Many top races ran over the weekend at tracks like Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Santa Anita Park, including two Road to the Derby qualifying races. Some of the biggest racing names going into the weekend were Concert Tour, Capo Kane, La Signare, Nova Rags, and Moonlight d’Oro.
Let’s first look at the Road to the Derby qualifying races:
Withers Stakes and Sam F. Davis Stakes
The two qualifying races for the Kentucky Derby, each awarding the top four finishers qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 scale, were the Withers Stakes and Sam. F. Davis Stakes.
Running at Aqueduct Racetrack as Race 8 on Saturday, the $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) saw a snowy and icy track. The field of nine 3-year-olds covered 1 1/8 miles, with Risk Taking (+250) crossing the line first.
Trained by Chad Brown, the son of Medaglia d’Oro is now 2-for-2 at the two-turn, 1 1/8 mile distance.
The runner won by 3 3/4 lengths after taking a strong lead in the stretch, holding off Overtook (+600). With his victory, the colt now enters the Kentucky Derby contender list.
The entire order of finish for the Withers was Risk Taking, Overtook, Capo Kane, Royal Number, Eagle Orb, Civil War, Donegal Bay, Shackqueenking, and Mr. Doda.
The other qualifying race was Saturday’s Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, which ran as Race 11. The event witnessed Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott’s Candy Man Rocket (+1000) and Nova Rags (+400) finish 1-2.
Candy Man Rocket won the 1 1/16-mile race by a length after showing no problems stretching out to the distance. He was coming off a dominant win in a maiden race on Jan. 9 at Gulfstream Park.
The entire order of finish for the Sam F. Davis was Candy Man Rocket, Nova Rags, Hidden Stash, Boca Boy, Known Agenda, Lucky Law, Joe Man Joe, Ricochet, Smiley Sobotka, Last Investment, Milean, and Runaway Magic.
Other Results from Weekend Racing
There were a few other big races over the weekend, like the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. Gary and Mary West’s Concert Tour (+160) was able to overcome stablemate Freedom Fighter (+250) to win by a half-length.
The seven-furlong race was the Bob Baffert-trained Concert Tour’s second win in two starts. The San Vicente serves as a crucial race for runners looking to get on the Triple Crown trail.
Saturday’s $100,500 Thunder Road Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita saw Hit the Road (+400) win by 3 3/4 lengths to take his third straight victory under Umberto Rispoli. He completed the one mile on firm turf in 1:33.35, and he was followed by Bob and Jackie in second.
Masteroffoxhounds (+250) scored his first graded stakes victory in Saturday’s $200,500 San Marco Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park. The 4-year-old son of War Front stumbled at the start but recovered to run past the favorite Acclimate (+200) in the 1 1/4-mile race. His record now sits at 3-1-1 from nine starts.
Be sure to check JAZZ Horse Racing for all the latest news on the Kentucky Derby Prep Races and odds; weekend graded stakes recap and results; as well as up to the minute reports on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
