As points preps go for Kentucky Derby 2023, the Jerome and Sham stakes do not have a lot in common.
Since it started in 2001 at Santa Anita, the Grade 3 Sham has turned out 17 Kentucky Derby horses, including two winners.
Track the contenders for Kentucky Derby 2023.
At Aqueduct, the Jerome was moved in 2011 from its traditional autumn date to late April for two years and then to its current spot in early January. In that time it has graduated only two horses for the Derby, both also-rans.
Now each race shares the distinction of awarding 10-4-3-2-1 points to its top five finishers, as long as they are eligible, toward qualifying for the starting gate May 6 at Churchill Downs.
The two preps will be renewed on opposite sides of the country this weekend. The Jerome will be run on a sunny Saturday with a high of 44 degrees in New York, according to the National Weather Service. The Sham will go off on a partly sunny Sunday with a chance of rain in Arcadia, Calif., with the temperature peaking near 63.
Jerome Stakes
Inaugurated in 1866, the Jerome has had a role of winners distinguished by the likes of Aristides, Bold Ruler, Kelso and Fusaichi Pegasus. Until 2009 most of its history had been written at Belmont Park in the late summer or early fall, making it a worthy goal for 3-year-olds coming out of the spring classics.
After a break in 2010, the race was re-established for two Aprils at Aqueduct before being moved in 2012 to its current place on the calendar in early January.
| Year | Horse | Quirin | Jerome | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ||||
| 2021 | ||||
| 2020 | ||||
| 2019 | ||||
| 2018 | Firenze Fire | S 3 | 1st | 11th |
| 2017 | ||||
| 2016 | ||||
| 2015 | ||||
| 2014 | ||||
| 2013 | Vyjack | E/P 4 | 1st | 18th |
| 2012 | ||||
| 2011 | ||||
| 2010 | ||||
| 2009 | ||||
| Aug-Sept-Oct in prior years | ||||
| 2011-17: 1 mi 70 yds | ||||
| 2018-now: 1 mile | ||||
| E - Early (pacesetter) | ||||
| E/P - Early presser (stalker) | ||||
| P - Presser (mid-pack) | ||||
| S - Sustainer (closer) |
Since the Jerome became a de facto and then a designated Derby prep, only Vyjack in 2013 and Firenze Fire in 2018, each a winner in New York, went on to run for the roses. Neither finished in the top 10 at Churchill Downs.
For most of its history the Jerome has been a one-turn mile. There was a seven-year exception from 2011 to 2017.
| Year | Winner | 1/4 | 1/2 | 3/4 | Str | Fin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Courvoisier | 4 - 1 1/2 | 2 - 1/2 | 2 - 1/2 | 1 | 1st |
| 2021 | Capo Kane | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1st |
| 2020 | Independence Hall | 2 - 1/2 | 2 - hd | 1 | 1 | 1st |
| 2019 | Mind Control | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1st |
| 2018 | Firenze Fire | 5 - 3 | 6 - 3 1/2 | 2 - 1 1/2 | 1 | 1st |
| 2017 | El Areeb | 2 - 1 | 2 - 1 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1st |
| 2016 | Flexibility | 4 - 5 | 4 - 4 | 2 - hd | 1 | 1st |
| 2015 | El Kabeir | 3 - 2 | 3 - 1/2 | 3 - hd | 1 | 1st |
| 2014 | Noble Moon | 2 - 1 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1st |
| 2013 | Vyjack | 2 - 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1st |
| 2012 | The Lumber Guy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1st |
| 2011 | Adios Charlie | 2 - 1/2 | 2 - 1/2 | 2 - 1/2 | 2 - 1 | 1st |
| Aug-Sept-Oct in prior years | ||||||
| 2011-17: 1 mi 70 yds | ||||||
| 2018-now: 1 mile |
The last four winners of the race and five of the last six were forward early and stayed there, never more than 1 1/2 lengths back at any call. Firenze Fire, the most recent Jerome victor to get into the Derby, was the last to come from off the pace.
Stakes winner Arctic Arrogance and maiden winner Narciso Dali are the two probable starters who would figure to try to get the early lead Saturday.
Sham Stakes
Named for the 1973 runner-up to Secretariat in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the Sham punched above its weight early this decade with Authentic and the late Medina Spirit. Authentic became the 2020 Derby winner and eventual horse of the COVID year. It looked like back-to-back successes in 2021 when Medina Spirit went on to finish first in the Derby, but a failed drug test led to his disqualification and a legal fight that continues to this day.
