Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Just A Touch

Apr 17, 2024 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing, and Marc Detampel’s Just A Touch currently sits in 9th place on the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series leaderboard with 75 qualifying points. The Brad Cox trainee was last seen finishing a fine runner-up in the $995,782 Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland on April 6.

His conditioner stated, “He’s going to have to move forward in the next four weeks. Colts can do that. If he moves forward, he will be able to compete in the Derby.”

The lightly raced bay was unveiled on Jan. 26 at Fair Grounds and drove clear to a 4 1/4-length victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight dash. He preceded his Blue Grass showing with a second-place finish in the Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct on March 2. His lifetime line now reads 3-1-2-0, $281,700.

Deterministic gained 50 points on the Road to @KentuckyDerby 150 with a win in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday!

Click the link below to add him to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts!#NeverMissAWinner ⤵️ https://t.co/iUFYXoN07r pic.twitter.com/DQrDxFNja7

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 4, 2024

Jockey Florent Geroux has high expectations for the sophomore, stating, “I really think he’s going to blossom and be great.”

Just A Touch was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation and passed through the auction ring on a trio of occasions, ultimately bringing the gavel down at $300,000 at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale as a two-year-old.

The son of Justify was produced from the Tapit mare Touching Beauty, who earned her biggest victory in the 2010 Comely S. (G3). He is the second black-type runner out of the mare following the stakes-placed Corps of Discovery.

Just A Touch has registered Brisnet Speed figures of 97-97-100 from his trio of races to date, with his best number coming in his two-turn debut. The colt was a late foal who will improve with time and experience, and his catalog page suggests that 10 furlongs might be within his scope, as well. He possesses the early speed to put himself into races from the start and is an intriguing top-three contender at Churchill Downs on May 4.

Track this horse with free TwinSpires Stable Alerts: Add Just a Touch to your stable now.