Experts’ Kentucky Derby undercard stakes picks
The Biz- May 6, 2023
Today’s Kentucky Derby day card has plenty of stakes action before the big race. We asked our experts to share their selections.
The lengthy roster of added-money events includes three other Grade 1 events, along with four Grade 2 events. So there are plenty of plays available and plenty of ways to lose invest your money. Where do our experts land?
Read on – and good luck!
GRADE 1 DERBY CITY DISTAFF
This seven-furlong test for older fillies and mares has a short field — just six horses — and a strong 4-5 favorite in Goodnight Olive, who’s won seven straight since finishing second on debut and won last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
| John Piassek | Ted Black | Nick Hahn | Joe Parisi | Eric Rubin | Gary Quill | ||
| Derby City Distaff | 1 | 3. Wicked Halo (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 2. Goodnight Olive (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) | 3. Wicked Halo (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 2. Goodnight Olive (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) | 5. Matareya (KY) (F Prat) | 2. Goodnight Olive (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) |
| 2 | 2. Goodnight Olive (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) | 3. Wicked Halo (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 2. Goodnight Olive (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) | 5. Matareya (KY) (F Prat) | 3. Wicked Halo (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 5. Matareya (KY) (F Prat) | |
| 3 | 5. Matareya (KY) (F Prat) | 5. Matareya (KY) (F Prat) | 5. Matareya (KY) (F Prat) | 1. Hot and Sultry (KY) (J Rosario) | 2. Goodnight Olive (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) | 4. Travel Column (KY) (G Corrales) |
GRADE 2 TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT
We bypass the G2 Distaff Turf Mile (with the Graham Motion-trained Spendarella the 7-5 fave) to head on to a wide-open, 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint.
Trainer Christophe Clement will send out morning line favorite Big Invasion, who is 7-2 on the morning line. This four-year-old hasn’t done much wrong; he’s 7-for-9 overall and arrives here off a win in a minor stake a Gulfstream, which was not overly impressive but was a useful first start of the season.
| John Piassek | Ted Black | Nick Hahn | Joe Parisi | Eric Rubin | Gary Quill | ||
| TwinSpires Turf Sprint | 1 | 7. Nothing Better (KY) (M Franco) | 11. Motorious (GB) (F Prat) | 11. Motorious (GB) (F Prat) | 13. Artemus Citylimits (ON) (T Gaffalione) | 4. Big Invasion (KY) (J Rosario) | 10. Arrest Me Red (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) |
| 2 | 3. Evan Sing (KY) (J L Ortiz) | 12. Carotari (KY) (L Saez) | 5. Necker Island (KY) (C Landeros) | 2. Go Bears Go (IRE) (J R Velazquez) | 9. Oceanic (KY) (E Morales) | 14. Noble Reflection (KY) (U Rispoli) | |
| 3 | 9. Oceanic (KY) (E Morales) | 14. Noble Reflection (KY) (U Rispoli) | 4. Big Invasion (KY) (J Rosario) | 10. Arrest Me Red (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) | 6. Bad Beat Brian (KY) (C A Emigh) | 13. Artemus Citylimits (ON) (T Gaffalione) |
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GRADE 2 PAY DAY MILE
The former Derby Trial ceased to be a useful Derby prep years ago but has been reborn as annually an interesting test for horses who are either a little bit distance-limited or not quite ready for the run for the roses.
A full field is set for this one, with another lukewarm favorite. That’s Echo Again (7-2); the Steve Asmussen trainee won nicely last out in an Oaklawn allowance and seeks his first stakes win here.
| John Piassek | Ted Black | Nick Hahn | Joe Parisi | Eric Rubin | Gary Quill | ||
| Pat Day Mile | 1 | 7. Fort Bragg (KY) (J Rosario) | 5. Echo Again (KY) (F Geroux) | 12. Gun Pilot (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 7. Fort Bragg (KY) (J Rosario) | 6. Frosted Departure (KY) (B J Hernandez, Jr.) | 2. Tall Boy (KY) (R Gutierrez) |
| 2 | 2. Tall Boy (KY) (R Gutierrez) | 7. Fort Bragg (KY) (J Rosario) | 9. General Jim (KY) (L Saez) | 2. Tall Boy (KY) (R Gutierrez) | 7. Fort Bragg (KY) (J Rosario) | 12. Gun Pilot (KY) (T Gaffalione) | |
| 3 | 9. General Jim (KY) (L Saez) | 10. Curly Jack (KY) (E Morales) | 5. Echo Again (KY) (F Geroux) | 1. Kangaroo Court (CA) (J R Velazquez) | 11. Gilmore (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) | 10. Curly Jack (KY) (E Morales) |
GRADE 2 AMERICAN TURF
This 1 1/16-mile grass race for three-year-olds has attracted an interesting group of runners and should have a significant impact on Nick Hahn’s Turf 10 list of the top turfing sophomores. In fact, this race features eight of the Turf 10, including #1 Mo Stash (10-1), who arrives off a win in the Grade 3 Transylvania.
