McKinzie

McKinzie, owned by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman and trained by Bob Baffert, emerged as a trendy 2018 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve future wager pick in his very first start on Oct. 28 at Santa Anita Park, when he romped by 5 ½ lengths under Mike Smith in a seven-furlong maiden race.

The Street Sense colt returned in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity on Dec. 9 and, after battling gamely with two rivals through the stretch, was elevated to first when Solomini, also trained by Baffert, was disqualified to third. He earned 10 qualifying points for the 2018 Kentucky Derby with the effort. McKinzie continued to progress on the Kentucky Derby trail with a visually impressive win in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on Jan. 6. Baffert removed his blinkers for the race and the bay colt relaxed nicely off the pace, moved up to seize command from pacsetter All Out Blitz in the stretch, and powered clear to a dominant victory.

McKinzie made his next start on the road to the Kentucky Derby in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, where he locked horns with Grade 1 winner Bolt d'Oro in the stretch and battled him stride for stride to the Santa Anita Park finish line. McKinzie edged that rival by a head but subsequently was disqualified and placed second for interference after there was bumping between the top-two finishers entering the stretch and again near the finish line.

Baffert and the ownership group have teamed together to win major races in years past with horses such as Midnight Lute, Lookin At Lucky, and Hoppertunity.