Ok, ok, enough with my bastardization of the rifleman’s creed. At WirePlayers we’re kicking off our annual Kentucky Derby prep race coverage and here’s a handy schedule of key races. It will be updated as the Derby prep season progresses.
And stay tunned because next week we’ll debut this year’s WirePlayers Derby Dozen – guaranteed to satisfy and mystify.
2012 KY Derby & Triple Crown Prep Race Schedule
| Date | Track | Stakes Race | Distance | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 19 | Delta Downs | Delta Jackpot (G3 - $1M) | 1 & 1/16 miles | SABERCAT ($18.00) |
| Dec 17 | Hollywood Park | CashCall Futurity (G1 - $750K) | 1 & 1/16 miles | LIAISON ($12.20) |
| Jan 7 | Santa Anita | Sham Stakes (G3 - $100K) | 1 & 1/16 miles | OUT OF BOUNDS ($22.60) |
| Jan 16 | Oaklawn Park | Smarty Jones ($100K) | 1 mile | JUNEBUGGED ($14.80) |
| Jan 21 | Fair Grounds | Lecomte (G3 - $175K) | 1 mile, 40 yrds | MR BOWLING ($9.20) |
| Jan 28 | Laurel Park | Dancing Count S. ($100K) | 6 furlongs | BEGGARTHYNEIGHBOR ($5.40) |
| Jan 29 | Gulfstream Park | Holy Bull (G3 - $400K) | 1 mile | ALGORITHMS ($7.00) |
| Feb 4 | Tampa Bay Downs | Sam F. Davis (G3 - $200K) | 1 and 1/16 miles | BATTLE HARDENED ($11.00) |
| Feb 4 | Aqueduct | Withers (G3 - $200K) | 1 and 1/16 miles | ALPHA ($2.70) |
| Feb 4 | Santa Anita | Robert B. Lewis (G2 - $250K) | 1 and 1/8 mile | I'LL HAVE ANOTHER ($88.60) |
| Feb 4 | Turfway Park | WEBN Stakes ($50K) | 1 mile | MR PRANKSTER ($5.80) |
| Feb 11 | Gulfstream Park | Hutheson (G2 - $150K) | 7 furlongs | THUNDER MOCCASIN ($2.40) |
| Feb 18 | Golden Gate Fields | El Camino Real (G3 - $200K) | 1 and 1/8 miles | DADDY NOSE BEST ($10.20) |
| Feb 19 | Santa Anita | San Vincente (G2 - $150K) | 7 furlongs | DRILL ($9.60) |
| Feb 20 | Oaklawn Park | Southwest (G3 - $250K) | 1 mile | CASTAWAY ($15.40) |
| Feb 20 | Oaklawn Park | Southwest (G3 - $250K) | 1 mile | SECRET CIRCLE ($3.20) |
| Feb 25 | Fair Grounds | Risen Star (G2 - $300K) | 1 and 1/16 miles | EL PADRINO ($3.60) |
| Feb 25 | Laurel Park | Miracle Wood ($100K) | 7 furlongs | THE LUMBER GUY ($2.80) |
| Feb 25 | Sunland Park | Borderland Derby ($100K) | 1 and 1/16 miles | ISN'T HE CLEVER ($5.00) |
| Feb 26 | Gulfstream Park | Fountain of Youth (G2 - $400K) | 1 and 1/16 miles | UNION RAGS ($4.40) |
| Mar 3 | Turfway Park | John Battaglia Memorial ($100K) | 1 and 1/16 miles | STATE OF PLAY ($6.00) |
| Mar 3 | Aqueduct | Gotham (G3 - $400K) | 1 and 1/16 miles | HANSEN ($3.60) |
| Mar 10 | Gulfstream Park | Swale (G2 - $150K) | 7 furlongs | TRINNIBERG ($17.20) |
| Mar 10 | Santa Anita | San Felipe (G2 - $250K) | 1 and 1/16 miles | CREATIVE CAUSE ($6.40) |
| Mar 10 | Tampa Bay Downs | Tampa Bay Derby (G2 - $350K) | 1 and 1/16 miles | PROSPECTIVE ($8.20) |
| Mar 11 | Gulfstream Park | Palm Beach (G3 - $150K) | 1 and 1/8 miles (turf) | HOWE GREAT ($3.40) |
| Mar 17 | Oaklawn Park | Rebel (G2 - $500K) | 1 and 1/16 miles | SECRET CIRCLE ($4.00) |
| Mar 17 | Laurel Park | Private Terms ($100K) | 1 mile | RACONTEUR ($5.60) |
| Mar 24 | Turfway Park | Rushaway ($100K) | 1 and 1/16 miles | FLASHY DRESSER ($5.60) |
| Mar 24 | Turfway Park | Vinery Racing Spiral (G3 - $500K) | 1 and 1/8 miles | WENT THE DAY WELL ($12.40) |
| Mar 25 | Sunland Park | Sunland Derby (G3 - $800K) | 1 and 1/8 miles | DADDY NOSE BEST ($9.40) |
| Mar 31 | Gulfstream Park | Florida Derby (G1 - $1M) | 1 and 1/8 miles | TAKE CHARGE INDY ($17.40) |
| Mar 31 | Meydan | UAE Derby (G2 - $2M) | 1,900 meters (~9.5 furlongs) | DADDY LONG LEGS ($22.80) |
| Apr 1 | Fair Grounds | Louisiana Derby (G2 - $1M) | 1 and 1/8 miles | HERO OF ORDER ($220.80) |
| Apr 6 | Keeneland | Transylvania (G3 - $100K) | 1 and 1/16 miles (Turf) | SILVER MAX ($8.60) |
| Apr 7 | Aqueduct | Bay Shore (G3 - $250K) | 7 furlongs | TRINNIBERG ($4.70) |
| Apr 7 | Aqueduct | Wood Memorial (G1 - $1M) | 1 and 1/8 miles | GEMOLOGIST ($4.40) |
| Apr 7 | Santa Anita | Santa Anita Derby (G1 -$1M) | 1 and 1/8 miles | I'LL HAVE ANOTHER ($10.20) |
| Apr 7 | Hawthorne | Illinois Derby (G3 - $500K) | 1 and 1/8 miles | DONE TALKING ($27.20) |
| Apr 14 | Oaklawn Park | Arkansas Derby (G1 - $1M) | 1 and 1/8 miles | BODEMEISTER ($6.80) |
| Apr 14 | Keeneland | Blue Grass (G1 - $750K) | 1 and 1/8 miles | DULLAHAN ($8.40) |
| Apr 21 | Keeneland | Lexington (G3 - $200K) | 1 and 1/16 miles | ALL SQUARED AWAY ($143.20) |
| Apr 21 | Aqueduct | Jerome (G2 - $200K) | 1 mile | THE LUMBER GUY ($6.50) |
| Apr 28 | Churchill Downs | The Derby Trial (G3 - $200K) | 1 mile | HIERRO ($12.00) |
| May 5 | Churchill Downs | Kentucky Derby (G1) | 1 and 1/4 miles | I'LL HAVE ANOTHER ($32.60) |
| May 19 | Pimlico | Preakness (G1) | 1 and 3/16 miles | I'LL HAVE ANOTHER ($8.40) |
| Jun 9 | Belmont Park | Belmont Stakes (G1) | 1 and 1/2 miles |
