Thirty three days now remain until the 2023 edition of the Kentucky Derby, with just over four weeks remaining until the first Saturday in May. The bluegrass across Kentucky is starting to green up in preparation for the event which will bring together 20 of the top 3-year-olds in training from around the world.
This year's Kentucky Derby is already expected to include a pair of runners from Japan: Derma Sotogake, winner of the UAE Derby, and Continuar, whose connections accepted an invitation via the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series. Four horses based in Japan have run in the Kentucky Derby: Ski Captain (14th, 1995), Lani (9th, 2016), Master Fencer (JPN) (6th, 2019), and Crown Pride (JPN) (13th in 2022).
On Monday, it was announced that a third international contender could appear in the starting gate: Brave Emperor, leader of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby series, is under consideration for the Run for the Roses.
Brave Emperor would be the first Kentucky Derby starter produced from the European Road to the Kentucky Derby series. However, since 1967, there have been 51 horses who previously raced outside North America and ran in the Kentucky Derby. Venezuela's Canonero II won the 1971 Derby, while Bold Arrangement (GB), who was campaigned in Great Britain and France, finished second to Ferdinand in the 1986 renewal.
If Brave Emperor's connections decide to make the trip to Louisville, there would be 18 spots remaining for the top points-earners on the U.S. Road to the Kentucky Derby (of which Derma Sotgake is one; the UAE Derby awards points in the U.S. Road to the Kentucky Derby series).
Saturday's pair of 100-point prep races, the Florida Derby and the Arkansas Derby, were won by Forte and Angel of Empire, respectively. Forte leads the series with a total of 190 points after an impressive performance that saw him overcome traffic problems and really extend late to defeat Mage, while Angel of Empire put away his rivals by 4 1/4 lengths to bring his total points earned to 154.
With four opportunities yet remaining, the points cutoff for the 2023 Kentucky Derby currently stands at 40, assuming Brave Emperor does accept the invitation.
The current top 20, again assuming participation of Brave Emperor, is as follows:
- Forte (190)
- Angel of Empire (154)
- Two Phil's (123)
- Derma Sotogake (100)
- Kingsbarns (100)
- Practical Move (60)
- Rocket Can (60)
- Confidence Game (57)
- Raise Cain (54)
- Tapit Trice (50)
- Wild On Ice (50)
- Mage (50)
- Reincarnate (45)
- Jace's Road (45)
- Cyclone Mischief (45)
- Major Dude (40)
- King Russell (40)
- Disarm (40)
- **Brave Emperor, European Road to the Kentucky Derby invitee
- ***Continuar, Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby invitee
Next weekend's major prep race action includes the Santa Anita Derby, the Wood Memorial, and the Blue Grass Stakes. Several of the top points earners listed above are expected to start in those 100-point prep races, shown below with other prospective starters listed in italics:
- Santa Anita Derby – Practical Move (Tim Yakteen); Cave Rock (Bob Baffert); Dazzlemesilver (Keith Desormeaux); Geaux Rocket Ride (Richard Mandella); I Don't Get It (Doug O'Neill); Mandarin Hero (JPN) (Terunobu Fujita); National Treasure (Tim Yakteen); One in Vermillion (Esteban Martinez); Skinner (John Sherriffs)
- Wood Memorial – Raise Cain (Ben Colebrook); Arctic Arrogance (Linda Rice); Classic Catch (Todd Pletcher); Clear the Air (William Walden); Crupi (Pletcher); Dreamlike (Pletcher); General Banker (James Ferraro); Hit Show (Brad Cox); Lord Miles (Saffie Joseph, Jr.); Mr. Swagger (Juan Carlos Avila); Shadow Dragon (Bill Mott); Slip Mahoney (Cox)
- Blue Grass Stakes – Confidence Game (Keith Desormeaux); Raise Cain (Ben Colebrook); Tapit Trice (Todd Pletcher); Blazing Sevens (Chad Brown), Classic Car Wash (Mark Casse), Hayes Strike (McPeek), Major Blue (D. Wayne Lukas), Mendelssohns March (McPeek), Sun Thunder (McPeek), Verifying (Cox). Possible: Scoobie Quando (Colebrook).
The full Kentucky Derby leaderboard, updated after the action on April 1, is available here: 20230401 Road to Kentucky Derby Leaderboard.
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