Racing Dudes Three Stars Of The Week: New Year Brings New Derby Madness

See who made our latest Three Stars of the Week after the latest horse racing action from coast to coast! Which Kentucky Derby (G1) prep race winner did we put on top after the New Year’s Day weekend?

1. Newgrange

His ban from earning points be damned, trainer Bob Baffert’s trend of winning Kentucky Derby prep races in California continued Saturday when Newgrange raced on the front end from start to finish in the Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park. As always with Baffert, his next start is unknown, but expect it to come at either Santa Anita or Oaklawn Park, where Baffert wins just as often.

2. Dash Attack

Trainer Kenny McPeek seems loaded for bear on the 2022 Kentucky Derby trail after unleashing yet another quality prospect Saturday in Dash Attack, who splashed home strongly to win the Smarty Jones Stakes. The colt joins Smile Happy, Rattle N Roll, Tiz the Bomb, and others in his barn looking to make the Churchill Downs starting gate on the first Saturday in May.

3. Simplification

The weekend’s highest Beyer Speed Figure awarded to a 3-year-old dirt stakes victor (90) went to the lone non-Kentuck Derby prep race winner when Simplification was given a 90 for wiring Saturday’s Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Antonio Sano trainee will likely target the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park on March 5 for his next start, though the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) on February 5 is also in play.

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