Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s likely Kentucky Derby (GI) favorite Forte headlined a busy morning beneath the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs as 12 candidates for this year’s Run for the Roses turned in their final works for the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Forte, who worked a half-mile in :49.80 over a fast track, was one of four breezers for trainer Todd Pletcher. Other Pletcher half-mile workers were Tapit Trice (:48.20) and Kingsbarns and Major Dude, who worked together in :48.40.
Trainer Brad Cox also had four workers: Angel of Empire (five furlongs 1:01.40) and Jace’s Road (1:01.20) in company together and Hit Show (:59.60) and Verifying (:59.40) in separate company.
Confidence Game worked five furlongs in :59 for trainer Keith Desormeaux, a move that was the fastest of 54 at the distance.
Mage turned in a six-furlong work in 1:16.80 for trainer Gustavo Delgado.
Cyclone Mischief breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 for trainer Dale Romans.
Working before the first morning harrow break, King Russell worked a half-mile in :47.80 for trainer Ron Moquett.
Working at Santa Anita was Skinner, who breezed six furlongs in 1:14 for trainer John Shirreffs. Skinner is scheduled to ship to Louisville on Sunday.
Two fillies put in their final works for the 149th running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI): Defining Purpose (a half-mile in :47, the fastest of 149 at the distance) for trainer Kenny McPeek and Mimi Kakushi (a half-mile in 50.40) for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer.
Frank Fletcher Racing Operations’ Rocket Can is scheduled to work Sunday morning for trainer Bill Mott.
ANGEL OF EMPIRE/HIT SHOW/JACE’S ROAD, VERIFYING – Trainer Brad Cox had his game face on as Angel of Empire, Hit Show, Jace’s Road and Verifying all had their final works Saturday morning prior to the “Run for the Roses”
At 5:15 a.m. Gary and Mary West’s Hit Show worked five furlongs in :59.60 outside fellow 3-year-old Tapit’s Conquest. The duo breezed through fractions of :23.60, :35.80 and :47.40 before a six-furlong gallop out of 1:13.80, according to Churchill Downs Clocker John Nichols.
A few moments later, Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor’s Verifying breezed five furlongs in :59.40 outside Everso Mischievous. They completed fractions of :23.20, :35.20 and :47.20. The duo recorded a six-furlong gallop out of 1:12.80.
“They were both pretty straightforward moves,” Cox said. “We’re one week out from the race and they are important works but we didn’t want to ask them to do too much. They did it on their own and did what we needed to see going into the Derby.”
Two hours later, Cox worked his other two Derby contenders, Albaugh Family Stables Angel of Empire and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Jace’s Road. Angel of Empire completed five furlongs in 1:01.40 and Jace’s Road 1:01.20. Angel of Empire started about two lengths behind Jace’s Road but following the official work began to edge clear of his workmate.
“(Angel of Empire) seems to have a lot of gears,” said jockey Chris Landeros, who subbed for Flavien Prat on the morning work. “He’s a really nice colt and worked easily.”
CONFIDENCE GAME – Keith Desormeaux returned to the barn today to watch Confidence Game’s final work ahead of the Derby. Don’t Tell My Wife Stable and Ocean Reef Racing’s Rebel-winner headed out to the track at 7:30 a.m. and fired a :59 flat bullet going five furlongs under regular exercise rider Alex Cano.
“That beautiful breeze you saw was his last real preparation,” Desormeaux said. “And it was awesome. I heard he galloped out one mile and one-sixteenth in 1:43. He walked back to the barn with steady controlled breathing and he was relaxed cooling out. We just need to keep him happy and limber, school him in the paddock this week, enjoy the process and we’re ready.”
CONTINUAR – Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd.’s Continuar (JPN) confined his morning training session to exercising in the mile chute under Kazunari Yoshida.
Continuar, who will be ridden in Derby 149 by Ryusei Sakai, is expected to work Tuesday.
DERMA SOTOGAKE – Hiroyuki Asanuma’s Derma Sotogake (JPN) warmed up in the mile chute during the first harrow break of the morning and then galloped a mile before visiting the starting gate and the paddock with Masanari Tanaka aboard.
Trained by Hidetaka Otonashi, Derma Sotogake will be ridden in the Derby by Christophe Lemaire. He is expected to work Tuesday, the same day Otonashi is scheduled to arrive in Louisville.
DISARM – Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Disarm had routine training session Saturday and galloped about 1 ½ miles.
The son of Gun Runner is scheduled to work Monday.
