Stakes Schedule | Stakes Tracker | Stakes Results
The road to Kentucky Derby 2023 resumes this weekend with three points qualifiers, including two that offer 100 points to the winners.
Instant Coffee is the morning-line favorite for the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, and the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) features four runners from the John Battaglia Memorial. On Sunday, Sunland Park offers its lone stop on the Kentucky Derby trail.
Three Kentucky Oaks preps also are on tap, and Art Collector returns in the New Orleans Classic (G2).
Here is a look at the likely fields.
Kentucky Derby preps
Saturday
Louisiana Derby (G2), Fair Grounds, 1 3/16 miles, 3-year-olds, 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Derby points
Instant Coffee is the morning-line favorite at 2-1, and the Lecomte (G3) winner drew the No. 2 post for trainer Brad Cox. The second choice, at 5-1, is Kenny McPeek’s Sun Thunder, who was caught by Angel of Empire in the stretch of the Risen Star (G2) and finished second. Kingsbarns, trained by Todd Pletcher, is at 6-1 on the morning line in his first graded stakes after going 2-for-2.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Shopper’s Revenge Tapit |
5.89 | 12-1 | |||
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Last Race |
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| 2 |
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Instant Coffee Bolt d’Oro |
6.39 | 2-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 3 |
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Curly Jack Good Magic |
6.83 | 12-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 4 |
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Sun Thunder Into Mischief |
5.42 | 5-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 5 |
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Disarm Gun Runner |
6.03 | 10-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 6 |
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Kingsbarns Uncle Mo |
5.27 | 6-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 7 |
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Cagliostro Upstart |
3.79 | 12-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 8 |
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Single Ruler Empire Maker |
3.79 | 15-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 9 |
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Tapit’s Conquest Tapit |
6.45 | 10-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 10 |
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Denington Gun Runner |
5.71 | 12-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 11 |
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Jace’s Road Quality Road |
6.21 | 12-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 12 |
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Baseline Beater Flatter |
0.00 | 20-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), Turfway Park, 1 1/8 miles (synthetic), 3-year-olds,100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Derby points
Four starters from the John Battaglia Memorial here are expected back, including Congruent, who came on strong to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Major Dude switches back to dirt after going 2-for-4 on turf. He broke his maiden on dirt before losing his next two. Two Phil’s was third last out in the Risen Star, which came after he finished second in the Lecomte and won the Street Sense.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Two Phil’s Hard Spun |
6.37 | Probable | |||
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Last Race |
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Congruent Tapit |
6.15 | Probable | |||
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Last Race |
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Major Dude Bolt d’Oro |
5.92 | Probable | |||
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Last Race |
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Funtastic Again Funtastic |
5.39 | Probable | |||
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Last Race |
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Maker’s Candy Twirling Candy |
0.00 | Probable | |||
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Last Race |
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Moon Landing Nyquist |
0.00 | Probable | |||
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Last Race |
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Movisitor Uncle Mo |
0.00 | Probable | |||
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Last Race |
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Scoobie Quando Uncle Mo |
0.00 | Probable | |||
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Last Race |
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Gilmore Twirling Candy |
6.19 | Possible | |||
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Last Race |
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Sunday
Sunland Park Derby (G3), Sunland Park, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds, 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby points
Fort Bragg is a former Bob Baffert trainee, and he finished fifth in the San Felipe (G2) last out for new trainer Tim Yakteen. Baffert, whose horses are ineligible for Kentucky Derby points, entered Hard to Figure, the morning-line favorite at 2-1. He lost to stablemade Newgate by a neck last out in the Robert B. Lewis (G3).
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
How Did He Do That Good Magic |
3.45 | 9-2 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 2 |
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Low Expectations Nyquist |
0.00 | 6-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 3 |
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Fort Bragg Tapit |
6.10 | 4-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 4 |
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Henry Q Blame |
3.79 | 3-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 5 |
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One In Vermillion Army Mule |
5.47 | 6-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 6 |
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Hard To Figure Hard Spun |
5.27 | 2-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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| 7 |
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Wild On Ice Tapizar |
0.00 | 20-1 | ||
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Last Race |
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Kentucky Oaks preps
Saturday
Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), Fair Grounds 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies, 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Oaks points
Hoosier Philly looks to avenge her loss in the Risen Star (G2) to Pretty Mischievous, who is 4-for-5. The Alys Look is 2-for-5 and is coming off a win in the Silverbulletday. Southlawn is 2-for-6 and is coming off an eight-length win in an optional-claiming allowance race at this distance and track.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Southlawn Pioneerof the Nile |
4.09 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 2 |
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Christian D’oro Bolt d’Oro |
0.00 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 3 |
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Pretty Mischievous Into Mischief |
4.79 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 4 |
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The Alys Look Connect |
4.34 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 5 |
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Hoosier Philly Into Mischief |
7.99 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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Probables were not available for the listed Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park, which offers 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks points.
