Santa Anita, Aqueduct Star As Mother Nature Rains On Keeneland’s Parade

[Wandering Eyes]

The final weekend of major preps for both the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Kentucky Oaks got a few extra days tacked on as significant rain around Lexington pushed Keeneland to delay their spring racing features back to Monday and Tuesday next week. While the races will be missed as part of Saturday's action, there is certainly no void as Santa Anita and Aqueduct both offer their final stops on the Road the Kentucky Derby.

The 1 1/8-mile GI Santa Anita Derby features a small yet mighty field with trainers Bob Baffert and John Shirreffs each sending out a pair to try and tackle Michael McCarthy's GII San Felipe Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) who put up a 108 Beyer Speed Figure when upsetting previously undefeated Baffert runner Barnes (Into Mischief) in that March 1 effort.

“I let him run a little bit down the lane with a solid gallop-out (in his last work going five furlongs in 1:01.40),” said McCarthy of Journalism. “He did everything we asked of him. We'll keep him in his regular routine going into the race–nothing special.”

 

Journalism hitting the track ahead of the $500,000 (GI) Santa Anita Derby. The 6/5 morning line favorite, recently purchased to stand at stud by global racing magnate Coolmore, seeks to head into the Kentucky Derby with a victory. #SantaAnitaDerby pic.twitter.com/KDNKkx0pyF

— Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) April 4, 2025

The Santa Anita Derby will be the last west coast test for Eclipse Award-winning juvenile Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) who kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a strong win in the February's GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes and now seeks what would be his third career Grade I win following the GI American Pharoah and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year. Shirreffs brings in a pair of longshots in maiden winner Baeza (McKinzie) and Westwood (Authentic) who is still looking for his first win in what will be his fourth start.

Baffert will also feature across the country in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct, having shipped in rail-drawn 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) who will race without blinkers after trailing home third in the San Felipe.

“He showed a big run,” said Baffert. “I think he's a nice horse that just needs to mature mentally and physically. Hopefully, he breaks well, gets into a nice rhythm and we'll see what happens. Mike Smith will go up to ride him and he's very good on those types of horses. I think he's very talented. He just needs to break well and get a good trip. He's been doing well. He came back and worked well, and I thought the Wood would be a good spot for him.”

He'll face a much larger field Saturday of 12 (before the scratches of longshot Bear Claw Necklace {Lord Nelson} and Breeders' Cup Juvenile third Hill Road {Quality Road}). Lined up just outside of Rodriguez is Richard Dutrow's 'Rising Star' Captain Cook (Practical Joke) who took the listed Withers Stakes in his last effort Feb. 1.

Captain Cook | Sarah Andrew

“He's doing good… very good,” said trainer Rick Dutrow of Captain Cook. “Two days after he ran, he seemed like he came out of it good. It was noticeable, and he's been following it up every day with good training, good breezing and good living. He put in a big run going one mile and an eighth, which was tough, and he nailed it. We set him up for another two-turn race and it happened to be this race in two months, which is beautiful because I love time.”

Undefeated two-for-two Grande (Curlin) ships from Gulfstream for Todd Pletcher off a win over the distance facing optional claimers Feb. 27 while another perfect runner, Passion Rules (Friesan Fire) also jumps into stakes company for the first time for Brad Cox. GIII Gotham favorite Sand Devil (Violence), who wound up second March 1 in his first defeat, breaks mid pack for Linda Rice.

“It's a big, bulky tough field,” said Rice. “I would think we will be forwardly placed, although maybe not on the lead and let's see how he likes the mile and an eighth. I'm hoping he'll like the off track as it looks like we'll have one–and that, of course, is an unknown as well.”

The delayed GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, pushed from Saturday to Tuesday, features four 'TDN Rising Stars' including last-out GII Fountain of Youth runner up River Thames (Maclean's Music) and GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) who adds blinkers off a disappointing 3-year-old premier in the GII Risen Star Stakes as the favorite Feb 15. That pair is joined by Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), who ran second in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby to Owen Almighty (Speightstown), and longshot Admiral Dennis (Constitution) who was sixth in the GII Rebel Stakes Feb. 23.

“The distance is always a concern,” admitted trainer Brian Lynch of Owen Almighty. “I think he will relish a possible off track and that is a thing that might be in his favor.”

Ian Wilkes ships up Burnham Square (Liam's Map) who upset the GIII Holy Bull Stakes Feb. 1 but finished fourth as the favorite in the Fountain of Youth.

“He made some mistakes in the Fountain of Youth but he did some good things, too,” Wilkes said of Burnham Square. “He came running down the lane and galloped out good.”

A trio of 100 point races closes out the Road to the Kentucky Oaks this weekend with Aqueduct, Santa Anita and Keeneland all featuring. The GIII Gazelle Stakes in New York is a showcase between Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), who has hit the board in each of her last three graded attempts but is still seeking her first win since breaking her maiden at Kentucky Downs last September, and Pure Beauty (Malibu Moon) who jumps into stakes company for the first time in a field largely void of graded stakes experience.

