Outsiders look at the rankings of the Kentucky Derby (G1), Godolphin’s uncle Encino putting his best legs forward in his final start before the Run for the Roses.
Thanks to his on-air win in the $365,500 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland On April 13, Encino climbed 10 places in the Kentucky Derby (G1) points standings and there was at least hope that he could compete on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs. As of early Saturday evening, Encino’s 40 points put him 21st in the standings, just one shot away from entering the 20-horse Kentucky Derby starting gate.
Breaking from the outside, jockey Florent Geroux caught his 3-year-old son Nyquistist got off to a fast start, keeping the field steady throughout the opening half mile.
“I always want to be close or ahead if we can get there. And to be honest with you, we kind of stalled the race on paper that we could sit on one or two horses and do a track ride. Once he broke the way he did, Florent did a great job of controlling the race,” trainer Brad Cox said.
As easily as Encino and Geroux set the initial pace, they also deftly handled the pressure to maintain the race.
Popular Wine manager who won his first three starts as a 2-year-old before finishing 2023 with a second-place finish in the fall Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, made his 2024 debut at Lexington.
He and jockey Luis Saez began to pressure the leader, cutting Encino’s lead in half. The liquor manager began moving off the tracks around the far turn and out to the outside of Encino.
The challenger almost pulled even in the early going, which seemed to add fuel to the Encino. He inched closer to win by three-quarters of a length, stopping the clock in 1:43.93. He posted the fractions :23.55, :47.28, 1:11.94 and 1:37.22.
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“It was clear that this horse had a great pedigree; it is a pure breed of Godolphin. Most of those horses can reach speed within two turns. And it was able to demonstrate that it is capable of doing that today.”
Geroux added, “It was mostly him in the first turn; he controlled the race pretty much from there. He was flying around there and when he felt the Wine Steward on the outside of him, it gave him a little extra push I think that’s what he needed because he was a little lost out there but he had a lot left in the car, the ground felt good and it looked like Longer distances are not a problem for him.
Cox said that Geroux had positive things to say about the colt, and the jockey told the trainer that there was still a “tremendous improvement (Encino) could keep the spirit moving forward.”
Where the next steps will take place remains to be seen. It wouldn’t be surprising if a place at Derby opens the way for Encino if there is a defection. But if the race under Twin Spiers isn’t on the cards, another Triple Crown race could be on the cards: the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course.
“We’ll have to see what happens in the next few weeks,” Cox said. “The Preakness is obviously also a venue we could look at. But we’ll move to Churchill in the next few days, let’s start preparing for the Derby or the Preakness.”
Dilger completed a distant third and Secret chat Wednesday. A winning $2 bet on Encino paid $8.62.
It was the third straight year and fourth time in five tournaments — there were no races in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak — that a Cox cadet has won at Lexington. Encino participates First mission (2023), Tawny Harbor (2022), and Owendale (2019). This is also the second year in a row a Godolphin purebred dog has won.
Distinguished guests
Visiting with the Godolphin team including Cox and Godolphin USA director Michael Banahan after the race was Kelly Dorman, father of the late Cody Dorman, the inspiration for the champion named Cody’s Wish.
Cox called Dorman “part of the Godolphin family.”
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