When is the appropriate time to start thinking about the upcoming Kentucky Derby? Having been run for 150 consecutive years at theses same Churchill Downs, the answer is quite simple. The time to start thinking about the upcoming Derby is the day after the existing Derby.
Using a points system to determine the 20 horses that enter the starting gate for a run at immortality, Churchill Downs has created a sense of importance for all these prep races. Beginning in September after the Kentucky Derby, two-year-olds can begin to accrue points. The early leader on the road the Derby 151 is Citizen Bull. This son of Into Mischief has charged his way to the top with back-to-back scores in graded stakes action. First came the American Pharaoh stakes at Santa Anita where he broke cleanly and took them gate to wire in earning 10 Derby points. Next came the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile where the Bull lead every step of the way as a 15 to 1 afterthought. Picking up 30 qualifying points at the Cup, this grandson of Distorted Humor random off their feet in the biggest race for two-year-olds. Trained by Bob Baffert, who holds the record for most Kentucky Derby wins, Citizen Bull has three wins and a third in four lifetime starts.
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