Spankys Barn might not have been too thrilled when he saw the post draw for the Makers Mark Mile, but the trainer was not going to let that get in the way of his plans. He brought two horses that had run in the BC Mile last fall, but while he was certainly hoping for it, he was likely not expecting the eventual result.

Outside of the races that are meaningful for the KYD, the Apple Blossom Handicap may be the biggest race that is held at OP. It attracts some of the best female horses every year, and offers a large purse for them. In 2024, that purse saw an additional increase, to the present $1,250.000 level and that is what it will be again.

After winning the BG Stakes, there was more work to be done for Mb Stables out west in the SA Derby, as the trainer had three entered in the SA Derby. In the end, he would see one of his horses, The Golden Age, pick up the win, giving him five horses in the top nine of the KYD leaderboard.

Chalk up another one for Mb Stables! If the game allowed it, Mb Stables could just about fill up half the starting gate for the KYD, with Obi Wan becoming the next one to get a big win in a prep, doing so in the BG Stakes. Obi Wan was the runner up in the BC Juvenile last fall, but was on the bubble of making the field coming into the BG Stakes, but with this win, he would clinch a spot in the KYD if he were in any other stable.

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.