The morning line favorite is Major Dude (5-2), for trainer Todd Pletcher, who is ranked sixth in the Turf 10.
| John Piassek | Ted Black | Nick Hahn | Joe Parisi | Eric Rubin | Gary Quill | ||
| American Turf | 1 | 11. Carl Spackler (IRE) (J L Ortiz) | 1. Major Dude (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) | 2. Far Bridge (KY) (J Rosario) | 2. Far Bridge (KY) (J Rosario) | 4. Talk of the Nation (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 11. Carl Spackler (IRE) (J L Ortiz) |
| 2 | 2. Far Bridge (KY) (J Rosario) | 11. Carl Spackler (IRE) (J L Ortiz) | 8. Mo Stash (KY) (L Saez) | 11. Carl Spackler (IRE) (J L Ortiz) | 13. Andthewinneris (KY) (F Geroux) | 2. Far Bridge (KY) (J Rosario) | |
| 3 | 4. Talk of the Nation (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 6. Behind Enemy Lines (GB) (F Prat) | 4. Talk of the Nation (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 8. Mo Stash (KY) (L Saez) | 3. Mendelssohns March (KY) (B J Hernandez, Jr.) | 13. Andthewinneris (KY) (F Geroux) |
GRADE 1 CHURCHILL DOWNS
To win this seven-furlong sprint, you’ll either have to beat — or be — Cody’s Wish (4-5). He owns a spotless 4-for-4 record at Churchill, and since the beginning of 2022, he’s a neck away from being undefeated. He finished up his ’22 with four straight wins capped by a narrow score in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Looking for a chink in the armor? This will be his first start since.
| John Piassek | Ted Black | Nick Hahn | Joe Parisi | Eric Rubin | Gary Quill | ||
| Churchill Downs S. | 1 | 10. Endorsed (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 10. Endorsed (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 6. Tejano Twist (KY) (C Landeros) | 7. Cody’s Wish (KY) (J Alvarado) | 4. Hoist the Gold (KY) (L Saez) | 10. Endorsed (KY) (T Gaffalione) |
| 2 | 7. Cody’s Wish (KY) (J Alvarado) | 7. Cody’s Wish (KY) (J Alvarado) | 10. Endorsed (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 10. Endorsed (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 8. Fortin Hill (IN) (G Corrales) | 7. Cody’s Wish (KY) (J Alvarado) | |
| 3 | 6. Tejano Twist (KY) (C Landeros) | 1. White Abarrio (KY) (P Lopez) | 7. Cody’s Wish (KY) (J Alvarado) | 1. White Abarrio (KY) (P Lopez) | 10. Endorsed (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 8. Fortin Hill (IN) (G Corrales) |
GRADE 1 TURF CLASSIC
Two of the rarest sights in the world are hens’ teeth and Grade 1 turf races with no Chad Brown entrants; this race is one of the latter. Trainer Phil D’Amato sends out morning line favorite Hong Kong Harry (7-2). The multiple graded winner was fourth as the favorite last out in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita and will look to make amends in his second start of the season.
| John Piassek | Ted Black | Nick Hahn | Joe Parisi | Eric Rubin | Gary Quill | ||
| Turf Classic | 1 | 7. Hong Kong Harry (IRE) (F Prat) | 2. Master Piece (CHI) (C Lemaire) | 3. Wolfie’s Dynaghost (KY) (J R Velazquez) | 9. Spooky Channel (KY) (J Rosario) | 5. Up to the Mark (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) | 9. Spooky Channel (KY) (J Rosario) |
| 2 | 9. Spooky Channel (KY) (J Rosario) | 7. Hong Kong Harry (IRE) (F Prat) | 9. Spooky Channel (KY) (J Rosario) | 10. Bye Bye Melvin (KY) (M Franco) | 7. Hong Kong Harry (IRE) (F Prat) | 5. Up to the Mark (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) | |
| 3 | 10. Bye Bye Melvin (KY) (M Franco) | 9. Spooky Channel (KY) (J Rosario) | 5. Up to the Mark (KY) (I Ortiz, Jr.) | 8. Santin (KY) (T Gaffalione) | 9. Spooky Channel (KY) (J Rosario) | 6. Earls Rock (IRE) (L Saez) |
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