August 26, 2024 | By Jeremy Plonk

The money is the obvious story in Saturday’s $3.1 million Nashville Derby, a Grade 3 over 1-5/16 miles formerly known as the Dueling Grounds Derby. It’s crazy cash, second only in the US on turf to the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Limited to 3-year-olds, the Nashville Derby was popular at the entry box as you’d expect, but didn’t lure an overwhelming cast in terms of known commodities. It should be an excellent gambling challenge, as we've grown accustomed at Kentucky Downs.

Let’s meet the contenders for the Nashville Derby (Race 8):

#1-ROTHSCHILD: $700,000 Uncle Mo colt has yet to win in 4 stakes bids on the west coast for trainer Tim Yakteen. Strong third from wide post when caught late in the Oceanside last month at Del Mar, his first start of 2024 after more than 7 months on the sideline. Jockey John Velazquez tasked with stretching this one 5/16ths of a mile farther than his prior grass longest.

#2-ABRUMAR: Won 3 straight during the Gulfstream Championship Meeting, including the listed Colonel Liam Stakes, but has lost 4 straight since. Red-hot trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. won last week’s $1 million Charles Town Classic with Skippylongstocking and brings this Gulfstream-based Divisidero colt to Kentucky Downs for the first time. Chased Nashville Derby rivals Cameo Performance and Carson’s Run in recent starts.

#3-NAVY SEAL: Irish export has won 1 of 8, dropping 6 straight decisions in 4 different countries (Ireland, France, UAE, US). Wesley Ward trains the former Aidan O’Brien charge, guiding im to a Canterbury Derby third-place finish and an allowance runner-up at Saratoga. Dubawi colt bred to run all day and gets internationally known jockey Jamie Spencer aboard for the first time.

#4-STROMBERG: Joseph O’Brien trainee makes his US debut off 5 straight losses, but was runner-up in Irish Group 3 company and third in a listed French stakes most recently. Modestly bred Iffraaj colt falls short of fellow UK raider Bellum Justum in terms of international Timeform Ratings. Jockey Dylan Browne McDonagle has been riding for O’Brien since 2019 and makes his US debut.

#5-WHITE PALOMINO: Grade 1 Belmont Derby runner-up has lost two straight photos since rising into the stakes ranks. The most lightly raced Nashville Derby entrant has won 1 of 4 starts for Chad Brown. Jockey Jose Ortiz won this race in 2019 when it was known as the Dueling Grounds Derby. Ortiz piloted White Palomino to his lone win this spring at Keeneland.

#6-BELLUM JUSTUM: Sea the Stars colt is 7-2 morning line favorite in his US debut under international star jockey Frankie Dettori. Seventh in the Group 1 Epsom Derby, he was most recently a narrow runner-up in the Group 3 Gordon at Goodwood for Andrew Balding. Will be the barn’s second US starter this year (Secret Satire was fifth in the Belmont Oaks Invitational). Balding’s last North American victory came in Woodbine’s 2017 Grade 1 E.P. Taylor (Blond Me).

#7-SEA THE THUNDER: Kingman colt has gone 1-for-7 exclusively in England and now moves to the barn of US trainer Cherie DeVaux. Listed winner at Carlisle has yet to try group stakes company and consistently posted Timeform Ratings far inferior to Bellum Justum. Brian Hernandez Jr. takes the mount.

#8-CARSON’S RUN: Most credentialed member of the field won the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 11 and wheels back 20 days later for Christophe Clement. Son of Cupid has won 4 of 7 for a field-best $719,529 earned. Jockey Joel Rosario, leading KD jockey in 2021, takes over the mount as the distance extends a furlong farther than his longest to date. Clement has 5 Kentucky Downs stakes wins since 2013.

#9-CAMEO PERFORMANCE: Won the Ellis Park prep race for the Nashville Derby with a rallying score over return rival Abrumar. Trainer Brendan Walsh tied for leading trainer at the recently concluded Ellis meet and was leading trainer at Kentucky Downs in 2023. Walsh has put together a 4: 2-1-0 mark with this Oscar Performance colt since arriving from Ireland. Tyler Gaffalione, leading jockey at Kentucky Downs each of the past 2 seasons, returns to the saddle.

#10-NOMOS: Winless in 5 stakes bids to date, but exits a runner-up in the Kent at Delaware Park and was a Keeneland allowance winner this Spring. Trainer Todd Pletcher won this race in 2018 and 2019 when it was called the Dueling Grounds Derby. Jockey Julien Leparoux won 8 KD stakes between 2015-’22. Joins Rothschild in this field as offspring of Uncle Mo.

#11-LAGYNOS: Three-time graded stakes-placed performer this year looks to get over the hump and snap a 7-race losing streak. Missed by a neck in Saratoga’s Grade 2 Hall of Fame most recently. Regular rider Cristian Torres returns to the saddle for all-time North American wins leader Stve Asmussen, a barn that won stakes at KD in 2023 with Private Creed and Aspenite.

#12-CUGINO: Wire-to-wire June 1 of Churchill Downs’ Audobon Stakes makes his first start in nearly 2 months. Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey notched a Kentucky Downs stakes victory last season with Talk of the Nation. Flavien Prat diverts away from his leading rider perch at Saratoga for the day, and he’s been a stakes maestro this summer. Twirling Candy colt hasn’t missed a superfecta in 6 career starts.

(AE) #13-EL MATADOR: Longshot owns only a maiden claiming victory from 10 starts. Pedigree and past performances do indicate an affinity for the distance. Trainer Mike Maker won this race in 2016 with Oscar Nominated when it was known as the Dueling Grounds Derby.

(AE) #14-HAMILTON’S WAY: Took 9 tries to break his maiden and owns a 1-for-10 lifetime mark in what would be his first rise into the stakes ranks.