Check out Today's Racing Digest for handicapping products, analysis, and more! Enforceable capture above courtesy of Today's Racing Digest.
Tiz the Law is the 3-5 morning line favorite for the Holy Bull Stakes (G2), and Thousand Words is 4-5 to remain unbeaten in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita Park. The final points race on Saturday, Feb. 1 is the Withers Stakes at the Big A. Shotski is the 2-1 choice on the line and is the most vulnerable of the three Derby points race favorites on Saturday. For analysis of those three Derby preps, check out my Today’s Racing Digest video.
Kentucky Derby 2020 Points Race Recaps
LeComte Stakes (G3) Recap from Fair Grounds (1-18-20) - Winner: Enforceable ($15.60)
A big field with a solid pace and stamina won out. Bango, Shashashakemeup, and Jack the Umpire were the early instigators. Mr. Monomoy sat behind them and was the only forwardly placed runner around at the end. Enforceable was wide early and often from post ten. He raced 11th of 13 for the first half-mile and picked up the pace nicely after that. He showed a nice turn of foot in the stretch and kicked clear to score by a length and a half. My top choice Silver State rallied smartly for the place in just his third career start for Steve Amussen. I thought he ran every bit as well as the winner. This was his first start around two turns and he has plenty of upside. Mr. Monomoy missed 2nd by a neck and was well clear of 4th place finisher Finnick the Fierce. Beaten favorite Scabbard was a flat 6th and was followed by Shashashakemeup, Excession, Halo Again, Bango, Perfect Star, Jack the Umpire, Sycamore Run, and New Eagle.
Smarty Jones Stakes Recap from Oaklawn Park (1-24-20) - Winner: Gold Street ($22.80)
Everything about this race was confusing. First of all, the track was muddy, and some horses probably did not handle the footing. There were a trio of sprinters stretching out in distance (Lykan, Nucky, Gold Street), and the pace figured to be fast. Spoiler alert, it wasn’t! Lykan was rank early and Nucky never got involved. Gold Street was exiting back-to-back dirt sprint wins in the slop, and he just got out there and completely controlled the pace in this spot. My value top choice Lynn’s Map took up chasing duties because someone had to. Gold Street was in cruise control from start to finish and scored by a very comfortable 2+ lengths. Three Technique stalked from the outside post and was clearly second best in a solid effort. Shoplifted stalked the pace and was best of the rest in 3rd, and his stablemate Silver Prospector was 4th. Lynn’s Map weakened to 5th, and Shared Sense, Lykan, Jungle Runner, and Nucky completed the order of finish. The speed figure came back solid but there is a very good chance that this was not a strong race, at least when it comes to the Derby trail. My best guess is that the top two finishers are milers at best.
You can read the rest of this post on my Kentucky Derby 2020 page...
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