Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlists - Saturday, March 26

Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlists

Saturday, March 26, 2022

By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt

The $1 million UAE Derby (G2), Meydan, Dubai – race 5 – The UAE Derby is a Kentucky Derby prep race at a distance of 1 3/16 miles that offers qualifying points of 100-40-20-10. Stateside the post time is scheduled for 10:10 a.m. EDT. Please note that these are saddle cloth numbers as listed in the Daily Racing Form and do not correspond to post positions.

(4) Azure Coast (PP-4) is unbeaten in three career starts. This Kentucky-bred son of Street Sense began his career in Russia as a 2-year-old after being purchased at Keeneland as a yearling. He moved to race at Meydan and won a seven-furlong allowance with a last to first move. He prepped for this race in the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) which he also won with a late closing move. No doubt he will be making the last move going the added distance and maybe it will be the winning move. (11) Pinehurst (PP-6) was sent to the Middle East by Bob Baffert early in the winter after running second in the San Vicente (G2) behind Forbidden Kingdom. Last month in the Saudi Derby (G3) he won that one-mile race by a half-length. As a 2-year-old he had victories in his first two starts including the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and then was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). (13) Sekifu (PP-14) is Japanese-bred son of Henny Hughes who was second in the Saudi Derby in his 2022 debut and probably needed that race. He is from high profile Japanese connections who have made winning the Kentucky Derby a priority and they look to pick up the required qualifying points in here. (6) Combustion (PP-7) is a Japanese-bred son of Discreet Cat that is owned by Godolphin and will be ridden by international star William Buick. He made his 2022 debut last month and won the Hyacinth in Japan defeating the horse that leads the Japan points list to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. Betting strategy:  Win: 4. Exacta box: 4, 6, 11, 13. Trifecta box: 4, 6, 11, 13.

The $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2), Fair Grounds, Race 12

12th race – (6) Epicenter was a sharp, front-running winner over this track in the Risen Star. He hails from a top barn and has been working sharply since then.  The added sixteenth-of-a-mile distance should be within his scope, stamping him as the top pick here. (9) Rattle N Roll didn’t fire while making his 3-year-old debut in the Fountain of Youth, but that speed-favoring surface at Gulfstream Park probably didn’t suit him. He should turn in a better effort here. (3) Call Me Midnight caught Epicenter at the wire in the Lecomte, registering a 28-1 surprise. He hasn’t raced since then and with a spotty record of success, chances are he might bounce here. (2) Zozos makes his stakes debut after a huge allowance win and could make his presence felt in this field.  Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta and trifecta box: 2-3-6-9.