
A case in point is the 2019 Derby, when Maximum Security (born May 14) was disqualified, Country House (May 8) promoted to the victory, and Code of Honor (May 23) awarded second.Īs with any handicapping tool, foaling dates are best assessed as part of the horse’s overall profile. Late foals aren’t universally behind the developmental curve either. How many mares are bred early enough to deliver a foal toward the beginning of the year, compared to the height of the season in spring? The anti-January factoid could give rise to some explanations, but it also has to be viewed in the context of overall numbers. Verifying (May 11) and Hit Show (May 9) are the youngest, with April 30 baby Practical Move next.Īt the same time, it doesn’t pay to be too doctrinaire about birthdays. 17) is the only one who will have to defy that stat.Īt the opposite end of the spectrum, later foaling dates could suggest that contenders have not reached their physical peak yet by the first Saturday in May. No Derby winner since Grindstone (1996) was foaled in January. That’s not an advantage, though, when it comes to the Derby.

With a Northern Hemisphere breeding season that begins around mid-February, the earliest foals are born in January. Yet there are other data points, long predating a horse’s racing career, which some handicappers take into account – foaling date and the Dosage Index.

The key handicapping factors for the Kentucky Derby (G1) revolve around performance on the racetrack, from stakes results to speed ratings and morning works.
