Nashville Derby A Very Rich And 'Grand Ole' Showdown

It doesn't take long for the Kentucky Downs meeting to hit full gear, as Saturday's program features three graded contests, including the GIII DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes, with prize money that could reach $3.1 million.

The purse remains intact should one of the 10 Kentucky-breds–eight in the main body of the field and two also-eligibles–is home first over the mile and five-sixteenths journey along the Kentucky/Tennessee border. The four foreign raiders are ineligible for the KTDF money, but the base purse of $2.5 million already makes it one of the richest Derbies in the world.

The European invader with the best form in the book is King Power's Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for trainer Andrew Balding. A 375,000gns Tattersalls October yearling, the bay colt was a maiden winner from four juvenile appearance, accounting for future G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) going a mile at Newmarket in September. After landing the Listed Blue Riband Trial on seasonal return at Epsom Apr. 23, he was seventh to City of Troy (Justify) in the June 1 G1 Derby, but has since finished third in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot June 20 and just missed when last seen in the G3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood Aug. 1.

Cugino (Twirling Candy) heads up the home defense, having made all the running to defeat Lagynos (Kantharos) in the June 1 Audubon Stakes at Churchill Downs. The latter, a consistent sort for Steve Asmussen, was subsequently an even fourth in the June 29 American Derby and was just nabbed on the line by Neat (Constitution) in the GII Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 2. Carson's Run (Cupid), victorious in last year's GI Summer Stakes, enters the Nashville Derby off victories in the June 23 Tale of the Cat Stakes and a late-running tally in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Aug. 11.

Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) could be one for the bottom of vertical wagers. A maiden winner and fifth in the G2 UAE Derby for Coolmore and Aidan O'Brien, the regally bred bay was purchased by Jim and Fitri Hay and was moved the barn of Wesley Ward. Third in an off-turf allowance at Canterbury June 22, he was just beaten in Saratoga allowance company by Friday's GIII Saranac Stakes winner West Hollywood (Uncle Mo) over a mile and a sixteenth July 27 and could improve for this step up in trip. His dam Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) won the 2018 GI Belmont Oaks going 10 panels.

Carson's Run | Sarah Andrew

The fairer sex features in the afternoon's other marquee races, each of which carries prize money of $1.5 million for Kentucky-breds.

Secret Money (Good Samaritan) is an 8-1 chance in the GII Ladies' Turf Sprint, having defeated Danse Macabre (Army Mule) and Bling (American Pharoah) in last year's age-restricted GIII Music City Stakes. California shipper Ruby Nell (Bolt' d'Oro), front-running winner of Santa Anita's GII Buena Vista Stakes going a mile back in March, cuts back to a sprint for the first time since winning the Unzip Me Stakes last October.

Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy) gets some class relief in the GIII Ladies' Turf Stakes, as she cuts back to a mile off a sixth in the GI Diana Stakes, where she was beaten three lengths by the repeating Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio). Implicated (Connect) is perfect in two starts since switching to the Chad Brown barn, an easy allowance win at Churchill May 12 followed by a 1 3/4-length victory in the GII Nassau Stakes at Woodbine. Behind in second was Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), who just failed in her repeat bid in the GII Beverly D. Stakes Aug. 11.

Pacific Classic One Of Three BC Qualifiers at Del Mar

The Friday scratching of Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) leaves a maximum field of eight for Saturday's GI FanDuel Pacific Classic at Del Mar, with a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic over the same course and distance on Nov. 2 at stake.

Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) was the 5-2 morning-line second choice behind the mare and looks to be the chief beneficiary of Adare Manor's absence. Having debuted just this time last year with a pair of victories, the bay was second in the Oct. 21 Perryville Stakes and resumed with a runner-up effort in the GII Triple Bend Stakes June 1. Bred top and bottom to handle a route of ground, Dr. Venkman took over at about the midway stage of the GII San Diego Handicap and carried Antonio Fresu to a one-length victory over Katonah (Klimt).

