Derby Hopefuls – Final Update

The final locks are in the books: the Corkscrew Stakes, the Wooden Indian, and the California Derby.

Rank	Derby Points	Name	Owner	Sex	2yo High	3yo High	9F	Sire
1	320	IMMORTALITY MEDIUM	amir1682	G	104.066	102.891	Yes	NADAL x CARPE DIEM x MEDAGLIA D’ORO
2	261	LIVE A LIL	beerkeg28	G	105.196		No	TAPIT x DANZIG x MR. PROSPECTOR
3*	180	MALAK ROMSEY	crown02	M	95.317	107.121	Yes	INTO MISCHIEF x DISTORTED HUMOR x DYNAFORMER
4(3)	172	SLAYER OF CROWS	icbomber9	M	99.486	98.334	Yes	GHOSTZAPPER x MEDAGLIA D’ORO x DIXIELAND BAND
5(4)	164	ON THE UP AND OUT	astapor2	M	97.242	106.584	Yes	CURLIN x DANZIG x MR. PROSPECTOR
6*	164	TAPIT GRAPEVINE	harrylanlow38	M	100.140	104.274	Yes	TAPIT x SEATTLE SLEW x MR. PROSPECTOR
7(5)	157	SULLYS WILD FLIGHT	dydalt13	M	94.940	105.037	Yes	FLIGHTLINE x WILD AGAIN x FORTY NINER
8(6)	153	MARKING TIMES	givencovid	M	97.768	111.392	Yes	NOT THIS TIME x STREET SENSE x A.P. INDY
9(7)	149	STAR WALKIN’	beerkeg30	G	96.661	106.721	Yes	CURLIN x DEPUTY MINISTER x DANZIG
10*	148	MALAK ELECT	kymar43	M	98.827	109.877	Yes	ZENSATIONAL x QUALITY ROAD x DEPUTY MINISTER
11(8)	148	FIX’N TO BREAK	beerkeg14	G	101.733	104.004	Yes	CURLIN x DANZIG x STORM CAT
12(9)	148	ALTERNATE XMAS	givenyakuza	M	89.594	104.188	Yes	FRANKEL (GB) x MEDAGLIA D’ORO x REDOUTE’S CHOICE
13(10)	145	WEST D’ORO	massatogabo	M	100.486	104.990	Yes	BOLT D’ORO x EMPIRE MAKER x GONE WEST
14(11)	138	BUSINESS FRONT	asrstar21	M	97.56	102.039	Yes	WAR FRONT x SEATTLE SLEW x STORM CAT
15(12)	132	RATIONALISED NOIR	fdllodgeh	M	98.944	105.141	Yes	JUSTIFY x DANCE IN THE DARK x BROAD BRUSH
16(13)	132	RACE TO THE LIGHT	alydar	F	98.19	95.623	Yes	CITY OF LIGHT x DYNAFORMER x STORM CAT
17(14)	131	PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE	bsben	F	99.483	104.389	No	JUSTIFY x BERNARDINI x STREET CRY
18*	120	ROYAL INFLUENCE	danzigmoon23	M	87.189	106.922	Yes	TAPIT x EMPIRE MAKER x MEDAGLIA D’ORO
19*S	120	JACKIE’S MINISTER	pates	M	94.416	101.272	Yes	JACKIE’S WARRIOR x GONE WEST x DEPUTY MINISTER
20*	116	QUICKTAP	saltburn	F	103.303	105.773	No	NYQUIST x TAPIT x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY
21*S	96	THE SOULFIRE	icbomber1	M	94.990	98.976	No	SPEIGHTSTOWN x CANDY RIDE x NUREYEV
22*S	96	NOT	arrogate	M	88.968	101.413	No	NOT THIS TIME x QUALITY ROAD x NORTHERN AFLEET
23*	92	HOLLYWOOD ACTOR	autumnridge	M	100.915	107.754	Yes	SKY MESA x STREET SENSE x PLEASANT COLONY
24*	90	SELFISH RAGE	asrfrankel	M	99.451	109.854	Yes	FRANKEL (GB) x DYNAFORMER x STORM CAT
25*	90	COOL CURLS	givenontheropes	F	98.406	104.613	No	CURLIN x INTO MISCHIEF x A.P. INDY
26*	90	MISCHIEF IN HOUSE	ddkstables19	M	94.960	109.862	Yes	INTO MISCHIEF x STREET CRY x A.P. INDY
27*	88	FIST IN FACE	marude	M	97.644	97.644	Yes	IRON FIST x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x DANZIG

Corkscrew Stakes (9F – Grade One – Fast Dirt)

The top two finishers from the Corkscrew Stakes have earned their ways into the Bluegrass Derby. ROYAL INFLUENCE took the lead at the third call after battling for the lead out of the gates, but failed to hold off MALAK ROMSEY who came out with the win by a head.

Wooden Indian (9F – Grade One – Good Dirt)

TAPIT GRAPEVINE broke second but pulled ahead by the second call and never looked back holding on by a head to earn its spot in the Bluegrass Derby. Second place finisher ANGA YA BLUU came from ten lengths off the lead, but finished within a head of the winner, and also within points of the likely cutoff (86 stakes points).

California Derby (9F – Grade One – Fast Dirt)

MALAK ELECT was the final lock runner to earn a spot in the Bluegrass Derby, coming from dead last at the second call to pulling ahead by 2 1/2 lengths at the wire. MISCHIEF IN HOUSE finished fourth, but already had 90 stakes points which lands him in 26th place, however if the four fillies target the Bluegrass Oaks and the three sprinters pass on their Derby Spots that should sit him in line for the 19th spot in the Derby field.

Derby or Oaks for the Ladies?

RACE TO THE LIGHT, PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE, and QUICKTAP have earned their spots in the Derby, should they choose to accept the challenge having locked up top 20 rankings in the 3yo Dirt Route division. The question for their trainers is whether to break boundaries and try to take home the Bluegrass Derby or follow the more common path to the Bluegrass Oaks.

A fourth filly COOL CURLS sits in 25th spot in the 3yo Dirt Route division, but could have the opportunity if handful of other runners decide to pass on the Bluegrass Derby.

10F Sprinters?

JACKIE’S MINISTER has had some success since pulling back to sprints after a cooling off at a mile. A G3 Mile victory in July and a G1 place in September along with some stakes points from sprinting have earned this colt the 19th rank in the 3yo Dirt Route division. His trainer will need to decide whether to its worth pushing the chips in for the Derby or to keep the focus on the sprints.

THE SOULFIRE and NOT are facing a similar decision if any spots open up as both have 96 stakes points and earned themselves the 21st and 22nd spots in the 3yo Dirt Route division while holding down the 1st and 2nd spots in the Dirt Sprint Division.

The Outsiders

Failing to have ‘locked’ up a spot in the top 20, these colts and geldings are stuck on the outside waiting to see if any spots open up, these horses and trainers are left hoping the Fillies above aim for the Oaks and the sprinters decide not to test their luck in the Derby.

HOLLYWOOD ACTOR, SELFISH RAGE, MISCHIEF IN HOUSE and FIST IN FACE are in position to draw into the Derby if ALL Fillies and Sprinters pass on the Derby opening four spots. Of these SELFISH RAGE looks to be the strongest contender if he can draw in having only one start on the dirt track in a second place finish at the Florida Derby.