The $250,000 St. Louis Derby Presented by FanDuel Sportsbook Aug. 20 is an Illinois race with an out-of-state feel.
All nine entrants are based off track from FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing, the former Fairmount Park, led by a group of seven 3-year-olds coming off recent workouts in Kentucky, including grade 1 winner Rattle N Roll.
The remaining two sophomores are Florida shipper Strike Hard and One Timer, who has been working recently at Colonial Downs in Virginia.
Lucky Seven Stable's Rattle N Roll, winner of the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) last fall at Keeneland, is 1-1-1 in seven starts this year. Outrun in the major preps on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, he became competitive in late spring and summer when facing easier. He won the American Derby at Churchill Downs July 2 before running seventh after clipping heels when impeded at the break when racing on a week's rest in the Indiana Derby (G3) at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Brian Hernandez Jr. rides the Connect colt for trainer Kenny McPeek.
Others entered with existing black-type include the twice stakes-placed Strike Hard; Iowa Derby third-place finisher Chileno; and three-time stakes-winning sprinter One Timer.
Chileno appears the stronger of two entrants for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who also starts Hern, an Ellis Park-stabled runner who was recently third in a first-level allowance at Lone Star Park.
