Kentucky Derby BRIS Speed Rating Report: Arkansas Derby
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April 17th, 2018
Magnum Moon wrapped up his Kentucky Derby preparations with a four-length victory in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and will likely be either the second or third choice in the wagering behind favored Justify. The Malibu Moon colt is one of four Todd Pletcher pupils in the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field along with Audible, Noble Indy and Vino Rosso.
Magnum Moon wound up on the lead by default in what proved to be a paceless race and the unbeaten colt led wire-to-wire for the first time through glacial fractions (:48.60, 1:13.39 and 1:37.87), nearly two seconds slower than Oaklawn H. (G2) at the same distance one race earlier.
The slow pace contributed to a 99 BRIS Speed rating, a slight decrease from the 100 Speed figure for a 3 ½-length score in the March 17 Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn.
Magnum Moon remains eligible to keep moving forward with a strong showing in the Kentucky Derby, but his Speed numbers are a little light compared to other top contenders.
Quip held second throughout and received a 95 Speed rating. He posted a career-best 98 upsetting the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) in his previous start and 17 of the last 20 Kentucky Derby winners had earned a triple-digit number before the first Saturday in May.
Solomi wound up another neck back and stamped his Kentucky Derby with the third-place finish. But from a pair of starts this year, the classy juvenile performer has failed to run back to the 100-101 Speed ratings he garnered in back-to-back starts to close 2017.
Combatant missed third by a head and as a result, he’s on the Kentucky Derby bubble as the first alternate (ranked 21st). The Arkansas Derby proved similar to his previous prep races as confirmed closer offered a fine turn of foot to put himself in position to challenge by upper stretch before lacking the necessary finishing kick in the latter stages.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby series determines eligibility and a 35-race schedule is divided between the Prep Season and Championship Series.
Top BRIS Speed ratings so far in the Championship Series, which began in mid-February (90 and better):
|
Horse |
|
Race (finish) |
|
BRIS Speed |
|
Justify |
|
Santa Anita Derby (1st) |
|
114 |
|
Bolt d’Oro |
|
Santa Anita Derby (2nd) |
|
110 |
|
Audible |
|
Florida Derby (1st) |
|
107 |
|
Enticed |
|
Gotham (1st) |
|
104 |
|
Promises Fulfilled |
|
Fountain of Youth (1st) |
|
104 |
|
Hofburg |
|
Florida Derby (2nd) |
|
104 |
|
Vino Rosso |
|
Wood Memorial (1st) |
|
102 |
|
Magnum Moon |
|
Rebel (1st) |
|
100 |
|
Noble Indy |
|
Louisiana Derby (1st) |
|
100 |
|
Lone Sailor |
|
Louisiana Derby (2nd) |
|
100 |
|
Magnum Moon |
|
Arkansas Derby (1st) |
|
99 |
|
Enticed |
|
Wood Memorial (2nd) |
|
99 |
|
My Boy Jack |
|
Louisiana Derby (3rd) |
|
99 |
|
Bolt d’Oro |
|
San Felipe (1st) |
|
98 |
|
Bravazo |
|
Risen Star (1st) |
|
98 |
|
Good Magic |
|
Blue Grass (1st) |
|
98 |
|
Quip |
|
Tampa Bay Derby (1st) |
|
98 |
|
Good Magic |
|
Fountain of Youth (3rd) |
|
98 |
|
Flameaway |
|
Blue Grass (2nd) |
|
97 |
|
Flameaway |
|
Tampa Bay Derby (2nd) |
|
97 |
|
Solomini |
|
Rebel (2nd) |
|
96 |
|
Combatant |
|
Rebel (3rd) |
|
96 |
|
Free Drop Billy |
|
Gotham (3rd) |
|
96 |
|
Noble Indy |
|
Risen Star (3rd) |
|
96 |
|
Quip |
|
Arkansas Derby (2nd) |
|
95 |
|
Solomini |
|
Arkansas Derby (3rd) |
|
95 |
|
My Boy Jack |
|
Lexington (1st) |
|
94 |
|
Combatant |
|
Arkansas Derby (4th) |
|
94 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top BRIS Speed ratings from the Prep Season, which began last September and concluded in mid-February:
|
Horse (finish) |
|
Race |
|
BRIS Speed |
|
Audible |
|
Holy Bull (1st) |
|
105 |
|
Bolt d’Oro |
|
FrontRunner (1st) |
|
105 |
|
Good Magic |
|
BC Juvenile (1st) |
|
105 |
|
Flameaway |
|
Sam F. Davis (1st) |
|
101 |
|
Solomini |
|
Los Alamitos Futurity (3rd) |
|
101 |
|
Solomini |
|
BC Juvenile (2nd) |
|
100 |
|
Vino Rosso |
|
Sam F. Davis (3rd) |
|
100 |
|
Free Drop Billy |
|
Holy Bull (2nd) |
|
99 |
|
Bolt d’Oro |
|
BC Juvenile (3rd) |
|
99 |
|
My Boy Jack |
|
Southwest (1st) |
|
98 |
|
Firenze Fire |
|
Champagne (1st) |
|
96 |
|
Instilled Regard |
|
Lecomte (1st) |
|
96 |
|
Good Magic |
|
Champagne (2nd) |
|
96 |
|
Solomini |
|
FrontRunner (2nd) |
|
96 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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