Road to Kentucky Derby 2016: Florida Derby and Spiral Stakes (VIDEO)

The two Kentucky Derby 2016 prep races this week are the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and the Grade 2 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park.

The Florida Derby is an intriguing match up between a pair of undefeated colts, Mohaymen and Nyquist. The nine furlong Gulfstream showcase is worth a total of 170 Derby qualifying points for the top four finishers (100-40-20-10).

The Spiral Stakes is worth 85 Derby points (50-20-10-5) and Airoforce is the morning line favorite. Last year's G2 Kentucky Jockey Club stakes hero exits a poor showing in the G2 Risen Star and tries to rebound while making his first start on synthetic footing.

Last Week at Santa Anita Park (March 24-27)

Jockey Edwin Maldonado followed up a riding triple last Sunday with three more wins Thursday and a riding double Friday.  

Thurs­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 24

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6.5f, 6f). The two turf races were captured by a nine furlong closer and a flat mile stalker (rail at 20 feet).

Hat tricks for Rafael Bejarano and Edwin Maldonado.

Fri­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 25

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8.5f, 8f). The two turf races were captured by a flat mile early runner/presser (dead-heat), a patient runner at ten furlongs, and a last-to-first winner in the downhill finale (rail at 30 feet).

Riding doubles for Kent Desormeaux and Edwin Maldonado.

Satur­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 26

Fast main track and firm turf course. Five wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5.5f, 6f, 6.5f, 6f, 8.5f). The three turf races were captured by a nine furlong stalker, a flat mile stalker, and a late runner at nine furlongs.

Riding doubles for Joe Talamo and Drayden Van Dyke. Trainer Richard Baltas saddled two winners.

Sun­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 27 

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f, 6f). The three turf races were taken by a nine furlong gate-to-wire winner, a downhill stalker, and a downhill wire-to-wire winner (rail at 10 feet).

Riding doubles for Martin Garcia and Fernando Perez. Trainer Phil D’Amato saddled two winners.

If you are interested in full card analysis, I am selling Santa Anita full cards each weekend at The Runaway Horse. You can check out full card recaps with highlights on our What You Missed page.

I also post free daily tickets from Santa Anita Park at Pick 6 Blog. You can also read my recaps at Pick 6 Blog.  

Santa Anita Park photos by Stacy Edwards.

Road to Kentucky Derby 2016: Handicapping the Louisiana Derby (Video)

The Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at nine furlongs is the Kentucky Derby 2016 prep this week and it is worth a total of 170 Derby qualifying points (100-40-20-10). 

The Louisiana Derby attracted a well-matched field of 11 headed by G2 Risen Star winner Gun Runner, G3 LeComte hero Mo Tom, and G1 Champagne winner Greenpointcrusader. 

Last Week at Santa Anita Park (March 17-20)

A rough way to end the racing week for jockey Santiago Gonzalez. After booting home two winners on Friday, he suffered a fractured jaw when his mount Follini (uninjured) clipped heels and fell in the fifth race on Sunday. He is expected to be out for six weeks. Edwin Maldonado had a riding hat trick on Sunday and leading rider Rafael Bejarano and Joe Talamo both had two riding doubles last week. 

Thurs­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 17

Fast main track and good turf course (turf rail at 30 feet). Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8f, 8f, 6.5f). The three turf races were captured by a patient runner at a flat mile and two downhill stalkers.

Joe Talamo booted home a pair.

Fri­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 18

Fast main track and firm turf course (turf rail at 20 feet). Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5.5f, 7f, 5.5f). The three turf races were captured by a stalker (8f) and two closers (8f, 6.5f).

Santiago Gonzalez and Joe Talamo both booted home a pair.

Satur­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 19

Fast main track and firm turf course. Only one wire-to-wire winner on dirt (6.5f). The four turf races were captured by a downhill stalker, a flat mile closer, a downhill closer, and a 9f wire-to-wire winner.

Rafael Bejarano (2 dirt routes), Flavien Prat (2 downhill turf wins), and Fernando Perez each booted home a pair. Doug O’Neill saddled two turf winners including Smoove It in the Irish O’Brien.

Sun­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 20

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5f, 6f, 6f). The three turf races were captured by a downhill frontrunner, a flat mile stalker, a downhill closer, and a wire-to-wire winner at one mile (rail at 20 feet).

Hat trick for Edwin Maldonado. Two more wins for leading rider Rafael Bejarano. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer saddled two winners.

If you are interested in full card analysis, I am selling Santa Anita full cards each weekend at The Runaway Horse. You can check out full card recaps with highlights on our What You Missed page.

I also post free daily tickets from Santa Anita Park at Pick 6 Blog. You can also read my recaps at Pick 6 Blog.  

Santa Anita Park photos by Stacy Edwards.

Last Week at Santa Anita Park (March 10-13)

The weather was unsettled and heavy rains forced the final three races to be canceled on Friday. It was another good week for leading rider Rafael Bejarano.  

Thurs­­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 10 

Fast main track and good turf course. The 4th race was originally scheduled for the downhill turf course and was moved to the main track. Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8f, 8f, 10f). The two flat mile turf races were captured by stalkers (rail at 20 feet).

Hat trick for Tyler Baze.

Fri­­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 11

Fast main track and good turf course. At least that is how the day began. The track was sealed by the fourth race and was wet fast through the sixth race. The final three races were cancelled due to heavy rain. Early/pressing types won all five dirt races and speed was better as it got wetter. The downhill turf sprint (2nd race) was nabbed by late runner Doodetta (rail at 30 feet).

Riding double for Flavien Prat.

Satur­­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 12

Fast main track and good turf course. The second race was moved from the downhill turf course to the main track. Four wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f, 6.5f, 8.5f, 10f). The three flat mile turf races were taken by a front runner, a stalker, and a closer.

Hat trick for Kent Desormeaux. Riding double for Victor Espinoza.

Sun­­­day Santa Anita Park Recap: March 13 

Fast main track and good turf course (turf rail at 10 feet). Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6.5f, 7f, 5.5f). The two turf races were captured by a flat mile stalker and a twelve furlong closer.

Hat trick for leading rider Rafael Bejarano. Trainer Richard Baltas saddled two winners and Bejarano rode both.

If you are interested in full card analysis, I am selling Santa Anita full cards each weekend at The Runaway Horse. You can check out full card recaps with highlights on our What You Missed page.

I also post free daily tickets from Santa Anita Park at Pick 6 Blog. You can also read my recaps at Pick 6 Blog.  

Santa Anita Park photos by Stacy Edwards.

Kentucky Derby 2016 Top 5 contenders: #1 - MOHAYMEN

Mohaymen has been my top ranked Kentucky Derby 2016 contender since I started my list on September 30, 2015.

Mohaymen is a perfect 5-for-5 with stakes wins in the Grade 2 Nashua, Grade 2 Remsen, Grade 2 Holy Bull, and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

The $2.2 million son of Tapit is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and began his Grade 1 Florida Derby preparations with a four furlong breeze on March 11. The Florida Derby will be run at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, April 2 and is expected to include undefeated Two-Year-Old Champion Nyquist.

Kentucky Derby 2016 Top 5 contenders: #2 - MOR SPIRIT

My longtime #2 ranked Kentucky Derby 2016 contender Mor Spirit makes his next start in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday, March 12.

Mor Spirit is a $650k son of Eskendereya conditioned by Triple Crown winning trainer Bob Baffert. He has finished first or second in all five of his lifetime starts and won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity as a juvenile and Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes earlier this year.