Kentucky Derby 2020 Report for 2-23-20 Featuring Mr. Monomoy

We had our busiest week yet on the road to Kentucky Derby 2020. There were two divisions of the Risen Star Stakes (G2), and the winners both received 50 points (Mr. Monomoy, Modernist). El Camino Real hero Azul Coast picked up 10 Derby points and an automatic berth into the Preakness, and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) hero Silver Prospector bounced back in the Southwest Stakes (G3). If those races were not enough for you, Bob Baffert unveiled exciting prospect Charlatan at Santa Anita Park.

Check out Today's Racing Digest for handicapping products, analysis, and more! Azul Coast capture above courtesy of Today's Racing Digest. 

There were no points races on the docket this week, but the lull in the schedule will not last. Things really start heating up with the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park Feb. 29, followed by a busy month of March!   

Kentucky Derby 2020 Points Race Recaps

Risen Star Stakes (G2) Division I Recap (2-15-20) - Winner: Mr. Monomoy ($17.00)

Mr. Monomoy was the only LeComte (G3) pace player around at the finish of that race. Fast forward to the Risen Star, and jockey Florent Geroux did not waste any time. He went straight to the front and set a controlled pace, and that was the key to success. Blackberry Wine made a run at him in the middle, but he was swatted away, and Mr. Monomoy kept on finding in a sharp victory by 2-1/2 lengths. Enforceable rallied from last to edge Silver State for the place by a 1/2 length. My value top choice Farmington Road raced wide throughout from post 10 and seemed to be finding his best stride late. Digital saved ground stalking the pace from the inside post and worked his way up to 2nd in the stretch, but found the distance out of his reach and ended up 5th. Scabbard ended up 6th from post 11. I think we can confidently give up on him at this point. He has failed to replicate his strong Iroquois (G3) runner-up finish in three subsequent stakes starts. Blackberry Wine faded to 7th, and behind him were Moon Over Miami, Ready to Roll, Perfect Revenge, and an extremely tired Shashashakemeup. This was by far the stronger division of the Risen Star, and I will take the top four finishers over any exiting the Modernist race. That being said, the Fair Grounds road to the Derby is usually a bust. 

Risen Star Stakes (G2) Division II Recap (2-15-20) - Winner: Modernist ($27.60)

What happened to Anneau d’Or? This was the weaker division of the Risen Star, and he was a standout on paper, but that is why they run the races. Ny Traffic and Modernist battled on the lead, and the latter shook clear in the stretch and won by a length and a half for Bill Mott. Major Fed stalked outside and got past Ny Traffic to secure 2nd by a neck. Mailman Money was within striking range and made a middle move before flattening out to finish 4th. Mr. Big News was up for 5th over Lynn’s Map and Finnick the Fierce, and they were followed by Excession, a highly disappointing Anneau d’Or, a very tired Liam’s Lucky Charm, and 106-1 outsider Fame To Famous. As expected, this was the slower division, and that makes it all the more strange that Anneau d’Or failed to fire. This was a blown opportunity to get into the Derby. Instead, Modernist picked up 50 points, and that should be more than enough to get into the gate on the first Saturday in May. I like his early-pressing speed, and he has already won twice at a mile and an eighth. One the negative side, he is slower than all of the top contenders in this division. There is still time to run faster, and he will need to next time. The first division was run in 1:50.43, and the second division was completed in 1:51.28 (similar pace scenarios).  

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