FORTE/KINGSBARNS/MAJOR DUDE/TAPIT TRICE – Heavy lifting complete.
The Todd Pletcher trio of Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Forte, Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable’s Tapit Trice and Spendthrift Farms’ undefeated Kingsbarns hit their last major marks Saturday morning when they went through half-mile works during the special Derby/Oaks 7:30 to 7:45 a.m. training period at Churchill Downs.
The three colts all had company as they clicked off the drills on a mild Louisville morning one week out from their dates with destiny in Kentucky Derby 149. Forte, who had regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the boot, was joined by Bright Future; Tapit Trice, with stable exercise rider Amelia Green at the controls, went with Equivoque on his hip; and Kingsbarns had Jose Ortiz up as he wentthrough his exercise with Spendthrift Farm’s Major Dude – a Kentucky Derby hopeful still at this point – right alongside with exercise rider Joel Osorio attached.
Prior to driving from his backstretch Barn 39 to the Churchill grandstand to view the works, Pletcher noted that he was “looking for routine half-miles; nothing special.”
The Hall of Fame conditioner got just what he wanted.
Their times were as follows: Forte :49.80; Tapit Trice :48.20; Kingsbarns :48.40; Major Dude :48.40.
Pletcher was a happy man following his return to the backside. “I’m very pleased,” he stated. “They all did what they were supposed to do.”
Major Dude, who currently sits at #22 on the Derby list, will require a call from his trainer Monday morning when entries are taken for all the races on the Derby Day card. The Plan B for the son of Bolt d’Oro would be the Grade II, $500,000 American Turf for 3-year-olds at a mile and one sixteenth. A horse in Kentucky cannot be entered in more than one race on the Derby card.
LORD MILES – Vegso Racing Stable’s Lord Miles, who worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 Friday morning over the fast main track at Gulfstream, was scheduled to leave trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s Florida base today with a Sunday arrival at Churchill Downs.
MAGE – A final timed breeze for the Good Magic colt, owned by OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH, raised hopes in his team that he just might have the magic needed to win the Derby next Saturday.
In his final timed workout on Saturday morning, the colt, with exercise rider J.J. Delgado, was caught in :27.40, :40, :52.20 and 1:16.80 for the six furlongs, going out in 1:30.20.
“This workout was much like his previous workouts, but it was slower and he covered more ground,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., assistant trainer to his father, Gustavo Delgado. “That was the plan. And it was mission accomplished, as you might say.”
In just three starts, Mage has shown rapid improvement. “We already know that he’s a fast horse, but now we’re training him for stamina,” Delgado Jr. said. “That’s pretty much the plan. The way he was traveling, he gave us a good feeling that he likes the track.”
The exercise rider – no relation to the trainers – delivered a glowing report on the Florida Derby (GI) runner-up. “He said he liked everything about it, the track, the work, the way he came back, all are good signs,” Delgado Jr. said. “He’ll walk tomorrow, and Monday he’ll jog and we’ll bring him to the gate. We’ll probably bring him back to the gate either Thursday or Friday. Pretty much the heavy work is done.
“A talented horse that’s feeling good, it’s all you need for the race,” he added. “We believe that he’s building the stamina needed for a mile-and-a-quarter.”
PRACTICAL MOVE/REINCARNATE – Trainer Tim Yakteen two Kentucky Derby hopefuls were en route to Louisville Saturday following works Friday morning at Santa Anita.
Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley’s Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Practical Move breezed five furlongs in :59.60.
Reincarnate breezed a half-mile in :46.40 for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Warren Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan.
The two colts are scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs this afternoon.
RAISE CAIN – Andrew and Rania Warren’s Raise Cain returned to the track at Keeneland Saturday morning and jogged for trainer Ben Colebrook.
The winner of the Gotham (GIII) had worked a half-mile in :49 on Thursday, his second work since finishing fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes (GI).
Raise Cain is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Monday morning after training at Keeneland.
ROCKET CAN – Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott decided early Saturday to wait until Sunday morning for the colt owned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations to put in his final breeze for the Derby. So the Into Mischief colt took to the track Saturday for a gallop with regular exercise rider Guelser Cardona aboard.
“We decided to wait till tomorrow,” Mott said. “There might be a little shower (Saturday), but it shouldn’t be too bad and won’t affect him.”
No rider has been confirmed for the Derby.
SKINNER – C R K Stable’s Skinner went through his final Kentucky Derby drill Saturday morning at Santa Anita at 6:30 when he covered six furlongs with new rider Juan Hernandez aboard. Clockers caught the Curlin colt in 1:14.
