Path to the Bluegrass Derby: Past Winners

NIGHTBORNE (2022)

JUSTIFY x APTITUDE x RUBIANO (DI : 3.00 | CD : 0.69 | 3-5-8-0-0)

Notable Victories

• 2yo – June – Local KY MSW (6F – 83.9 Speed)
• 2yo – November – Grade II / Group 2 Race – The Ransom (9F – 99.7 Speed)
• 3yo – January – Grade II / Group 2 Race – Minnie Minoso Derby (9F – 103.0 Speed)
• 3yo – May – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Bluegrass Derby (10F – 109.2 Speed)
• 3yo – August – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Travelers Stakes (10F – 116.5 Speed)

Qualified for the Derby with 152 stakes points, passing the cutoff in its final pre-derby start with a 2nd place finish in an open stakes race.

SUBTLY STATED (2021)

EXAGGERATOR x SCAT DADDY x TAPIT (DI : 3.00 | CD : 0.71 | 3-4-7-0-0)

Notable Victories

• 2yo – April – MSW (5.5F – 68.7 Speed)
• 3yo – January – Stakes Race – Critical Reasoning Dirt Memorial (7.5F – 98.7 Speed)
• 3yo – March – Grade III / Group 3 Race – The Buccaneer Derby (8.5F – 101.4 Speed)
• 3yo – April – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Wooden Indian (9F – 104.5 Speed)
• 3yo – May – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Bluegrass Derby (10F – 110.6 Speed)
• 3yo – December – Grade II / Group 2 Race – The Next Force (10F – 116.8 Speed)

Qualified for the Derby with 166 stakes points and a Derby Lock win, passing the cutoff in its final pre-derby start with a win at the Wooden Indian.

GENERAL CROOK (2020)

UNION RAGS x BERNARDINI x MR. PROSPECTOR (DI : 2.67 | CD : 0.77 | 7-4-10-1-0)

Notable Victories

• 2yo – March – MSW (6F – 74.6 Speed)
• 2yo – May – Stakes Race – Gotta Keep Em Separated (6.5F – 85.9 Speed)
• 2yo – August – Grade III / Group 3 Race – LABOUR DAY (7.5F – 93.6 Speed)
• 2yo – October – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Sparkling Wine Stakes (8F – 96.7 Speed)
• 2yo – November – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile (8.5F – 101.6 Speed)
• 3yo – May – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Bluegrass Derby (10F – 108.6 Speed)
• 3yo – May – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Middle Jewel Stakes (9.5F – 109.8 Speed)

Qualified for the Derby with 308 stakes points, passing the cutoff in October of its 2yo campaign with a win at the Sparkling Wine Stakes.

GIANT’S KASH (2019)

GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x WAR FRONT x A.P. INDY (DI : 1.67 | CD : 0.36 | 4-5-27-0-0)

Notable Victories

• 2yo – September – MSW (8F – 89.9 Speed)
• 3yo – January – Stakes Race – Magical Act Dirt Dash (7.5F – 101.3 Speed)
• 3yo – February – Stakes Race – Tabitha Dirt Memorial (9F – 104.6 Speed)
• 3yo – May – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Bluegrass Derby (10F – 107.9 Speed)
• 3yo – July – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Eddie Haskell Stakes (9F – 115.4 Speed)
• 3yo – August – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Travelers Stakes (10F – 115.0 Speed)
• 3yo – November – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Breeders’ Bowl Classic (10F – 119.1 Speed)
• 4yo – August – Grade I / Group 1 Race – 2020 Equinics – Great Barrier Reef (10F – 121.7 Speed)
• 4yo – September – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Jockey Guild Gold Cup (10F – 118.4 Speed)
• 5yo – April – Stakes Race – Six Pulpits Dirt Route (10F – 115.1 Speed)

Qualified for the Derby with 86 stakes points, sliding in from below the expected cutoff point off a second place finish in the Florida Derby.

GODBLESS THIS MESS (2018)

DISTORTED HUMOR x STORM CAT x DANZIG (DI : 2.71 | CD : 0.73 | 8-5-12-0-1)

Notable Victories

• 2yo – April – MSW (5.5F – 69.0 Speed)
• 2yo – November – Stakes Race – Hold The Pickles Dirt Juvenile (8F – 98.4 Speed)
• 3yo – February – Stakes Race – Wallys Count Dirt Mile (8F – 100.9 Speed)
• 3yo – May – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Bluegrass Derby (10F – 107.7 Speed)

Qualified for the Derby with 103.5 stakes points, sliding in from below the expected cutoff point off a second place finish in the Florida Derby.

CARL’S SHAMELESS (2017)

SHAMARDAL x UNBRIDLED x A.P. INDY (DI : 2.40 | CD : 0.59 | 8-8-16-0-2)

Notable Victories

• 2yo – May – MSW (5.5F – 75.8 Speed – Turf)
• 3yo – April – Grade I / Group 1 Race – California Derby (9F – 108.4 Speed)
• 3yo – May – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Bluegrass Derby (10F – 109.4 Speed)

Qualified for the Derby with 156 stakes points and a Derby Lock win, passing the cutoff in its final pre-derby start with a win at the California Derby.

PAPA’S GHOST TED (2016)

PAPA CLEM x GHOSTZAPPER x VICTORY GALLOP (CAN) (DI : 3.44 | CD : 0.75 | 4-7-9-0-0)

Notable Victories

• 2yo – September – MSW (8F – 89.4 Speed – 4th Start)
• 3yo – January – Stakes Race – Killerzandglitterz Dirt Challenge (9.5F – 100.7 Speed)
• 3yo – May – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Bluegrass Derby (10F – 105.1 Speed)

Qualified for the Derby with 88 stakes points, sliding in from below the expected cutoff point off a third place finish in the Sand Castle Derby.

SWINGING BIG SHAFT (2015)

MINESHAFT x DISTORTED HUMOR x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (DI : 3.00 | CD : 0.77 | 8-7-15-0-0)

Notable Victories

• 3yo – January – MSW (9F – 91.3 Speed – 3rd Start)
• 3yo – April – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Among The Thirsty Stakes (9F – 105.8 Speed)
• 3yo – May – Grade I / Group 1 Race – Bluegrass Derby (10F – 104.8 Speed)
• 4yo – October – Grade II / Group 2 Race – Bluegrass Cup Classic (9F – 116.7 Speed)

Qualified for the Derby with 164 stakes points and a Derby Lock win, passing the cutoff in its final pre-derby start with a win at the Among The Thirsty Stakes.