Kentucky Derby Alumni Update for Sept. 29, 2021

Just over a month out from the Breeders' Cup, the time for final prep races has rolled around. Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks alumni are as busy as ever making their last preparations before Del Mar, so let's check in and see what they have been doing.

• Hot Rod Charlie

  • (3rd, 2021 Kentucky Derby) has finally joined the ranks of the Grade 1 winners with a victory in the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 25. Off to a slim lead over Midnight Bourbon (6th, 2021 Kentucky Derby) early, he carried Midnight Bourbon out in upper stretch but kept going to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Midnight Bourbon, who ran another strong race but got home second best. Bourbonic (13th, 2021 Kentucky Derby) was the only other Kentucky Derby alumnus to compete; well off the pace early, he passed a few in upper stretch to finish fifth. Medina Spirit (crossed wire 1st, 2021 Kentucky Derby) and Keepmeinmind (7th, 2021 Kentucky Derby) scratched. Medina Spirit will instead point toward the Awesome Again (G1), Oct. 2 at Santa Anita.
    
    

• Super Stock

  • (16th, 2021 Kentucky Derby) was the only Kentucky Derby runner to contest the Oklahoma Derby (G3) Sept. 26 at Remington Park. Super Stock leapt at the break, settled inside, inched closer along the fence down the backstretch, loomed three deep under a drive in upper stretch, but could not reel in Warrant or Flash of Mischief. The 2-1 favorite, Super Stock settled for third, 2 1/4 lengths beaten.
    
    

• Long Range Toddy

  • (16th, 2019 Kentucky Derby) Sent off at 10.3-1 in an nine-horse field, outran his odds in the David M. Vance S. at Remington on Sept. 26. Midfield inside early, he swung out into the lane, rallied between horses, and came on for third, 4 1/4 lengths behind Greeley and Ben, a seven-year-old who has won nine straight races and a total of 11 this year.
    
    

• Tacitus

  • (3rd, 2019 Kentucky Derby), unraced since a seventh-place finish in the Saudi Cup (G1) on February 20, has been drilling at Saratoga and will possibly resurface in the Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs on Oct. 2.
    
    

• Crazy Beautiful

  • (10th, 2021 Kentucky Oaks) has entered the Seneca Overnight S. at Churchill Downs, to be run Oct. 1. The 1 1/16-miledirt race will be her first start since a sixth-place finish in the Alabama (G1), and her first step down from graded company in over a year.

• Several Kentucky Derby alumni are expected to tune up for Breeders' Cup season in the Woodward (G1) at Belmont on Oct. 2. Code of Honor (2nd, 2019 Kentucky Derby) steps up in class after his comeback victory in the Philip H. Iselin (G3) Aug. 21, and By My Standards (11th, 2019 Kentucky Derby) last ran fifth behind Knicks Go in the Whitney (G1) on Aug. 7.
• The Cotillion (G1) at Parx on Sept. 25 featured a Kentucky Oaks alumnus who became a first-time Grade 1 winner. Clairiere (4th, 2021 Kentucky Oaks) settled patiently as usual. She circled the field and no one could match her kick in the lane; she crossed the wire two and a half lengths clear. After a bobble at the start Maracuja (7th, 2021 Kentucky Oaks) was close up throughout, though outkicked in the lane and ended up fourth. Unlucky Will's Secret (3rd, 2021 Kentucky Derby), who steadied early when squeezed at the start, settled toward the rear and finished seventh.
• In the Remington Park Oaks (G3) on Sept. 26, Pauline's Pearl (8th, 2021 Kentucky Oaks) was the sole representative from the run for the lilies. She tracked inside, a few lengths off the pace. She angled out and improved into the turn, came four wide into the lane, and chased home no match for Lady Mystify. Three lengths behind the winner, Pauline's Pearl got the bob for place, a head over race favorite Amendment Nineteen.
• 2018 Kentucky Oaks winner Monomoy Girl has been retired. She came back from a gallop on Sept. 21 with a non-displaced sesamoid fracture. It will not require surgery, and she will become a broodmare at Spendthrift Farm. But it ends her career after 14 wins in 17 starts, and two Eclipse Awards.