Common Defense

Common Defense won his maiden as a 3-year-old in is second career start going one mile at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 13, 2024. He quickly followed that up with a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 3 at Oaklawn Park. The results were better for Common Defense in his following start, however, when second in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes on Feb. 24 at Oaklawn.

Common Defense made his next start in the $1 million Grade 2 Louisiana Derby going 1 3/16 miles at Fair Grounds on March 23. Common Defense pressed the pace throughout and was passed late in he stretch to settle for fifth in the 11-horse field. The Louisiana Derby was a maximum points race on the road to the Kentucky Derby and the fifth-place finish earned Common Defense 10 Derby qualifying points for a total of 37.

Common Defense is trained by Ken McPeek. He was bred in Kentucky by the sire Karakontie out the mare Allusion by Street Cry.