If you add together the purses for the other two KYD preps on Saturday, the Wood Memorial and the SA Derby, you get $1,250.000. That would also be the purse amount for the BG Stakes, by itself. KEE is certainly doing something right by increasing their purses, a stark contrast from SA, who lowered theirs for 2025.

We’ve reached the final big weekend of prep races for the KYD, as three 100-point races will be held that can shake up the leaderboard as we currently know it. There will then be the “Hail Mary” next weekend in the Lexington, but this weekend will determine a lot. Here, we will head out west to SA, to take a look at the 22nd running of the Grade 1 SA Derby.

Earlier in the day, Daemon asserted himself as the KYD favorite with five weeks to go before the big race by winning the FL Derby. This would lead all eyes to OP, where virtual race fans looked to see if the other top contender, Extreme Jet, could also get a big win in the AR Derby.

Time is winding down in the chase to get horses in to the KYD. This weekend and next figure to be the last chances for a horse to get the necessary points, although there will be “Hail Mary’s” in the Lexington. 100 point races began last week, and after seeing Gold State and Ello Santa secure massive wins, OP and GP will be the focus this weekend.

After her dominant three year old season that saw her win both the KYO and the BC Distaff, among others, Wasted Away returned to the race track after some well deserved time off to make her four year old racing debut. This filly by Fire N Fury had not been wasting away over the last four months and successfully took care of business in the Beholder Mile just like we are used to her doing.