{"id":16204,"date":"2024-05-01T04:23:23","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T04:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kentuckyderbybettingsites.net\/?p=16204"},"modified":"2024-05-01T08:58:17","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T08:58:17","slug":"kentucky-derby-prep-races-what-are-the-best-churchill-downs-trials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kentuckyderbybettingsites.net\/blog\/features\/best-kentucky-derby-prep-races-trials-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky Derby Prep Races: What Are The Best Churchill Downs Trials?"},"content":{"rendered":"\"Kentucky\n

As the build-up towards the 150th running of the Run for the Roses<\/em> on Saturday, May 4, one of the smart ways to try and find the Churchill Downs winner is to look back at the best Kentucky Derby prep races. The Road to the Kentucky Derby is paved with broken dreams and hopefuls all wanting a shot at immortality.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What Are the Best Kentucky Derby Prep Races?<\/h2>\n

In addition to taking into account the best Kentucky Derby trends<\/a> and stats, it can also pay to look back at this season’s key trials that have already taken place. Churchill Downs doesn’t host any of these events, so you have to look at other racetracks across America and beyond.<\/p>\n

Over the years, many of these ‘stepping stone’ races on The Road to the Kentucky Derby have built up good records of producing winners of the first leg of the Triple Crown. This is worth looking at in more detail.<\/p>\n

Kentucky Derby Prep Races for Winners Since 2006<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Year<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Kentucky Derby Winner<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Trainer<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Previous Race
\n<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

2023<\/td>\nMage<\/td>\nGustavo Delgardo<\/td>\n2nd Florida Derby (Gulfstream Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2022<\/td>\nRich Strike<\/td>\nEric Reed<\/td>\n3rd Jeff Ruby Steaks (Turfway Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2021<\/td>\nMandaloun<\/td>\nBrad Cox<\/td>\n6th Louisiana Derby (Fair Grounds)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2020<\/td>\nAuthentic<\/td>\nBob Baffert<\/td>\n1st Haskell Stakes (Monmouth Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2019<\/td>\nCountry House<\/td>\nBill Mott<\/td>\n3rd Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2018<\/td>\nJustify<\/td>\nBob Baffert<\/td>\n1st (Dsq) Santa Anita Derby (Santa Anita)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2017<\/td>\nAlways Dreaming<\/td>\nTodd Pletcher<\/td>\n1st Florida Derby (Gulfstream Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2016<\/td>\nNyquist<\/td>\nDoug O’Neill<\/td>\n1st Florida Derby (Gulfstream Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2015<\/td>\nAmerican Pharoah<\/td>\nBob Baffert<\/td>\n1st Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2014<\/td>\nCalifornia Chrome<\/td>\nArt Sherman<\/td>\n1st Santa Anita Derby (Santa Anita)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2013<\/td>\nOrb<\/td>\nClaude R. McGaughey III<\/td>\n1st Florida Derby (Gulfstream Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2012<\/td>\nI’ll Have Another<\/td>\nDoug O’Neill<\/td>\n1st Santa Anita Derby (Santa Anita)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2011<\/td>\nAnimal Kingdom<\/td>\nH. Graham Motion<\/td>\n1st Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (Turfway Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2010<\/td>\nSuper Saver<\/td>\nTodd Pletcher<\/td>\n2nd Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2009<\/td>\nMine That Bird<\/td>\nBennie Woolley Jr.<\/td>\n4th Sunland Derby (Sunland Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2008<\/td>\nBig Brown<\/td>\nRick Dutrow Jr.<\/td>\n1st Florida Derby (Gulfstream Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2007<\/td>\nStreet Sense<\/td>\nCarl Nafzger<\/td>\n2nd Toyota Blue Grass (Keeneland)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2006<\/td>\nBarbaro<\/td>\nMichael Matz<\/td>\n1st Florida Derby (Gulfstream Park)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Florida Derby One Of The Best Kentucky Derby Prep Races
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When searching for The Run For The Roses<\/em> winner, one race on The Road to the Kentucky Derby you simply can’t ignore is the Florida Derby. Since 2006, the Gulfstream Park Grade I contest has seen five horses follow-up and win the big one at Churchill Downs.<\/p>\n

While this was backed up again in 2023 when the Florida Derby runner-up Mage went on to add his name to the Kentucky Derby winners<\/a> roll of honour, the winner of that Gulfstream Park prep race – Forte – was a late scratching having been the pre-race favorite.<\/p>\n

Therefore, even without Mage’s win added to the equation this is still a fair 28% return over the last 18 years. Oh, and this stat would have been even better had the 2019 Florida Derby winner Maximum Security not been disqualified from the final Kentucky Derby results<\/a> that year.<\/p>\n

A key takeout here is the importance of what happens at Gulfstream Park a month or so out from Churchill Downs. No other Kentucky Derby prep races can boast such a good return of providing the winner.<\/p>\n

Florida Derby \/ Kentucky Derby Winners Since 2006<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Year<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Horse<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Trainer<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Jockey<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

