Correll’s Corner: Derby probables coming into focus

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

TRINITY, Fla. – The last prep races for the 2024 Kentucky Derby were held on April 6 in New York, Kentucky and California.

The Wood Memorial run at Aqueduct on Long Island could have been at Turf Paradise in Arizona considering the outcome. The favorite was nowhere to be found and the top five finishers were: 9-2, 99-1, 38-1, 80-1 and 9-1.

Resilience won the mile-and-an-eighth affair in 1:50.28 but he beat a typical group of horses that stay in New York for the winter. The son of Into Mischief picked up 100 points and is headed to Louisville.

Society Man, who was second, picked up 50 points and can go to the Derby. My question would be why?

The Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland was just the opposite as morning-line favorite Sierra Leone came from dead last entering the second turn to run by the rest of the field to claim the race in 1:50.08.

The son of Gun Runner balked at going into the gate, but when the latch was sprung he was all business. Sierra Leone had some decent fractions to run into as the early part of the race went in 23:15, 46.48 and 1:10.83.

“He hesitates a touch here and there, but really the outside post with the wonderful, large crowd we have at Keeneland today got him just a little bit stirred up, (jockey) Tyler (Gaffalione) said. Probably from just the outside post. But we’ll do plenty of gate schooling before the (Kentucky) Derby, and I don’t anticipate that being a problem for him,” trainer Chad Brown said.

The Santa Anita Derby will be sending a colt to the Kentucky Derby when Stronghold edged Imagination by a short head to win at the “Great Race Place.”

Stronghold (Ghostzapper), trained by Phil D’Amato, held off the Bob Baffert trainee to pick up the 100 points for first and a trip to Kentucky. The points “earned” by Baffert horses disappear according to Churchill Down rules because of the ban on the trainer.

Although I think some of Baffert’s colts are the top ones in the country this year, I’m removing them because they will not be running in the Derby. The ones that follow will be colts that probably will be in that race.

Sierra Leone (Sire: Gun Runner) won the Blue Grass and will be one of the top two favorites. Trained by Chad Brown.

Fierceness (City of Light) destroyed the field in the Florida Derby. Trained by Todd Pletcher.

Catching Freedom (Constitution) won the Louisiana Derby. Trained by Brad Cox.

Just a Touch (Justify) was second in the Blue Grass. Trained by Cox.

Endlessly (Oscar Performance) won the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway. Trainer Michael McCarthy said he wasn’t headed to the Derby, but now owners have caught the fever.

Forever Young (Real Steel) won the UAE Derby. He’s trained by Yoshito Yahagi.

T O Password (Capano Rickey) top finisher in the Japanese Road to the Kentucky Derby. He is trained by Daisuke Takayanagi.

Just Steel (Justify) was second in Arkansas Derby. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas.

Dornach (Good Magic) was fourth in the Blue Grass. Trained by Danny Gargan.

Resilience (Into Mischief) won the Wood Memorial. Trained by Bill Mott.

West Saratoga (Exaggerator) was second in Jeff Ruby. Trained by Larry Demeritte.

Honor Marie (Honor Code) was second in Louisiana Derby. Trained by Whit Beckman.

Catalytic (Catalina Cruiser) was second in Florida Derby. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr.

Domestic Product (Practical Joke) won the Tampa Bay Derby. Trained by Chad Brown.

Society Man (Good Magic) second in the Wood. Trained by Danny Gargan.

The following colts are Preakness probables and all are trained by Baffert.

Muth (Good Magic) had little trouble winning the Arkansas Derby.

Nysos (Nyquist) plans are up in the air.

Maymun (Frosted) plans also undecided.

Imagination (Into Mischief) second in Santa Anita Derby.