Capo Bastone Returns to Dirt in Derby Trial

After placing in two grade I stakes races as a juvenile, Capo Bastone will try to nail down the first stakes win of his career when the Street Boss colt faces an expected eight other 3-year-olds in the $175,000 Derby Trial Stakes (gr. III) April 27 at Churchill Downs.

The one-turn mile Derby Trial is the featured race on the opening night card for the Churchill spring-summer meet, as the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) countdown continues. The race, with a post time of 10:42 p.m. EDT, is the final opportunity to earn points toward cracking the Derby field. With 20 points going to the winner, those connections could consider a start in the Louisville classic May 4.

DERBY TRIAL

89th RUNNING

MOST WINS BY A JOCKEY: Eddie Arcaro 4, Pat Day4. Active – Julien Leparoux 2, Rafael Bejarano 2.

MOST WINS BY A TRAINER: Ben A. Jones 5. Active – D. Wayne Lukas 3.

FASTEST TIME: Ack Ack (1969) 1:34 2/5. Past 20 years – Hierro (2012) 1:35.27.

FACTOIDS: Ack Ack clobbered his foes in winning the 1969 Derby Trial by 7 lengths. It was his third start in 25 days. Ack Ack finished his career victorious in 19 of 27 starts and ended his career on a seven-race winning streak.

Compiled by Gary Dougherty

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Capo Bastone finished third in last year's FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), both at Santa Anita Park when trained by John Sadler. After opening the 2013 season for trainer Todd Pletcher with a victory in a 1 1/16-mile allowance-optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park, Capo Bastone finished off the board in the March 23 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) on the Polytrack at Turfway Park.

Pletcher had Capo Bastone shipped to Churchill Downs after that effort, where he has been training.

Capo Bastone figures to be challenged by a pair of 3-year-olds who enter the Derby Trial off two straight wins in Officer Alex and Ruble. Winning Horses Stable and Choctaw Racing's Officer Alex, by Officer, enters off victories in an allowance race and the April 6 Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Janis Whitham homebred Ruble, by Exchange Rate , won a maiden race in February and an allowance-optional claiming event April 5 at Gulfstream Park.

$175,000 Derby Trial Stakes (gr. III, race 10, approximate post time 10:42 p.m.) 3YO, 1 mile
PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Officer Alex (PA), R. Albarado, L. Whiting
2. Ruler of Love (FL), R. Napravnik, J. Scott
3. Zee Bros (KY), M. Smith, B. Baffert
4. Forty Tales (KY), J. Rosario, T. Pletcher
5. Ruble (KY), A. Garcia, I. Wilkes
6. Capo Bastone (KY), G. Gomez, T. Pletcher
7. Tour Guide (KY), M. Mena, D. Lukas
8. G. T. Tabu (FL), W. Martinez, S. Parbhoo
9. Titletown Five (KY), G. Stevens, D. Lukas
All carry 118 pounds.