. Blacker	1st, 2020 Oceanside (RS)	Probable
		Restrainedvengence Hold Me Back	5.59	V. Brinkerhoff	7th, 2020 City of Hope Mile (G2)  https://youtu.be/gk9d6pE6wJI	Probable
		Award Winner Ghostzapper	5.41	D. Hofmans	2nd, SA AlwOC (1/8/2021-R7)	Probable
		Blitzkrieg War Front	5.34	D. O'Neill	3rd, 2021 Joe Hernandez (G2)	Probable
		Border Town War Front	5.12	R. Mandella	1st, SA AlwOC (1/8/2021-R7)	Probable
		Tiz Plus Tizway	5.09	M. Puype	2nd, SA AlwOC (1/15/2021-R7)	Probable
		Sombeyay Into Mischief	5.07	P. Miller	1st, SA AlwOC (1/15/2021-R7)	Probable
		Whisper Not Poet's Vanity		R. Baltas	3rd, 2020 Mathis Brothers Mile (G2)	Probable

Race Video

Suwanee River (G3), Gulfstream, 1 1/8 miles (turf), fillies and mares 4 years old and up

La Signare's fifth-place finish in the John C Mabee (G2) followed a third-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Distaff Turf Mile Stakes. Great Island has finished in the money in each of her four lifetime starts. Logic N Reason also is possible for the Endeavour (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday.

2021 Suwannee River (G3)

*Rating is based on HRN fan votes, which rank the Top Active Horses in training.

Rank	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start	Status
		Don't Blame Judy Blame	4.45	J. Kruljac	5th, 2020 John C. Mabee Stakes (G2)	Probable
		La Signare Siyouni	4.45	B. Walsh	5th, 2020 Flower Bowl Invitational (G1)	Probable
		Great Island Scat Daddy	4.12	C. Brown	3rd, 2020 Via Borghese (LS)	Probable
		Logic N Reason Declaration of War		C. Clement	1st, Tam AlwOC (1/2/2021-R6)	Probable

Race Video

Tampa Bay Stakes (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles (turf), 4-year-olds and up

This would be the second start after a layoff since the Kentucky Derby for Sole Volante, who finished sixth in the Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream in December. Admission Office had a six-month layoff before his seventh-place finish in the Tropical Turf on Jan. 9. Chad Brown is expected to bring two: Greyes Creek, winner of three straight, and Delaware, 10th in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) last out.

2021 Tampa Bay Stakes (G3)

*Rating is based on HRN fan votes, which rank the Top Active Horses in training.

Rank	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start	Status
		Sole Volante Karakontie	6.88	P. Biancone	6th, 2020 Tropical Park Derby (LS)	Probable
		Admission Office Point of Entry	6.48	B. Lynch	7th, 2021 Tropical Turf (LS)	Probable
		By Your Side Constitution	6.17	E. Kenneally	4th, 2020 Tropical Park Derby (LS)	Probable
		Proven Strategies Sky Mesa	5.80	M. Casse	5th, 2021 Sunshine Millions Turf (RS)	Probable
		Fancy Liquor Lookin At Lucky	5.67	M. Maker	5th, 2020 Tropical Park Derby (LS)	Probable
		Greyes Creek Pioneerof the Nile	5.47	C. Brown	1st, Kee Allow (7/8/2020-R6)	Probable
		Delaware Frankel	5.34	C. Brown	10th, 2020 Fort Lauderdale (G2)	Probable
		Eons Giant's Causeway	5.12	A. Delacour	2nd, Tam AlwOC (1/10/2021-R2)	Probable
		Armistice Day Declaration of War	4.79	B. Minshall	2nd, 2020 Autumn (G2)	Probable
		Talk Or Listen Alhebayeb	4.79	A. Delacour	1st, Tam AlwOC (1/10/2021-R2)	Probable
		Get Smokin Get Stormy	4.59	T. Bush	4th, 2020 Hollywood Derby (G1)	Probable
		Atone Into Mischief	4.45	E. Harty	1st, Tam AlwOC (12/27/2020-R8)	Probable

Race Video

Endeavour (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles (turf), fillies and mares 4 years old and up

Christophe Clement is expect to start either Feel Glorious, winner of the Forever Together stakes at Aqueduct last out in November, or Logic N Reason, who has won two of her last three. Counterparty Risk would make only her fourth start, with a second-place finish in Dec. 26 Lady of Shamrock at Santa Anita following her graduation at Aqueduct in November.

2021 Endeavour (G3)

*Rating is based on HRN fan votes, which rank the Top Active Horses in training.

Rank	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start	Status
		Feel Glorious Bated Breath	5.34	C. Clement	1st, 2020 Forever Together (LS)	Possible
		Kelsey's Cross Anthony's Cross	5.12	P. Biancone	7th, 2021 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf (RS)	Probable
		No Mercy Percy Put It Back	4.45	J. Gonzalez	4th, 2021 Wayward Lass (LS)	Probable
		Counterparty Risk Australia		C. Brown	2nd, 2020 Lady of Shamrock (LS)	Probable
		Logic N Reason Declaration of War		C. Clement	1st, Tam AlwOC (1/2/2021-R6)	Possible
		Margaret's Joy English Channel		M. Nihei	5th, GP AlwOC (12/27/2020-R8)	Probable
		New York Girl New Approach		W. Mott	1st, GP AlwOC (12/31/2020-R8)	Probable

Race Video

San Vicente (G2), 7 furlongs, 3-year-olds

Bob Baffert is expected with two coming off maiden wins: Concert Tour, who won by 3 1/2 lengths over Mr. Impossible here earlier this month, and Freedom Fighter, who graduated at Del Mar in August but has not raced since. Petruchio broke his maiden on fourth try in October and then finished third in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) last out.

2021 San Vicente (G2)

*Rating is based on HRN fan votes, which rank the Top Active Horses in training.

Rank	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last Start	Status
		Concert Tour Street Sense	6.15	B. Baffert	1st, SA MSW (1/15/2021-R4)	Probable
		Freedom Fighter Violence	5.74	B. Baffert	1st, Dmr MSW (8/1/2020-R3)	Probable
		Petruchio Into Mischief	5.74	R. Mandella	3rd, 2020 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2)	Probable
		Found My Ball Square Eddie	4.45	D. O'Neill	1st, SA MSW (1/22/2021-R7)	Possible
		Mr. Impossible Munnings	4.45	S. Callaghan	2nd, SA MSW (1/15/2021-R4)	Possible
		The Chosen Vron Vronsky	4.45	J. Kruljac	1st, SA MSW (12/27/2020-R8)	Probable
		Uncle Boogie Ride On Curlin	4.30	A. Lerner	1st, SA AlwOC (1/17/2021-R6)	Probable

Race Video