2017<\/td>\nAlways Dreaming<\/td>\nTodd Pletcher<\/td>\nJohn Velazquez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2016<\/td>\nNyquist<\/td>\nDoug O’Neill<\/td>\nMario Gutierrez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2013<\/td>\nOrb<\/td>\nBob Baffert<\/td>\nJoel Rosario<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2008<\/td>\nBig Brown<\/td>\nRick Dutrow Jr.<\/td>\nKent Desormeaux<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2006<\/td>\nBarbaro<\/td>\nMichael Matz<\/td>\nEdgar Prado<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

15 Florida Derby Winners Have Won The Kentucky Derby<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As well as the five Florida Derby \/ Kentucky Derby winners since 2006, there have also been a total of 15 horses over the years that have both both races (see below). With the Florida Derby first run in 1952, it doesn’t come close to matching the storied history of Triple Crown events, yet its value at a key Churchill Downs trial cannot be underestimated.<\/p>\n

The very first Kentucky Derby horse<\/a> to land the double was Needles back in 1956, which was a win that led to a flurry of others following suit over the next 12 years (see below). While in more recent times, Nyquist in 2016 and Always Dreaming in 2017 are currently the last two horses to win both races.<\/p>\n

Plus, as mentioned last year’s Florida Derby runner-up Mage did also support the good record of the Gulfstream Park race.<\/p>\n

All Florida Derby \/ Kentucky Derby Winners<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Year<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Horse<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Trainer<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Jockey<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

2017<\/td>\nAlways Dreaming<\/td>\nTodd Pletcher<\/td>\nJohn Velazquez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2016<\/td>\nNyquist<\/td>\nDoug O’Neill<\/td>\nMario Gutierrez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2013<\/td>\nOrb<\/td>\nBob Baffert<\/td>\nJoel Rosario<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2008<\/td>\nBig Brown<\/td>\nRick Dutrow Jr.<\/td>\nKent Desormeaux<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2006<\/td>\nBarbaro<\/td>\nMichael Matz<\/td>\nEdgar Prado<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2001<\/td>\nMonarchos<\/td>\nJohn T.Ward Jr.<\/td>\nJorge Chavez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1995<\/td>\nThunder Gulch<\/td>\nD. Wayne Lukas<\/td>\nMike Smith<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1990<\/td>\nUnbridled<\/td>\nCarl Nafzger<\/td>\nPat Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1984<\/td>\nSwale<\/td>\nWoody Stevens<\/td>\nLaffit Pincay Jr.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1979<\/td>\nSpectacular Bid<\/td>\nBud Delp<\/td>\nRonnie Franklin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1968<\/td>\nForward Pass<\/td>\nHenry Forrest<\/td>\nDon Brumfield<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1964<\/td>\nNorthern Dancer<\/td>\nHoratio Luro<\/td>\nBill Shoemaker<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1961<\/td>\nCarry Back<\/td>\nJack A. Price<\/td>\nJohnny Sellers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1958<\/td>\nTim Tam<\/td>\nHorace A. Jones<\/td>\nBill Hartack<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1956<\/td>\nNeedles<\/td>\nHugh L. Fontaine<\/td>\nDavid Erb<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Which Horse Won The 2024 Florida Derby?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

So, we know that the Florida Derby has the stats to back up it being the best Kentucky Derby prep race. Therefore, all that’s left is to look back on the 2024 running (see below) and give you the full result.<\/p>\n

It was the Todd Pletcher-trained Fierceness<\/strong> that romped away with the 2024 Florida Derby, which was run on March 30 this season. The City Of Light colt, who is owned by Mike Repole<\/a>, bolted up by 13 1\/2 lengths. With Catalytic back in second.<\/p>\n

Therefore, that emphatic win coupled with the top record of Florida Derby winners following up at Churchill Downs has meant it’s no shock to see Fierceness among those heading the 2024 Kentucky Derby odds <\/a>with the best racebooks.<\/p>\n

Fireceness will have saddle cloth 17, but due to the scratching of Encino will move to Kentucky post position draw<\/a> 16 which has seen five winners in the last 30 years (17%).<\/p>\n

Florida Derby Result 2024<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Position\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Horse
\n<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Trainer <\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Jockey
\n<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

1st<\/strong><\/td>\nFierceness<\/strong><\/td>\nTodd Pletcher<\/strong><\/td>\nJohn Velazquez<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2nd<\/td>\nCatalytic<\/td>\nSaffie Joseph Jr.<\/td>\nJulien Leparoux<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/td>\nGrand Mo The First<\/td>\nVictor Barboza Jr.<\/td>\nEmisael Jaramillo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4th<\/td>\nConquest Warrior<\/td>\nClaude R McGaughey III<\/td>\nJose L Ortiz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5th<\/td>\nHades<\/td>\nJoseph Orseno<\/td>\nPaco Lopez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6th<\/td>\nFrankie’s Empire<\/td>\nMichael Yates<\/td>\nMiguel Angel Vasquez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7th<\/td>\nIris’s Dream<\/td>\nCheryl Winebaugh<\/td>\nJorge Ruiz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8th<\/td>\nReal Macho<\/td>\nRohan Crichton<\/td>\nJavier Castellano<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9th<\/td>\nLe Dom Bro<\/td>\nEniel Cordero<\/td>\nEdwin Gonzalez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

WATCH: Fierceness Winning The 2024 Florida Derby<\/strong><\/h2>\n