The Sham had only one Derby winner in its first 19 years. That was in 2005, when favored Giacomo finished third to Going Wild at Santa Anita before going to the post at 50-1 and winning at Louisville.
| Year | Horse | Quirin | Sham | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ||||
| 2021 | Medina Spirit | E 7 | 2nd | **19th |
| 2020 | Authentic | E 8 | 1st | 1st |
| 2019 | Gray Magician | E/P 6 | 4th | 19th |
| 2018 | My Boy Jack | S 0 | 3rd | 5th |
| 2017 | Gormley | E/P 5 | 1st | 9th |
| 2016 | ||||
| 2015 | ||||
| 2014 | ||||
| 2013 | Goldencents | E/P 8 | 1st | 17th |
| 2012 | ||||
| 2011 | ||||
| 2010 | ||||
| 2009 | Mr. Hot Stuff | S 0 | *3rd | 15th |
| 2008 | Colonel John | S 3 | *1st | 6th |
| 2007 | Liquidity | E 7 | 2nd | 14th |
| 2006 | Bob and John | E/P 5 | 1st | 17th |
| 2005 | Giacomo | E/P 5 | 3rd | 1st |
| Going Wild | E 7 | 1st | 18th | |
| 2004 | Action This Day | S 1 | 4th | 6th |
| Borrego | P 4 | 2nd | 10th | |
| Master David | E/P 5 | 1st | 12th | |
| 2003 | Empire Maker | P 5 | 2nd | 2nd |
| Ten Most Wanted | E/P 5 | 4th | 9th | |
| 2002 | ||||
| 2001 | ||||
| 2001-10: 1 1/8 mi | ||||
| 2011: 1 1/16 mi | ||||
| 2012-now: 1 mi | ||||
| *All-weather track | ||||
| **DQ from 1st | ||||
| E - Early (pacesetter) | ||||
| E/P - Early presser (stalker) | ||||
| P - Presser (mid-pack) | ||||
| S - Sustainer (closer) |
True to recent Derby form, Authentic and Medina Spirit were Bob Baffert-trained frontrunners who succeeded in Kentucky after going the two-turn mile of the Sham.
Giacomo was a horse who could move forward in the middle of his races, but his Derby upset saw him make up 15 3/4 lengths and 17 places to reach the winner’s circle.
Baffert has won a record eight runnings of the Sham, so it should come as no surprise that the way to score in the race is get to the front early and never give up the lead. That was how Authentic, Life Is Good and Newgrange did it for him the last three years.
| Year | Winner | 1/4 | 1/2 | 3/4 | Str | Fin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Newgrange | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | Life Is Good | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | Authentic | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 | Gunmetal Gray | 7 - 6 3/4 | 7 - 6 3/4 | 7 - 4 3/4 | 6 - 4 1/4 | 1 |
| 2018 | McKinzie | 4 - 1 1/2 | 4 - 1 1/2 | 2 - 1/2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2017 | Gormley | 2 - 1 | 2 - hd | 2 - hd | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 | Collected | 3 - hd | 4 - 1 3/4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 | Calculator | 5 - 3 | 5 - 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 | Midnight Hawk | 2 - hd | 1 | 2 - hd | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | Goldencents | 2 - 1 | 2 - 1 | 2 - 1 | 2 - 1/2 | 1 |
| 2012 | Out of Bounds | 4 - 2 | 3 - 2 | 4 - 1 1/4 | 3 - 2 | 1 |
| 2011 | Tapizar | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2010 | Alphie's Bet | 6 - 3 3/4 | 6 - 3 3/4 | 5 - 1 3/4 | 3 - 1/2 | 1 |
| 2009* | The Pamplemousse | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2008* | Colonel John | 2 - 1/2 | 2 - hd | 2 - hd | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 | Ravel | 4 - 1 1/2 | 4 - 1 | 4 - 2 | 2 - hd | 1 |
| 2006 | Bob and John | 2 - hd | 2 - hd | 2 - hd | 1 | 1 |
| 2005 | Going Wild | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2004 | Master David | 2 - 1/2 | 2 - hd | 2 - hd | 2 - 1/2 | 1 |
| 2003 | Man Among Men | 3 - 3 | 3 - 2 | 3 - 1 1/2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2002 | U.S.S. Tinosa | 3 - 1 1/2 | 3 - 1 | 3 - 1/2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 | Wild and Wise | 4 - 2 | 3 - 3 | 3 - 1 1/2 | 2 - 1 | 1 |
| 2001-10: 1 1/8 mi | ||||||
| 2011: 1 1/16 mi | ||||||
| 2012-now: 1 mi | ||||||
| *All-weather track |
Fourteen of the first 22 Sham winners, including five of the last six, were never more than 1 1/2 lengths off the lead at any call, according to race charts posted by Equibase.
The most recent exception to that trend was Gunmetal Gray, who closed from last place to finish first in the 2019 race for Jerry Hollendorfer, the last trainer other than Baffert to win the Sham.
Fort Warren, Havnameltdown, Fort Bragg and Reincarnate, all from the Baffert barn, were among the frontrunners listed as possible entrants Sunday. So were Spun Intended, a Hard Spun colt trained by Mark Glatt, and One in Vermillion, a two-time Turf Paradise stakes winner from the Esteban Martínez stable.
