There were three Road to the Kentucky Derby points races on Saturday, but the buzz horse coming out of the weekend competed on Sunday in an allowance race.
The Bob Baffert trained Justify did not make his debut until Feb. 18 at Santa Anita but turned heads, rolling to a 9½ length victory and earning a 104 Beyer Speed Figure.
He came back on Sunday and beat first level allowance foes by 6½ lengths in the mud to remain undefeated and now likely will be pointed toward the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 7, looking to earn points toward entry into the Kentucky Derby (G1).
The colt went into Sunday’s race at odds of 28-1 in early Kentucky Derby wagering but after his win his odds have dropped to 12-1, making him the fourth choice despite not yet making his stakes debut.
In addition, no horse since Apollo in 1882 has won the Kentucky Derby without racing as a two-year-old.
As of now there are only three contenders that are lower odds in early Kentucky Derby betting—Bolt d’Oro, Audible and McKenzie.
Bolt d’Oro saw his odds drop from 9-1 to 7-1 after his game battle with McKenzie in the San Felipe (G2) on Saturday. He came up a head short but was placed first via disqualification as McKenzie interfered with the colt as they neared the wire.
McKenzie was second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) and placed first for interference and then won the Sham (G3) in impressive style. The colt has gone from 12-1 to 10-1 in early Derby wagering after his game effort in the San Felipe.
Holy Bull (G2) winner Audible has remained at 8-1, going from the favorite last week to the second choice after this weekend.
Enticed won the Gotham (G3) on Saturday picking up 50 points and assuring a starting spot in the gate for the Run for the Roses. He went from 33-1 in early Derby betting last week to 16-1
Quip picked up 50 Derby points by pulling off the upset in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2).
There are two Kentucky Derby points races on tap this Saturday—the $900,000 Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park and the $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park.
The Rebel figures to be a key Derby prep. Among those headed to Hot Springs is Solomini, who crossed the wire first in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) but was disqualified for interference and placed third. The Baffert trainee is 14-1 in early Derby betting.
Also pointing toward the Rebel are Magnum Moon, an undefeated Todd Pletcher trainee (40-1 in Derby betting), and Sporting Chance, who was third in the Southwest (G3) in his last start for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The colt is 40-1 in Derby future betting.