Sunday
Sunland Park Oaks (listed), Sunland Park, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-old fillies, 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks points
Doinitthehardway had five losses before breaking her maiden with a nine-length win last out for Bob Baffert, whose fillies are ineligible to earn Oaks points. The top three finishers from Sunland Park’s Island Fashion Stakes are back here, including Flying Connection, the winner by 9 1/4 lengths.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Flying Connection Nyquist |
3.79 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 2 |
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Cairo Moon Cairo Prince |
0.00 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 3 |
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Foolish Delight Carpe Diem |
0.00 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 4 |
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Doinitthehardway Street Sense |
4.79 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 5 |
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Una Palabra McCraken |
0.00 | Entered | ||
| 6 |
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Don’t Get Pickled Misremembered |
6.54 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 7 |
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Love Tank Kitten’s Joy |
4.09 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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Other graded stakes
Saturday
New Orleans Classic (G2), Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up
Art Collector returns from his surprising Pegasus World Cup (G1) victory with Junior Alvarado riding again, and he faces another strong field. Pioneer of Medina dueled in the stretch to win the Mineshaft (G3) last out over Mr. Wireless, also entered here. Rattle N Roll would make his 2023 debut here after finishing fourth in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2) in November. Before that, he won the Oklahoma Derby (G3)
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Treasury Speightstown |
0.00 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 2 |
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Art Collector Bernardini |
6.77 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 3 |
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West Will Power Bernardini |
6.27 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 4 |
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Trafalgar Lord Nelson |
5.62 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 5 |
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Rattle N Roll Connect |
6.07 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 6 |
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Happy American Runhappy |
4.34 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 7 |
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Mr. Wireless Dialed In |
6.59 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 8 |
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Pioneer of Medina Pioneerof the Nile |
5.71 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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Muniz Memorial Classic presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2), Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 miles (turf), 4-year-olds and up
Atone won the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) last out, his second win in a row. Two Emmys, winner of last year’s Muniz Memorial, won the Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) last out by 4 1/4 lengths over Gentle Soul, who also is entered here with two others from that contest. Another Mystery edged Spooky Channel by a neck to finish second in the John B. Connelly Turf Cup (G3) behind Scarlet Fusion.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Atone Into Mischief |
4.45 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 2 |
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Rising Empire Empire Maker |
4.12 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 3 |
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Gentle Soul Tapizar |
4.12 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 4 |
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English Tavern English Channel |
0.00 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 5 |
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Spooky Channel English Channel |
5.45 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 6 |
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Two Emmys English Channel |
5.56 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 7 |
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Another Mystery Temple City |
4.45 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 8 |
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Tiz the Bomb Hit It A Bomb |
6.05 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 9 |
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Risk Manager Lookin At Lucky |
5.56 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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| 10 |
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Native Thunder American Pharoah |
4.45 | Entered | ||
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Last Race |
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Desert Stormer (G3), Santa Anita, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Becca Taylor would make her first start since winning the Great Lady M (G2) in July. She has a record of 10: 9-1-0 overall and won this race last year. Eda has won four straight stakes for Bob Baffert, most recently the Santa Ysabel (G3) and the Starlet (G1) before that.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Elm Drive Mohaymen |
5.03 | Probable | |||
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Last Race |
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Becca Taylor Old Topper |
6.30 | Possible | |||
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Last Race |
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Eda Munnings |
5.49 | Possible | |||
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Last Race |
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Dance To The Music Maclean’s Music |
5.06 | Possible | |||
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Last Race |
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Stella Noir Stay Thirsty |
4.79 | Possible | |||
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Last Race |
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Violent Runner Violence |
4.45 | Possible | |||
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Last Race |
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Half Past Twelve Midnight Lute |
4.12 | Possible | |||
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Last Race |
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Doris Mae Dads Caps |
0.00 | Possible | |||
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Last Race |
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Liv And Let Liv Khozan |
0.00 | Possible | |||
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Last Race |
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Sheza Girly Girl Richard’s Kid |
0.00 | Possible | |||
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Last Race |
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