Triple Crown | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘See How He Stacks Up’: Baffert Sending Spielberg For Florida Derby

Multiple Grade 1 stakes-placed Spielberg has joined the star cast of scheduled starters for the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farm at Xalapa March 27 at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old son of Union Rags is scheduled to clash with Holy Bull (G3) and Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G1) winner Greatest Honour in the 1 1/8-mile stakes that has produced the winners of 60 Triple Crown events.

“We'll see how he stacks up,” Baffert said Friday.

Spielberg, who is scheduled to breeze Sunday at Santa Anita before shipping to South Florida, finished second behind Eclipse champion Essential Quality in the Feb. 27 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park following a poor start.

“He's a great-feeling horse,” Baffert said. “He came out of that race in great shape.”

In his 2021 debut, the Kentucky-bred colt stumbled at the start of the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita before finishing fourth behind Baffert-trained winner Medina Spirit.

“He needs to get away from the gate well,” said Baffert of Spielberg's chances of winning the Florida Derby.

Spielberg had a productive six-race juvenile campaign, in which he finished second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and third in the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita before breaking is maiden in his fourth start. He went on to win the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) two starts later.

Spielberg was purchased for $1 million at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The colt is owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stable LLC, Golconda Stables, Sienna Farm LLC and Robert Masterson.

In addition to Greatest Honour and Spielberg, the Florida Derby field is likely to include Collaborate, Known Agenda, Nova Rags, Soup and Sandwich, Papetu, Quantum Leap, Jirafales and Siglioso.

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Keepmeinmind Will Try To Rebound In Arkansas Derby

Trainer Robertino Diodoro said Thursday morning that he's leaning toward starting Keepmeinmind in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 10 at Oaklawn.

Diodoro said Keepmeinmind is also under consideration for the $800,000 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) April 3 at Keeneland, but it appears his final Kentucky Derby push will be made at Oaklawn, where the late-running son of Laoban has been based since late December.

“It could change, but right now I'm pointing towards the Arkansas Derby,” Diodoro said. “Just being here, not having to ship.”

Keepmeinmind made his delayed 3-year-old debut in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) last Saturday at Oaklawn and finished sixth, beaten eight lengths, by Concert Tour. Diodoro said Keepmeinmind returned to the track Thursday morning for the first time since the Rebel, which was Oaklawn's third of four Kentucky Derby points races and its final major prep for the Arkansas Derby.

“The Blue Grass is an option, but right now I'm pointing him to that,” Diodoro said.

The Rebel marked the first start for Keepmeinmind since his last-to-first maiden victory in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs. Prior to the Kentucky Jockey Club, Keepmeinmind finished second in the $400,000 Breeders' Futurity (G1) Oct. 3 at Keeneland and third in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 6 at Keeneland.

Keepmeinmind was to have made his 3-year-old debut in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 15 at Oaklawn before the race was postponed 12 days because of severe winter weather. Diodoro then opted to launch Keepmeinmind 2021 campaign in the Rebel.

Unbeaten Essential Quality, who won the Breeders' Futurity and Breeders' Cup Juvenile en route to an Eclipse Award as the country's champion 2-year-old male, captured the Southwest in his 3-year-old debut. Essential Quality is pointing to the Blue Grass, trainer Brad Cox said.

Keepmeinmind has 18 points to rank No. 14 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, according to Churchill Downs.

Diodoro-trained Dreamer's Disease, who ran sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, moved closer to his 3-year-old debut by working a half-mile in :51 over a fast track Thursday morning at Oaklawn. Diodoro, Oaklawn's leading trainer last year, said he would like to start Dreamer's Disease before the meeting ends May 1.

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Keepmeinmind Likely for Arkansas Derby

Though he has an option for the $800,000 GII Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 3, Keepmeinmind (Laoban) is more likely to remain at trainer Robertino Didoro's Oaklawn base and await the $1-million GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 10, the conditioner told the Oaklawn notes team Thursday.

“It could change, but right now I'm pointing towards the Arkansas Derby,” Diodoro said. “Just being here, not having to ship.”

Second in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity last October and third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile as a maiden, Keepmeinmind rallied from last to graduate in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill in late November. Stabled in Hot Springs since December, the colt was to have made his sophomore debut in the GIII Southwest S., but when that race was pushed back by nearly two weeks due to extreme winter weather, Diodoro elected to wait for the GII Rebel S. Mar. 13. Keepmeinmind finished sixth, beaten eight lengths, behind undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Concert Tour (Street Sense).

The post Keepmeinmind Likely for Arkansas Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Derby Museum On The Hunt For World’s Best Kentucky Derby Story

Kentucky Derby Museum is launching the “Best Kentucky Derby Stories” Contest to find the most outlandish Derby stories from around the globe. Contestants from anywhere in the world can submit their story along with photos or videos on derbymuseum.org.

Whether it involves a winning bet, a celebrity encounter, the notorious Infield, or meeting the love of your life, the Museum is looking for the world's luckiest, most outrageous, romantic, or glamorous Kentucky Derby memory.

Any stories submitted will be shared on Kentucky Derby Museum's social media pages, housed on the Museum's website and displayed at the Museum for future generations to explore and enjoy! Participants are encouraged to share their story on social media by tagging Kentucky Derby Museum and using the hashtags, #MyDerbyStory and #DerbyEveryDay.

Grand Prize winner receives:
-A box at Churchill Downs during the Spring Meet (excluding Derby week)
-VIP Golf Cart tour at Churchill Downs for four people
-Set of four Derby 147 Derby glasses
-Membership to Kentucky Derby Museum for one year
-Bragging rights

1st, 2nd & 3rd place & Viewer's Choice winners receive:
-VIP Golf Cart Tour at Churchill Downs for four people
-Set of 4 Derby 147 Derby glasses
-Membership to Kentucky Derby Museum for one year

The contest is now open and the deadline to submit a story is April 16. The public can vote for the viewer's choice award April 17-21. Winners will be announced at the end of April.

The post Derby Museum On The Hunt For World’s Best Kentucky Derby Story appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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