Dr. Venkman | Benoit

Dr. Venkman could face some pressure from Reincarnate (Good Magic) in his first try at the mile and a quarter. A two-time Grade III winner at three, the $775,000 KEESEP yearling is winless in four starts this year, but has run well in his two tries at Saturday's trip. Third to Newgate (Into Mischief) in the GI Santa Anita Handicap Mar. 3, he set the pace before weakening late to be runner-up in the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita May 27. He exits a distant second in the 12-furlong GIII Cougar II Stakes July 25.

Middle-distance turf males compete for a 'Win and You're In' ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in the GII Del Mar Handicap earlier on the program. Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) is the two-time defending champion of the 11-furlong heat and was just up in the 1 1/4-mile GII Charlie Whittingham Stakes May 4 ahead of a somewhat troubled seventh in the July 28 GII Eddie Read Stakes over a nine-furlong trip that is short of his best. Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) is as reliable as they come, even if it's been over two years since he last saluted. Sixth to Gold Phoenix in the Whittingham, he led late but was chinned on the wire in the 14-furlong GIII San Juan Capistrano Stakes June 16 and may want that sort of trip to bring out his best. Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) ran on for third in the Read and will try this distance for the first time, while an interesting new shooter is El Encinal (Arg) (Il Campione {Chi}), last seen winning the G1 GP Carlos Pellegrini at San Isidro last December.

Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) is back to defend his title and shoulders top weight of 123 pounds in the GIII Green Flash Handicap, which offers the winner a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint over the same course and trip in a little more than two months. Beaten a length and a half into fifth as the favorite in last year's Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, the bay was a rough-trip seventh to Cogburn (Not This Time) in the GII Turf Sprint at Churchill May 4 and fourth in a six-furlong allowance in Arcadia June 16. Cal-bred Connie Swingle (Grazen) represents a real danger if building on a smooth success (99 Beyer) in the July 27 Daisycutter Handicap, her first start in 21 months. No Nay Hudson (Ire) (No Nay Never), winner of the William Walker Stakes last season at three, raids from Saratoga for Wesley Ward off a one-length fifth with trouble in a July 28 allowance.

War Like Goddess Tough To Deny in Flower Bowl

George Krikorian's 7-year-old nails-tough mare War Like Goddess (English Channel) does not appear to have lost her zest for racing and continues a march towards a fourth consecutive appearance at the Breeders' Cup as the 7-5 morning-line favorite in the GII Flower Bowl Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. War Like Goddess was a fractionally unlucky third as the public choice in the 2021 renewal at the seaside oval.

Seventh against the boys in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf, the bay has just two runs under her belt this season, a pace-compromised third in the GI New York Stakes here June 8, but she bounced back to return a relatively generous $4 to her backers in the mile and three-eighths GIII R. G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware July 7.

War Like Goddess | Sarah Andrew

Parnac (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) made every yard of the running last year, controlling a soft pace before easily holding off McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths. The two met again in the GII Glens Falls Stakes Aug 1, with McKulick turning the tables by 2 1/4 lengths, as favored Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) could do no better than fourth in her first start of the season.

The Queens M G (Thousand Words) seems to have righted the ship in her last couple of starts and looms the one to beat in the GI Spinaway Stakes. Inexplicably down the field in the June 6 Astoria Stakes, the dark bay filly lit up the tote to the tune of $91 in the opening day Schulyerville Stakes July 11 and followed suit–albeit at much skinnier odds–in the GIII Adirondack Stakes last time Aug. 4. The waters are deeper Saturday, as the competition includes Quietside (Malibu Moon), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' at first asking for a towering 6 1/4-length debut success Aug. 4, and Godolphin first-time starter winners Pondering (Hard Spun) and Immersive (Nyquist).

In the GIII Prioress Stakes, the first of the day's three graded events on closing weekend at the Spa, Rigney Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Two Sharp (Twirling Candy) figures a handful off an 11 1/4-length graduation going 6 1/2 panels Aug. 2. Brightwork (Outwork) was to have made her 3-year-old debut in the GI Test Stakes but lost her footing in the paddock and was forced to scratch. She is an obvious threat from the outside stall.