Kentucky Derby Preps: Dornoch, Sierra Leone Renew Acquaintances In Blue Grass Stakes
Last December, Dornoch edged Sierra Leone in a pulsating duel in the Remsen, rallying in the deep stretch to win by a head.
Since then, both 3-year olds have established themselves as top Kentucky Derby contenders as Dornoch cruised in the Fountain of Youth, while Sierra Leone triumphed in the Risen Star.
On Saturday, the talented colts will renew acquaintances in the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes. The deep field at Keeneland Race Course arguably stacks up as the toughest prep race for next month’s Kentucky Derby.
Ahead of Saturday’s 1 1/8 mile Blue Grass, Dornoch tops the rankings of Kentucky Derby contenders at America’s Best Racing. Dornoch, a full brother of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, is one spot ahead of Fierceness, who won last weekend’s Florida Derby by 13 ¼ lengths.
Sierra Leone, who closed to win February’s Risen Star, ranks third behind Fierceness.
Talented field in the Blue Grass
Beyond the aforementioned duo, two other stakes winners are entered in the Blue Grass — Encino and Epic Ride.
Encino (12/1) has made all three of his lifetime starts on an all-weather Tapeta surface at Turfway Park. In his last outing, Encino outdueled Epic Ride for the victory in the John Battaglia Stakes.
Just A Touch is the 7/2 third choice behind Sierra Leone and Dornoch. A son of 2018 Kentucky Derby winner Justify, Just A Touch has one win in two lifetime starts.
Sierra Leone is the 2/1 morning-line favorite, followed by Dornoch at 3/1. Dornoch was hardly challenged in the Fountain of Youth after four of his rivals scratched, most notably second choice Locked.
Deterministic determined in the Wood
In his lone career defeat, Just A Touch rallied for second in last month’s Gotham Stakes, but still finished two lengths behind Deterministic. Trained by Christophe Clement, Deterministic stalked the pace in the Gotham, then sprinted past the leaders for an easy win. Deterministic earned 50 Kentucky Derby points for the win on a sloppy track.
A 3-year old Liam’s Map colt out of Giulio’s Jewel, Deterministic enters as a heavy 7/5 morning-line favorite.
Deterministic may be challenged by Tuscan Sky (4/1) who is undefeated in two lifetime starts. The Todd Pletcher-trained Tuscan Sky recorded a 99 Equibase speed figure in February when he captured an allowance at Fair Grounds. The speed figure equals that of Deterministic in the favorite’s previous race. Tuscan Sky’s sire, Vino Rosso, won the Wood for Pletcher in 2018.
Imagination, a Bob Baffert-trainee, enters Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby as the unquestioned favorite in the $750,000 Grade I race at Santa Anita Park.
Imagination outdueled Wine Me Up to win last month’s San Felipe Stakes in a photo finish. Wine Me Up, a stablemate of Imagination, is not entered in the Santa Anita Derby.
Imagination’s main competition might come from Stronghold, the winner of the Grade 3 Sunland Derby. None of the Baffert entries are eligible for Kentucky Derby points.
Embroiled in litigation with Churchill Downs, Baffert is prohibited from entering any horses in this year’s Kentucky Derby. Stronghold (5/2) may need additional Derby points to qualify for next month’s Run for the Roses.
Each winner of Saturday’s preps will receive 100 Kentucky Derby points for entry into the first jewel of the Triple Crown.
The points will be awarded on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10 for the top five finishers. The Derby is annually the most prestigious event in horse racing for 3-year old males.
As of Friday, Fierceness leads the field with 136 points. The top 19 thoroughbreds and Japanese horse T.O. Password will receive an invitation to the Kentucky Derby on May 4.
Photo: Getty Images
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