Below, you will view a list of winners for the Kentucky Derby prep races from 2012, along with their times. You will be able to compare them to last year’s winners and their respective times. It’s an interesting way to see how this year’s Derby field has stacked up to last year.
Distance of One Mile
Out of Bounds, Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita in 1:34.56 (Changed to One Mile)
Tapizar, 1:40.38 (Did not run in the Kentucky Derby)
Algorithms, Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park in 1:36.17 (Sloppy)
Dialed In, 1:35.19 (Finished 8th)
Secret Circle, Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park in 1:37.08
Castaway, Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park in 1:38.09
ArchArchArch, 1:38.23 (Finished 15th)
Distance of 1 1/16 miles
I’ll Have Another, Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in 1:40.84
Anthony’s Cross, 1:48.63 (Did not run in the Derby)
Creative Cause, San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in 1:41.84
Premier Pegasus, 1:41.23 (Did not run in the Derby)
Union Rags, Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park in 1:42.68 (Changed to 1 1/16 miles)
Soldat, 1:50.23 (Finished 11th)
El Padrino, Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds in 1:42.96
Mucho Macho Man, 1:43.98 (Finished 4th)
Prospective, Tampa Bay Derby (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs in 1:43.35
Watch Me Go, 1:44.25 (Finished 18th)
Hansen, Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct in 1:43.84
Toby’s Corner, 1:44.78 (Finished 12th)
Alpha, Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct in 1:44.23
(No Race Last Year)
Secret Circle, Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park in 1:44.55
The Factor, 1:42.19 (Did not run, Injured)
Battle Hardened, Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs in 1:44.58
Brethren, 1:45.07 (Did not run in the Derby)
Distance of 1 1/8 miles
I’ll Have Another, Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita in 1:47.88
Midnight Interlude, 1:48:66 (Finished 16th)
Dullahan, Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland in 1:47.94
Brilliant Speed, 1:50.92 (Finished 7th)
Daddy Nose Best, Sunland Derby (G3) at Sunland Park in 1:48.59
Twice the Appeal, 1:50.91 (finished 10th)
Bodemeister, Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park in 1:48.71
ArchArchArch, 1:49.34 (finished 15th but injured)
Take Charge Indy, Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park in 1:48.79
Dialed In, 1:50.07 (finished 8th)
Hero of Order, Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds in 1:50.13
Pants On Fire, 1:49.42 (Finished 9th)
Daddy Nose Best, El Camino Real Derby (G3) at Golden Gate Fields in 1:50.46
Silver Medallion, 1:50.45 (Did not run in Derby)
Gemologist, Resorts World Casino Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct in 1:50.96
Toby’s Corner, 1:49.94 (Did not run in the Derby)
Went the Day Well, Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (G3) at Turfway Park in 1:51.33
Animal Kingdom, 1:52.32 (Won the Kentucky Derby)
Done Talking, Illinois Derby (G3) at Hawthorne in 1:53.88
Joe Vann, 1:51.91 (Did not run in the Derby)
What stuck out to me is that last year’s times were not as good as this year. In many of the races, the times are a full second slower. Is this year’s crop of colts and geldings better than last year? I know going into the Kentucky Derby last year, there wasn’t a clear cut favorite. Uncle Mo backed out to injury and Dialed In ended up the post time favorite at odds of 5/1. This year, it’s same thing all over again. Even with the overwhelming win by Bodemeister in the Arkansas Derby, he isn’t the consensus favorite. Many still believe Union Rags and Creative Cause are the horses to beat.
As you can see Animal Kingdom had the slowest time for any 1 1/8 miles prep race and still won the Derby. Midnight Interlude had the fastest time and finished 16th out of 19 horses. So having the fastest time heading into the Derby doesn’t always translate to Derby success. I thought this would be an interesting read to compare stats and dissect one area of handicapping. Let’s circle back in three weeks time to see which Derby prep races produced the best results.
Loading ...