Triple Crown | Horse Racing Free Tips

Keepmeinmind ‘Had A Little Target To Run At’ In Bullet Workout At Oaklawn

Keepmeinmind recorded his third local workout this month at Oaklawn – zipping 5 furlongs in 1:00 over a fast track Tuesday morning under regular rider David Cohen – in advance of the colt's 2021 debut in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Feb. 15. The time ranked No. 1 among 40 published at the distance.

“Really good,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said Wednesday morning. “It worked out good, actually. Just right at the quarter pole, like David said, he looked up and said there was a horse about 6 or 7 lengths in front of him and he had a little target to run at. It kind of worked out really well.”

Keepmeinmind recorded splits of :25 for his opening quarter-mile, :37 for three furlongs and :48.20 for a half-mile before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.80 and seven in 1:26.80, according to clockers. Diodoro said Keepmeinmind worked from the five-eighths pole to the regular finish line.

Keepmeinmind had previously recorded half-mile breezes Jan. 6 and Jan. 12 at Oaklawn.

“He's starting to become a pretty good work horse,” Diodoro said.

Keepmeinmind raced four times last year, finishing 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 before breaking his maiden as the 2-1 favorite in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile Southwest is Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby points races.

Keepmeinmind ranks second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 18 points, according to Churchill Downs. Unbeaten Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality has 30 points to top the standings. Essential Quality, the probable 2-year-old male champion, is under consideration for the Southwest, trainer Brad Cox said.

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‘Maturing All At The Right Time’: Undefeated Rebel’s Romance Targeting Saudi Derby, UAE Derby

One of the most exciting horses in training in the UAE is Godolphin's undefeated Rebel's Romance, who has exited his thrilling victory last week (over HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Mouheeb) in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial in proper order. The proverbial sky is the limit for the son of Dubawi, with many exciting options ahead the Charlie Appleby trainee.

“Rebel's Romance is in good form,” Appleby reported. “He came out of the race well and I'm pleased with what he would have learned. He's got back into a nice rhythm at home and the plan is obviously to keep an eye on the Guineas and then hopefully going on to Saudi, but physically I think we'll see some improvements and he's maturing all at the right time.”

The $125,000 UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) over one mile is slated for Feb. 4, while the $1.5 million Saudi Derby is 16 days later over the same distance. Options thereafter include the $150,000 Al Bastakiya (Listed) over the same 9.5 furlongs (March 6) as the $750,000 UAE Derby (G2) on Dubai World Cup's undercard three weeks later.

Mouheeb, per his connections, also remains under consideration for all of the above.

The UAE Derby awards to the winner 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

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Early Nominations For 2021 Triple Crown Due Jan. 23

Early nominations for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds to become eligible to the 2021 Triple Crown series are due Saturday, Jan. 23 with a $600 payment.

Nominations can be made online at www.TheTripleCrown.com or by calling the Churchill Downs Racing Office at (502) 638-3825. Information regarding nomination forms to be mailed can also be found on www.TheTripleCrown.com.

The 2021 Triple Crown will begin with the 147^th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) at 1 ¼ miles on Saturday, May 1 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The 146^th running of the $1 million Preakness (GI), its 1 3/16-mile second jewel, is set for Saturday, May 15 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md. The 153^rd running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (GI), the series' 1 ½-mile final leg, is scheduled for Saturday, June 5 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Last year's Triple Crown attracted 369 nominations, 347 horses during the early phase and 22 horses during the late nomination phase.

Horses not nominated during the early phase can be made eligible between Jan. 24-March 29 with a $6,000 payment. Any horse not nominated during the early or late phases can become Triple Crown eligible through payment of a supplemental nomination fee due at the time of entry for each Triple Crown race: the Kentucky Derby ($200,000), Preakness ($100,000) and Belmont ($50,000).

Representatives accepting Triple Crown nominations for the host tracks include:

Churchill Downs: Vice President of Racing and Racing Secretary Ben Huffman at (502) 638-3820 or Ben.Huffman@KyDerby.com. … Assistant Racing Secretary and Stakes Coordinator Dan Bork at (502) 638-3806 or Dan.Bork@KyDerby.com. … Racing Operations Manager Kelly Danner at (502) 638-3825 or Kelly.Danner@KyDerby.com.
Pimlico: Racing Secretary Jillian Sofarelli at (800) 638-1859 or Jillian.Sofarelli@marylandracing.com.
Belmont Park: Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza at (718) 659-4241 or mpanza@nyrainc.com. … Stakes Coordinator Andrew Byrnes at (718) 659-4217 or abyrnes@nyrainc.com.

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Cox’s Likely Champion Essential Quality Works In Company With G2-Winning Filly Travel Column

Trainer Brad Cox sent out Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality for a workout in company with G2 Golden Rod winning-filly Travel Column on Sunday at the Fair Grounds, the pair covering five furlongs in 1:01 2/5.

The Godolphin-owned son of Tapit has breezed five times since his victory at Keeneland on Nov. 6. Likely to be named Champion 2-Year-Old of 2020, Essential Quality does not have an official target on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for his first start of 2021, reports the Daily Racing Form. With stablemate Mandaloun, third in the Lecomte last weekend, pointing to the Fair Grounds' Feb. 13 Risen Star, however, Essential Quality could be aimed at the Feb. 15 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park instead.

Meanwhile, the filly Travel Column (Frosted) appears poised to stay at the Fair Grounds for the Feb. 13 Rachel Alexandra Stakes, since stablemate Sun Path will skip the next round of preps after finishing fourth in the Silverbulletday over the weekend.