Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist - March 27

Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist

Saturday, March 27, 2021

By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt

The $750,000 UAE Derby (G2), Meydan

Race 5 (10:35 ET) – The UAE Derby is a Kentucky Derby qualifying race that offers points [100-40-20-10] to the top four finishers. The 1 3/16 mile Group 2 race drew a field of 14 which includes only two American trained horses – Lugamo at 50-1 and Ambivalent at 20-1. (9) Pink Kemehameha was an impressive winner of the big race for 3-year-olds on the Saudi Cup undercard. That $1.5 million race was his first start on the dirt after racing four times on the turf in Japan. He will have to break from the far outside of the large field. (7) New Treasure also made his dirt debut in that Saudi Derby where he finished third. Who better to have in a big race than a John Gosden runner with Frankie Dettori riding? (10) Rebel’s Romance won the first three races of his career which included two starts on synthetic tracks in Great Britain. He won his debut in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial for the connections of Godolphin, Charlie Appleby, and Wiliam Buick. Most recently he was fourth in the Saudi Derby. (8) Panadol is the winner of both career starts which came this year at Meydan. The most recent was in a stake at today’s distance. The New York-bred was purchased for $180,000 at the April Ocala Sale for 2-year-olds. Betting strategy:  Exacta box: 7, 8, 9, 10.  Trifecta box: 7, 8, 9, 10. 

The $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), Turfway Park

Race 11 (6:25 ET) – The Jeff Ruby is also a [100-40-20-10] points qualifier on the road to the Kentucky Derby. (2) Hush of a Storm is unbeaten in his last three starts since moving to Turfway Park and racing on the synthetic Tapeta surface. He moved from a maiden special weight to an allowance and then to the John Battaglia, which earned him 10 Derby points. All three were run around two-turns and Hush of a Storm used a closing move to win. (1) Like the King also has taken a liking to the Tapeta where he won an allowance and finished second in the Battaglia for trainer Wesley Ward. He had some traffic trouble at the quarter pole in the race against the top choice. (7) Tarantino began his career on the turf in California, moved onto the Derby trail in the Holy Bull (G3) and the Fountain of Youth (G2) earning nine Derby points. He may well be suited to the Tapeta and clearly has back class. (10) Gretsky the Great was third in his first try on the synthetic surface after setting the pace in his 2021 debut for Mark Casse. With expected improvement, he is a win contender. Betting strategy:  Exacta box: 1, 2, 7, 10.  Trifecta box: 1, 2, 7, 10.