Turkey may be on the menu these days, but there will also be the scent of roses in the air. The Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes for 2-year-olds will give the 2-year-olds a race on the host track for the 2024 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve as well some qualifying points for the run for the roses.

A total of 10-5-3-2-1 points will be up for grabs to the top five finishers in the two-turn, Grade 2 test that could showcase an interesting Triple Crown candidate.

1. Awesome Road (7-2 morning-line odds): Was an impressive debut winner, then failed to fire in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. He’s worked sharply since then and seems a strong candidate for a bounce-back effort from the rail.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Brad Cox

2. Honor Marie (8-1): Was second by four lengths in an allowance race in the slop after a game debut win. Looms a contender but will need to take a step forward.

JOCKEY: Rafael Bejarano; TRAINER: Whitworth Beckman                                       

3. Real Men Violin (5-1): Finally broke through with a maiden win in his fifth start. Has a nice late kick and will be dangerous if he gets the right pace in front of him.

JOCKEY: Brian Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

4. Dancing Groom (10-1): Was a distant third in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes on a sloppy track. Will need to step it up a notch to be a top contender here.

JOCKEY: Javier Castellano; TRAINER: Antonio Sano

5. Nomos (12-1): Has been running on turf and switches to dirt here. Has the proper pedigree to excel on dirt (by Uncle Mo out of a Tapit mare) but he’s yet to show the kind of effort that would indicate he’s primed for a big race here.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

Stretch Ride (Coady Photography)

6. Stretch Ride (3-1): Makes his stakes debut after an impressive optional-claiming race win at the distance. Put in a sharp workout for this start and will be tough to beat if he can duplicate his last try.

JOCKEY: Martin Chuan; TRAINER: Dale Romans

7. Risk It (5-2): Finished a good second in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes on this track. Was given a nice break to prepare for this start and figures to be a major force.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

8. One Red Cent (20-1): Needed seven starts to break his maiden and that was in a claiming race. Faces a tough assignment, especially from the outside post.

JOCKEY: Gerardo Corrales; TRAINER: John Jazdzewski

THE PICK: Awesome Road

LIVE LONGSHOT: Honor Marie

SUPERFECTA: 1-6-7-3