Road to the Kentucky Derby 2022: Breeder’s Cup

Breeder’s Futurity:

The Breeder’s Cup Futurity is annually held at Keeneland, a racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky. This year, the 1 1/16 mile race was held on October 9th, 2021. The Futurity is a qualifier to the Breeders  cup Juvenile, four weeks later. This race is a stop for Derby prospects, as the top four finishers get 10-4-2-1 points towards their Kentucky Derby prospect leaderboard. From 2015-2018, this race has produced 11 Kentucky Derby starters. 

The first quarter, or two furlongs, were run in 22:81 seconds, compared to the 147th Kentucky Derby being 23:09 (but the Kentucky Derby is 2 furlongs longer).The front horses were Classic Causeway, Stellar Tap, Mr. Bourna, and Don’t Wait Up. The first half mile, or four furlongs, were run in 46:74 (Kentucky Derby 147 was 46:70) with the line-up staying the same, but tightening up a bit. At the sixth furlong, time was up to 1:11:90 (compared to a 1:11:31).Classic Causeway, Stellar Tap, and Mr. Bourna were still running up front, but Don’t Wait Up was replaced by Great Escape. At the mile marker, time was 1:37:52 (compared to 1:35:98). The finish time was 1:43:78. The horses finished with Rattle N Roll, Double Thunder,  Classic Causeway, and American Sanctuary. Currently, Rattle N Roll is ranked 2nd, Double Thunder is ranked 14th, Classic Causeway is ranked 13th, and American Sanctuary is ranked 32nd.

Breeder’s Cup Juvenile:

The Breeder’s Cup Juvenile is annually held four weeks after the Futurity. The Breeder’s cup Juvenile is a defining stop for Derby prospects. Last year, high odds Essential Quality, my personal favorite, won the Juvenile. The 1 1/16 mile race is often won by early-maturing colts that, according to J. Keeler Johnson, a writer for the Kentucky Derby website, “Lacking the stamina and/or durability to succeed as 3-year-olds in the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby”. This race gives out 20-8-4-2 points for the first four finishers.

Jack Christopher, who was favorite, was scratched due to a surgery to place a screw into his shin due to a stress fracture. Corniche took the lead in the first turn and was never headed, but unfortunately, he is not eligible for points as his trainer, Bob Baffert, is suspended from Churchill Downs. Pappacap received 8 points and is now at the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby table. Third place finisher- Giant Game- appeared for the first time on the table, after receiving his four points. He brought himself to 15th place. Commandperformance took in two more points, bringing his total to 6 points and landing him in 12th on the Table. 

At the ¼ mark, the line up was Corniche, Commandperformance, Jasper Krone, and Pappacap, with a time of 23.03. At the ½ mark, it was Jasper Krone, Corniche, Commandperformance, and Pappacap, with the time up to 46:15. At the ¾ mark, the line-up was back to Corniche, Jasper Krone, Pappacap, and Commandperformance, with the time rising to 1:10:81. The race finished at a time of 1:42:50.

Derby Prep Recap: