Horse Betting World

It’s Time for Triple Crown (aka Kentucky Derby) Preps

By Joey Adams

The Kentucky Derby is unique. Not only because of the history, tradition and prestige, but also because it’s one of few races in the U.S. that has no trouble filling the starting gate. Where else can you witness a field of 20 barreling down the stretch? If the starting could double in size, and the track at Churchill Downs was a half-mile wide, we could probably see 30-40 starters on a regular basis – the race is that popular.

As it stands, the field is limited to 20 starters. There are always more than 20 wanting in the starting gate, so a “graded earnings” system has been implemented to decide the final starting field. This system has come under a great deal of fire from some – and in some regards that is justified. Yet the system is what we live with today, and the premium is on graded (or group) earnings, whether they were earned this year or last.

If you are the connections of UNCLE MO, who has already amassed $1.2 million in graded earnings, your only concerns are keeping the star three-year-old happy and healthy until May 7. Several others have already passed the $300,000 mark in graded earnings, virtually guaranteeing them a starting spot in the Kentucky Derby.

For the other three-year-olds with sights set on the Triple Crown (there were over 370 nominations last year), the next few months will be an anxious journey through the various Triple Crown prep races that could stamp their ticket to Louisville, Kentucky.

Beginning Sunday with the Holy Bull-G3 at Gulfstream Park, there are 23 graded events that can be considered Triple Crown Preps. Given the significance of graded earnings in the selection process for the first leg of the Triple Crown, these 23 events should in reality be considered “Kentucky Derby Preps.”

While 23 might seem like a large number, consider that these races are spread out across the country, and hopeful Kentucky Derby starters may get only two or three shots at earning their spot. As a result, when these events show up on the calendar expect everyone in the field to show up with their “A Game.”

For most three-year-olds the following races will decide their fate come “The First Saturday in May:”

- January 30 … Holy Bull Stakes-G3 at Gulfstream Park
- February 12 … Robert B. Lewis-G2 at Santa Anita
- February 12 … Sam F. Davis-G2 at Tampa Bay Downs
- February 19 … Risen Star-G2 at Fair Grounds
- February 20 … San Vicente-G2 at Santa Anita
- February 21 … The Southwest-G3 at Oaklawn Park
- February 26 … Hutcheson-G2 at Fair Grounds
- February 26 … Fountain of Youth-G2 at Gulfstream Park
- March 5 … Gotham Stakes-G3 at Aqueduct
- March 12 … Tampa Bay Derby-G2 at Tampa Bay Downs
- March 19 … Rebel Stakes-G2 at Oaklawn Park
- March 26 … Louisiana Derby-G2 at Fair Grounds
- March 26 … Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes-G3 at Turfway Park
- March 27 … Sunland Derby-G3 at Sunland Park
- April 3 … Florida Derby-G1 at Gulfstream Park
- April 3 … Swale Stakes-G2 at Gulfstream Park
- April 9 … Wood Memorial-G1 at Aqueduct
- April 9 … Illinois Derby-G3 at Hawthorne
- April 9 … Santa Anita Derby-G1 at Santa Anita
- April 16 … Toyota Blue Grass-G1 at Keeneland
- April 16 … Arkansas Derby-G1 at Oaklawn Park
- April 23 … Coolmore Lexington-G3 at Keeneland
- April 30 … Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial-G3 at Churchill Downs