Welcome to Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles, the place we have a look every week at a current winner on the Highway to the Derby schedule with stakes that provide qualifying factors for the 1 ¼-mile basic race Might 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs.
This week, we take a better take a look at John Hancock, the winner by a half-length of the $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs. The Structure colt earned 20 factors towards qualifying for the 2025 Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve and ranks seventh on the Highway to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
Racing Résumé: Cleverly named John Hancock – by Structure out of the Freud mare Scribbling Sarah – made a compelling declaration in his second begin by bettering to 2-for-2 with a half-length win within the Sam F. Davis Stakes. The race was a take a look at of each stamina – stretching out from a three-quarter-mile dash in his debut win to 1 1/16 miles – and sophistication as his first strive in a stakes race for Kentucky Derby-winning coach Brad Cox.
Not solely did John Hancock move the examination, he confirmed some vital grit when turning again decided runner-up Owen Almighty to emerge victorious from an thrilling stretch battle. Third-place finisher Poster, the 2024 Remsen Stakes winner, was 2 ¼ lengths behind Owen Almighty.
John Hancock confronted stress all through from Owen Almighty whereas setting a powerful tempo by a half-mile in :46.23 and three-quarters of a mile in 1:10.49. Given how briskly he ran early, John Hancock’s ultimate furlong in :12.95 looks like a optimistic indicator.
Velocity Figures: John Hancock improved his Equibase Velocity Determine from a 94 to a 96 and his Beyer Velocity Determine from an 81 to an 85. He’s not but quick sufficient by velocity figures to be thought-about a prime Derby contender, however he took a pleasant step ahead in simply his second begin.
Operating Fashion: John Hancock has set the tempo in each of his races, together with a three-length debut win Jan. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs. He was headstrong early within the Sam F. Davis, so it seems to be like he prefers to be in entrance. Tactical velocity is a helpful asset, particularly if Cox can get John Hancock to calm down a bit early.
Pedigree Notes: John Hancock is from the sixth crop of 2014 Florida Derby winner Structure, by main sire and highly effective stamina affect Tapit. Structure has sired 74 stakes winners by Feb. 10, together with 2020 Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Legislation. John Hancock was produced by the Freud mare Scribbling Sarah, a winner at 5 ½ furlongs and dam of 2020 Ashland Stakes winner Speech.
Derby Potential: Coach Brad Cox mentioned he’ll give John Hancock some further time to get better after the hard-fought Sam F. Davis Stakes, bypassing the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby March 8 in favor of a 100-point Derby qualifying race in late March. That ought to give John Hancock an excellent probability to enhance once more on six or seven weeks of relaxation.
Stamina and operating fashion are the large questions for me with John Hancock within the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby, and I fear that three profession races won’t be adequate basis for a take a look at just like the Derby. Nonetheless, this can be a proficient 3-year-old with vital room to enhance.
