Encino

Encino, a Godolphin homebred Nyquist colt, jumped on the road to the 2024 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve with a win in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes March 2 at Turfway Park. The Brad Cox trainee rallied from off the pace to win the 1 1/16-mile Battaglia by a length, notching his second consecutive victory in his third career start, all at Turfway. Encino earned 20 qualifying points for the 2024 Kentucky Derby with the win.

Encino added another stakes victory to his resume on April 13 when he switched to a dirt surface for the first time in his young career and won the Grade 3 $400,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland. Encino went right to the front and held off favored The Wine Steward to prevail by three-quarters of a length. It was another 8 1/4 lengths back to the rest of the field. The Lexington Stakes was another points race on the road to the Kentucky Derby, and with his win, Encino earned 20 more qualifying points for a total of 40, which is enough to put him on the bubble for entry into the field for the 150th run for the roses on May 4.

Encino is out of the winning Bernardini mare Glittering Jewel, who is a half-sister to champion and Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.