Kentucky Derby 2019 Contenders: Spinoff Takes Off for Todd Pletcher

Spinoff might be ready to join the Kentucky Derby 2019 points race series after a runaway victory vs. optional claiming dirt route foes at Tampa Bay Downs in his sophomore bow Feb. 22. This one has been on our radar screen since his winning debut at Gulfstream Park last summer. He was ranked #16 as part of my "next nine" Derby contenders on my original Kentucky Derby 2019 list last September.

My handicapping partner Dr. Atlas was at Saratoga last summer for Spinoff's second career start in the Saraotga Special (G2), and he ended up a solid 3rd of 4 in a race dominated by early runners Call Paul and Tight Ten. 

Spinoff is a 3-year-old chestnut son of Hard Spun, out of the Gone West mare Zaftig. Multiple graded stakes winner Hard Spun was 2nd in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and 3rd in the Preakness Stakes (G1) in 2007.  Zaftig won the Nassau County Stakes (G3) and Acorn Stakes (G1) in 2008 at Belmont Park, and she was 3rd in her final career start later that year in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

Todd Pletcher has been uncharacteristically quiet on the Derby trail this year, but all that could change if Spinoff makes a splash in an upcoming Derby points race. 

Spinoff photo by Josh Chicorelli

Kentucky Derby 2019 article by Jarrod Horak

You can read all of my Derby blogs on my Kentucky Derby 2019 page, and my annual Triple Crown full card analysis from Churchill Downs, Pimlico Race Course, and Belmont Park will be available on my Runaway Horse Sales page later this spring.