Kentucky Derby Roundup: Poster stars in the Remsen

Believe it or not, December is a busy time on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

No fewer than five Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifiers are taking place in the U.S. and Japan this month. The first was contested last week, and three more are on the agenda this week.

Let’s get up to speed on all the action:

Poster hangs on in Remsen

Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points were awarded on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis to the top five finishers in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct last Saturday.

The longest Kentucky Derby qualifier for two-year-olds produced a thrilling finish. Poster, a Godolphin homebred trying dirt off back-to-back grass wins, unleashed a sweeping rally around the far turn to seize a two-length lead in midstretch.

But Aviator Gui, an Aqueduct maiden winner trained by Chad Brown, wasn’t going down without a fight. After waiting in traffic around the far turn, Aviator Gui fought his way outside and unleashed a strong late challenge. The two colts hit the wire separated by a nose, and the photo finish revealed Poster as the winner.

Trained by Eoin Harty, Poster joins the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard in eighth place with 10 points. Aviator Gui ranks 16th with five points. Tux (23rd, three points), Studlydoright (24th, two points) and Keewaydin (29th, one point) rounded out the Remsen top five.

Remington Springboard Mile draws 12-horse field

A dozen horses have entered Friday’s Remington Springboard Mile S. at Remington Park. While a few years have passed since the one-mile contest last produced a Kentucky Derby starter, the Springboard Mile remains a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 10-5-3-2-1 points.

Jolly Samurai and Mister Omaha rank as the best of the local Springboard Mile entrants after winning multiple stakes apiece at Remington Park. But they’ll face stiff challenges from out-of-state shippers Speed King and Dr Ruben M.

Speed King proved best in a quick six-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last month, winning by 2 1/4 lengths. Meanwhile, Dr Ruben M exits victory in a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita, a breakthrough triumph after finishing behind Road to the Kentucky Derby alumni Emerald Bay and Getaway Car in previous maiden special weights at Del Mar.

Los Alamitos Futurity

Since the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) moved to its current home at Los Alamitos in 2014, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won eight out of 10 editions of the 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier.

Baffert may win another this Saturday. While entries haven’t been finalized, Baffert’s Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner Gaming is a possible starter in the 2024 Los Alamitos Futurity. Coming off a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Gaming is likely to start as a heavy favorite if he takes on the Los Alamitos Futurity, which awards Kentucky Derby qualification points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis.

Japan’s Derby trail continues in Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun

The second leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby is Wednesday’s Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki, a 1,600-meter contest worth 20-10-6-4-2 points. The last two editions have been won by Kentucky Derby starters Derma Sotogake (2022) and Forever Young (2023).

An 11-horse field has entered the 2024 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun. One of the key contenders is the undefeated Natural Rise, whose 2-for-2 record includes a victory in the Cattleya S. at Tokyo Racecourse, the first leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Other prominent entrants include Happy Man and Copano Vincent, the top two finishers in the Hyogo Junior Grand Prix, and Myriad Love, an undefeated filly who exits victory in the Edelweiss Sho.

Kentucky Derby contender workouts

Here are the latest workouts recorded by Road to the Kentucky Derby points earners:

Getaway Car: The American Pharoah (G1) runner-up worked six furlongs in 1:13.40 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

McKinzie Street: In his first exercise since finishing third in the Bob Hope (G3), the multiple Grade 1-placed McKinzie Street clocked half a mile in :49.00 at Santa Anita last Monday.

Owen Almighty: The Iroquois (G3) runner-up breezed four furlongs in :48.65 on Saturday at Palm Meadows, his second work back following a nearly two-month break from timed exercises.

Smoken Wicked: The Champagne (G1) fourth-place finisher worked half a mile in :50.40 on Sunday at Fair Grounds, presumably his final timed exercise in advance of a start in Saturday’s Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile S. at Fair Grounds.

American Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Citizen Bull (40 points)
2. Gaming (15 points)
3. Jonathan’s Way (15 points)
4. Getaway Car (11 points)
5. Chancer McPatrick (10 points)

European-Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Hotazhell (20 points)
2. Wimbledon Hawkeye (13 points)
3. Camille Pissarro (10 points)
4. Rashabar (5 points)
5. Delacroix (5 points)

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard top five

1. Natural Rise (10 points)
2. Clay King (5 points)
3. T O Elvis (3 points)
4. Snappy Dresser (2 points)
5. Kanreiski (1 point)