Bolt d’Oro, McKinzie top Kentucky Derby Contenders List

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

After three Kentucky Derby prep races on March 10; the Gotham, Tampa Bay Derby and the San Felipe, it looks like some of the best 3-year-olds are in Southern California.

Let’s look at the Gotham at Aqueduct and the Tampa Bay Derby in south Florida first to see if we learned anything from them. Quip, a son of Distorted Humor, won the mile-and-a-sixteenth test on the West Coast of Florida beating Flameaway, World of Trouble and Vino Rosso in that order.

It’s always been hard to figure out who the surface at Tampa Bay will favor and this year has been no different. Quip was last seen running seventh in the Kentucky Jockey on Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs. Your guess is as good as mine in figuring out this colt’s abilities. I’m putting him on the list just because he has enough points to get into the Kentucky Derby.

Enticed won the Gotham easily and it looks like Godolphin Racing finally has a real Kentucky Derby contender. The Gotham only was a one-turn mile but Enticed is a son of Medaglia d’Oro so distance isn’t an issue. Enticed was last seen running fourth behind Audible when that one freaked in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. Enticed beat Old Time Revival, Free Drop Billy and Firenze Fire. Both Free Drop Billy and Firenze Fire are both bubble horses for the Derby.

In Free Drop Billy’s case, I’m sure trainer Dale Romans will keep running the colt until he gets in for whatever good that will do.

The race of the day was the San Felipe at Santa Anita Park where Bolt d’Oro and McKinzie battled the length of the stretch before McKinzie got his nose down to win the mile-and-a-sixteenth race in a good 1:42.71.

But hold the phone. First there was some bumping at the top of the stretch as the two turned for home and then after the sixteenth-pole McKenzie came off the rail forcing Bolt d’Oro out a few paths. A steward’s inquiry ensued and after 10 minutes Bolt d’Oro was declared the winner.

Mick Ruis, trainer of Bolt d’Oro, said before the ruling that it didn’t matter if the stewards changed the order because his colt ran a heck of race considering he hadn’t run since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in early November and missing some training after being cast in his stall.

Bob Baffert, who trains McKenzie, wasn’t quite so eloquent in his response about the change and we’ll just leave it at that.

Baffert was in a much better mood on Sunday, March 11, after another of his 3-year-olds destroyed a one-mile allowance field at Santa Anita. Justify, a son of Scat Daddy, covered the distances in 1:35.73 and was under a stranglehold as he won by more than six lengths. The colt, owned by China Horse Club, Et.al, has two wins from two starts and Baffert will be looking for a point’s race for him. He’s only has about 60 days before the Kentucky Derby.

The next two races are the Rebel at Oaklawn and the Spiral (I think it has another name now) at Turfway in Kentucky, both on March 17.

The 2018 Kentucky Derby contenders are:

Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) won the San Felipe on the disqualification and headed to the Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

McKinzie (Street Sense) ran a heck of a race in the San Felipe; also headed to Santa Anita Derby.

Solomini (Curlin) the Rebel on March 17 at Oaklawn is next.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Good Magic (Curlin) was third in the Fountain of Youth, but I still think he’s got a lot of talent.

Enticed (Medaglia d’Oro) won the Gotham and makes Audible’s win in the Holy Bull look even better. He is being pointed to the Wood Memorial on April 7 in New York.

Avery Island (Street Sense) won the Withers at Aqueduct.

Audible (Into Mischief) looked strong in winning the Holy Bull; Florida Derby is next.

My Boy Jack (Creative Cause) goes here after the Southwest win, but I still want to see him on dry land.

Promises Fulfilled (Shackelford) won the Fountain of Youth but I have pedigree issues.

Quip (Distorted Humor) goes here because he has enough points to get in.