River Thames | Ryan Thompson

“As she developed, she turned into a dirt horse,” said owner John Capek of Ballerina d'Oro. “She broke her maiden on the turf at Kentucky Downs, and that's a bit of a strange track there. I think it was the right choice to switch her to the dirt. She's done very well in her two starts over it, and we're looking forward to getting her back on a little longer stretch out here around two turns. I think it's in her wheelhouse.”

Todd Pletcher keeps Vanilla Sundae (Gun Runner) races out of her stall after romping by 15 3/4 lengths to break her maiden Feb 27 while Saffie Joseph Jr. ships Early On (Union Rags) in off a second in the Virginia Oaks March 15.

Bob Baffert brings in two runners for the GII Santa Anita Oaks in Silent Law (Tiz the Law) who races for the first time since Jan. 5 and the nearly-undefeated Tenma (Nyquist) who won her first start back in the GIII Las Virgines Stakes Feb. 2 and yielded her only defeat when third in last year's GII Oak Leaf Stakes. No Bad Beats (Midnight Storm) jumps into stakes company for the first time for Chief Stipe O'Neill as does Madame Secretary (Constitution) for Richard Mandella. Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words) makes her 3-year-old debut off a third in last year's GII Starlet Stakes and a game second in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies for Phillip D'Amato.

Pushed from Friday to Monday, the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland has Shadwell Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Muhimma (Munnings) look to get back on track after finishing third in the GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn in her seasonal bow. She'll line up outside of La Cara (Street Sense) who took the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa before finishing second in the GII Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream March 1. The field also includes Supa Speed (Justify), who ships in for John Sadler off a nose defeat to 'Rising Star' Maysam (Game Winner) in the GIII Santa Ysabel Stakes March 2, and Running Away (Gun Runner) who took the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct in her 2025 debut Jan. 18. Kenneth McPeek ships in Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) who won the Martha Washington Stakes two back but disappointed in the Honeybee at Oaklawn Feb. 23.

Older fillies and mares go seven furlongs in the GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes at Keeneland Tuesday with plenty of talent lined up including GSW/GISP Emery (More Than Ready), My Mane Squeeze (Audible), 'TDN Rising Star' and MGISP Scylla (Tapit), 'TDN Rising Star' and Carousel Stakes winner Justique (Justify) and GII Inside Information Stakes winner Mystic Lake (Mo Town), many of whom have taken turns beating one another last year.

The boys go the same distance one race earlier in the GIII Commonwealth Stakes. Cherie DeVaux brings in 'TDN Rising Star' Montalcino (Take Charge Indy) who drew inside of Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft) and Whatchatalkinabout (Dialed In).

Keeneland will hope to keep its turf racing intact with the weather delays. The GII Shakertown Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, sees much of the speed drawn inside with Run Carson (Maclean's Music), Our Shot (Kantharos) and Arzak (Not This Time) drawn side by side on the rail. European shipper Rogue Lightning (Kodiac {GB}) enters off a win in the G3 Dukhan Sprint while Steve Asmussen ships in a turf debuter in Valentine Candy (Justify) who has earned seven figures on the dirt and now tries the grass.

Emery | Sarah Andrew

Earlier in the card at Keeneland, the 3-year-old fillies in the GIII Appalachian Stakes go the two-turn mile led again by the inside runners (and Mark Casse stablemates) in GIII Florida Oaks winner Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) and GIII Herecomesthebride Stakes winner Vixen (Vekoma). The Florida Oaks runner up Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) also reappears here for Brendan Walsh.

Monday sees the 3-year-old colts go 1 1/16 miles on the grass (weather permitting of course) in the GIII Transylvania Stakes. In an open wagering field, Mi Bago (Vekoma) stands out as the Colonial Liam Stakes winner (his third straight stakes win) at Gulfstream March 1. Two-time winner Scipio (Caravaggio) comes in off a win in the Baffled Stakes at Santa Anita Feb. 16 and drew outside of Columbia Stakes runner up Regan's Wit (Authentic) who won big over this distance at Fair Grounds two back.

Keeneland's new opening day, now Sunday, features the GII Beaumont Stakes with 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on the main track. GIII Forward Gal Stakes winner Eclatant (Into Mischief) drew the rail for Brad Cox with two-time stakes winner G W's Girl (Munnings) drawn just outside for Greg Compton. Forward Gal runner up (and Cox stablemate) Stunner (Girvin) also looks to turn the tables while Godolphin homebred Verity (Nyquist) gets back on the main track off a pair of wins on the Tapeta at Turfway.

Older horses at Aqueduct feature in the GII Carter Stakes with near-perfect runner Quint's Brew (Mosier) leaving Laurel for the first time to face GIII Tom Fool Stakes winner Full Moon Madness (Into Mischief) and Maximus Meridius (Maximus Mischief).

Other racing held this weekend includes the down-the-hill GIII Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita while Aqueduct hosts the GIII Distaff Stakes.

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