Record number of 3-year-olds nominated to Kentucky Derby; some race this weekend

Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Churchill Downs reports a record number of nominations, including an influx from Japan, for this year's Triple Crown races, while this weekend's on-track action focuses on Florida's Gulf Coast and some very promising Kentucky Derby hopefuls.

Meanwhile, the makeup of the field for the $20 million Saudi Cup is shifting, with defections among the American contingent perhaps putting more emphasis on the international flavor of the world's richest race.

There's more, too, so without further ado ...

The Road to the Roses

Saturday's $250,000 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs awards 20 "Road to the Kentucky Derby" points to the winner and has some good, some (relatively) less-so and some uncertain horses among 10 entries, all of them Triple Crown nominated.

The good include Poster, undefeated after three starts, most recently the Grade II Remsen at Aqueduct; Naughty Rascal, winner by disqualification of the local Pasco Stakes; Owen Almighty, who was set down from the Pasco score by the stewards; and Treaty of Rome, second by a neck to Guns Loaded in the Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park.

On the flip side are Gateskeeper, still a maiden after two starts in Arkansas; Very Bold, whose only win came on a sloppy Churchill Downs track; and Dr Reuben M, a maiden winner at Santa Anita, but nowhere in the Remington Springboard Mile.

And how good are John Hancock, a romping winner over a 6-furlong trip in his career debut at Tampa Bay Jan. 6; Camp Hale, who's been second in each of three well-endowed maiden races at Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Oaklawn; and Smoken Boy, who won his last two starts by 6 3/4 and 9 1/4 lengths -- in Puerto Rico?

In Triple Crown news:

Churchill Downs announced Tuesday it has received 373 early nominations to the 2025 Triple Crown races, up 27 head from last year, with almost all the increase coming from Japan. The 69 Japanese-based nominees, from 33 different trainers, represent an increase of 22 from last year's record 47.

Todd Pletcher is the leading American trainer with 32 nominations. Bob Baffert's owners put up $600 early nomination fees for 21, including 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull, who also holds a hefty lead on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" leaderboard after winning last weekend's Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita.

Late bloomers can be added to the list with a supplemental nomination fee of $6,000 by April 7. After that, nominations are to each race in the Triple Crown series.

The Road to the Oaks

Eight are signed on for Saturday's $150,000 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The eye automatically goes to Dancing Magic, winner of the local Gasparilla Stakes; Her Laugh, undefeated and last-race winner of the Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds; and La Cara, winner of the Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs last fall, but beaten 16 lengths in the Breeders' Cup.

Watch out for Deloraine, who returns from an impressive turf sprint win, and Junta and Chloe, both eye-opening winners in recent debut efforts.

Distaff

Saturday's $250,000 Grade III Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park drew six entries with four of them well matched on the morning line -- Loved, Corningstone, Free Like a Girl and Little Jamie.

Sprint

Oddly for a 6-furlong dash, there's not much obvious early speed in Saturday's $125,000 Pelican at Tampa Bay Downs, leaving plenty of potential for an exciting sprint to the finish.

Filly & Mare Sprint

Nic's Style is 5-for-6 for trainer Bill Mott and seems to have her name all over Saturday's $100,000 Minaret at Tampa Bay Downs.

Grace on Grade, winner of the local Gowell Stakes in her last start, looks like a likely choice in Saturday's $125,000 Valdale for 3-year-old fillies on the Turfway Park all-weather.

Turf

If some of the names on the entry list for Saturday's $100,000 Grade III San Marcos at Santa Anita seem familiar, it's because they've been around a while. Nineeleventurbo is 8. There Goes Harvard, Dicey Mo Chara and Easter are 7. Two others are 5. The 1 1/4-mile journey starts on the hillside course.

Turf Sprint

There's a competitive field in Saturday's $140,000 Ladies Turf Sprint at Gulfstream Park. Just a Care won the Abundancia Stakes over the course and distance Dec. 28, Sinead ran a big one in her second career start last time at Aqueduct and Weekend Rags scored in her most recent outing Dec. 26 at Gulfstream.

Sunday's $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes for at Santa Anita has more than its share of 3-year-old fillies still eligible for a "one other than" allowance condition. It also has Practical Dream, winner of November's Desi Arnaz at Del Mar, but out of the money in two subsequent starts, and that rare Baffert turf runner Casalu, second in the Desi Arnaz and winner of the Blue Norther Stakes on Opening Day on Dec. 26.

Around the world, around the clock

Saudi Cup

The Saudi Cup has lost three of the potential main American contenders with this week's decisions to keep Sierra Leone and White Abarrio at home.

Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone went on the defections list Wednesday when trainer Chad Brown told Bloodhorse an abscess on a foot caused the horse to miss training deadlines crucial for the $20 million Grade I race in Riyadh on Feb. 22. He then ruled out a start in the Dubai World Cup on April 5, saying Sierra Leone will start his 4-year-old campaign domestically.

White Abarrio, the 2023 Breeders' Cup victor and romping winner in last month's Grade I Pegasus World Cup, will skip the Middle Eastern tour and instead point toward the Met Mile, his owner, C2 Racing Stables, said Wednesday. White Abarrio finished 10th in the 2024 Saudi Cup after experiencing travel delays.

Senor Buscador, last year's Saudi Cup winner, was scratched from the Pegasus just days before that race and retired to stud.

On the plus side, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Soul of an Angel, the 2024 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner, is hoping for an invitation to join the Saudi Cup field. C2 Racing is part-owner of that filly.

Australia

Last year's winner, Mr Brightside, and Caulfield Guineas winner Private Life are interesting among 13 entries for Saturday's Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield. Mr Brightside was last seen winning the Champions Mile at Flemington in November.