Trainer John Shirreffs, who pulled off a 50-1 Derby shocker with Giacomo in 2005, looked on Saturday and was fired up at the end of the move.
“This was the first time Juan was on him and he came back and said he really liked him, that he was ‘very professional’,” the conditioner said. “I asked him to finish the work just like the one we’d done last week and he did; he finished up his last eighth in :11 and 2.”
Hernandez, currently the leading rider in California, replaces Victor Espinoza on Skinner, who was a close up, closing third in his most recent start April 8 in the Santa Anita Derby (GI).
“He’ll be on a plane out of LAX at 3:30 tomorrow morning,” Shirreffs noted.
The trainer will ship from LAX too on a separate flight tomorrow and will rejoin his charge at Barn 41 on the Churchill backside at some point Sunday.
SUN THUNDER – With one final breeze expected on Tuesday, the runner-up in the Risen Star (GII) at the Fair Grounds was out Saturday for a gallop with exercise rider Martin Vargas. R.T Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine’s Derby hopeful breezed a half-mile in :48.60 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. on Wednesday.
“He deserves a chance, and he can run well,” said trainer Kenny McPeek, who was battling a stomach virus for several days this week. “So much is out of your control, once you leg the rider up. Somebody said to me a long time ago, ‘Win like you’re used to it, and lose like you like it.’ That’s what we’ll do.”
The Into Mischief colt, who finished fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) at Keeneland, has shown that he can compete with the likes of Forte, Tapit Trice, Angel of Empire and other highly regarded colts headed for the Derby field.
“He raced here last fall, so he knows his way around,” McPeek said. “He needs to find another level with the blinkers on, fingers crossed, that it’s something that propels him forward. Every now and then, you get a horse where that makes a big improvement on, but we’re excited.”
McPeek said Dr. Ramon Tallaj – of Florida-based R.T Racing Stables, an internal medicine specialist who’s chairman of the board of SOMOS Community Care in New York – told him that this is his first Derby, “and he’s over the moon about it. He told me that last week, he had lunch with the Pope, and I told him to get us a papal blessing … to give us a little push from above.”
McPeek is well aware of what makes the Derby unique, and preparing a 3-year-old for it takes added attention.
“This race is always unique,” McPeek said, “in the sense that they have to handle the racetrack, they have to handle the adversity that the Kentucky Derby throws at them. This horse is capable of doing that, and it’s always interesting. That’s why we’re here.”
TWO PHIL’S – On his last day at Hawthorne before traveling to Churchill Downs, Patricia’s Hope and Phillip Sagan’s Two Phil’s jogged over the fast main track.
Trainer Larry Rivelli will be arriving Sunday as well and the Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) winner will make his first appearance on Churchill Downs’ main track Monday morning at 7:30 a.m.
Wintering at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots while targeting the Lecomte (GIII) and the Risen Star (GII), where he finished second and third respectively, the son of Hard Spun carried himself with an unmatched happiness and confidence everyday. Rivelli reports he has maintained that commanding demeanor throughout the spring at Hawthorne.
“On the track he always has his neck bowed,” Rivelli said. “He wants to stand out there all day. He acts like he could care less about anything. Sleeps during the day. He’s got a great mind. He’ll be there Sunday so we can acclimate him. We‘ll take him to the paddock to school, gallop him a couple days, and just play around with him and keep him happy until the race
ALSO-ELIGIBLES – Trainer Dale Romans watched his Kentucky Derby hopeful put in a final five-furlong breeze on Saturday with regular exercise rider Tammy Fox aboard, but now it’s a waiting game, since the son of Into Mischief is one spot away from making the starting gate.
Racing for owners Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Castleton Lyons, Cyclone Mischief was clocked in :12, :23.40, :36 and 1:00.80 for the 5 furlongs, finishing up at 1:14.60. But he’s 21st on the points leaderboard, and the Derby starting gate is limited to 20 horses.
“He looked really good, now all we can do is wait and see,” Romans said. “He’s been training great. If he gets in, they’ll know he’s in there.”
Romans said he’d likely enter Cyclone Mischief on the also-eligible list in the Kentucky Derby.
Hiroaki Arai’s Mandarin Hero, who arrived at Churchill Downs Thursday afternoon from Santa Anita, made his first appearance on track Saturday morning by galloping a mile under Yuji Horita for trainer Terunobu Fujita.
SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Here are the horses (with jockeys and trainers) that are qualified for the Kentucky Derby and those on the also-eligible list (in alphabetical order with AEs listed last in preference order):
Angel of Empire (jockey Flavien Prat, trainer Brad Cox); Confidence Game (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux); Continuar (JPN) (Ryusei Sakai, Yoshito Yahagi); Derma Sotogake (JPN) (Christophe Lemaire, Hidetaka Otonashi); Disarm (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen); Forte (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Hit Show (Manny Franco, Brad Cox); Jace’s Road (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Kingsbarns (TBA, Todd Pletcher); Lord Miles (Paco Lopez, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Mage (Javier Castellano, Gustavo Delgado); Practical Move (Ramon Vazquez, Tim Yakteen); Raise Cain (TBA, Ben Colebrook); Reincarnate (John Velazquez, Tim Yakteen); Rocket Can (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott); Skinner (Juan Hernandez, John Shirreffs); Sun Thunder (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Tapit Trice (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher); Two Phil’s (Jareth Loveberry, Larry Rivelli); and Verifying (Tyler Gaffalione, Brad Cox)
Also-Eligible: Cyclone Mischief (TBA, Dale Romans); Major Dude (TBA, Todd Pletcher); Mandarin Hero (JPN) (TBA, Terunobu Fujita); King Russell (TBA, Ron Moquett)
LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE
AFFIRMATIVE LADY – AMO Racing USA’s Affirmative Lady returned to the track at Keeneland and jogged under Kevin Lundie for trainer Graham Motion.
Affirmative Lady had worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Thursday. She is scheduled to van to Churchill Downs Monday morning after training at Keeneland.
AND TELL ME NOLIES – Peter Redekop’s And Tell Me Nolies was scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon from her Southern California base.
Trained by Peter Miller, And Tell Me Nolies worked five furlongs at San Luis Rey Training Center in 1:01.80 on Friday.
Runner-up in the Santa Anita Oaks (GII) in her most recent start, And Tell Me Nolies will be ridden in the Kentucky Oaks by Ramon Vazquez.
BOTANICAL, THE ALYS LOOK, WET PAINT – Trainer Brad Cox’s trio of Longines Kentucky Oaks runners Botanical, The Alys Look and Wet Paint all had easy training sessions late Saturday morning.
They are all expected to gallop at 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
DEFINING PURPOSE – While most of the Oaks fillies had their final workouts on Thursday, trainer Kenny McPeek waited until Saturday to send out the surprise Ashland Stakes (G1) winner.
“She went an easy, happy half,” said jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., who was aboard her for the workout, and will ride her in the Oaks. “She was doing it easy. She was flipping her ears back and forth, kind of just enjoying herself.”
Defining Purpose, owned by Magdalena Racing, Collette Marie Vanmatre and James Ball, was clocked in :11.60, :23.40, :34.80 and :47 for the half-mile, then ridden out in :59.80.
“We like to let them just work what we call a happy half,” McPeek said. “She didn’t need company, she’s fit, and he (Hernandez) said she felt great. She looked great. We’re fairly confident in her. I think we’ve got a big chance. I’ve been second three times in the Oaks, and winning that is one that I’d like to check the box to.”
DORTH VADER – Trainer Michael Yates was on the scene Saturday morning for the first time at Churchill Downs where he watched John Ropes’ Dorth Vader gallop about 1 3/8 miles.
The 46-1 winner of the Davona Dale (GII) is scheduled to gallop Sunday and possibly school in the paddock following training.
FLYING CONNECTION – Brad King, Randy Andrews, G. Chris Coleman, Jim Cone, Suzanne Kirby and Lee Lewis’ Flying Connection, who had a walk day Friday following a five-furlong work in 1:00.60 on Thursday, returned to the track to gallop 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Oscar Rojero.
“We waited until all the Derby workers were done and then went out,” trainer Todd Fincher said of Flying Connection, who galloped at the end of the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks runners.
GAMBLING GIRL – Repole Stable’s Gambling Girl galloped about 1 3/8 miles around 6:30 a.m. with exercise rider Carlos Quevedo in the irons.
MIMI KAKUSHI –. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Mimi Kakushi worked a half-mile in :50.40 under stable rider Xavier Ziani.
Mimi Kakushi jogged a mile with the pony before going into her work that produced fractions of :13.60, :26.20, :50.40 and out five furlongs in 1:05.20.
“I thought she worked well,” said trainer Salem bin Ghadayer, who went to the grandstand for the work. “The track is a little deeper (than in Dubai) but not that deep. It is not an issue.”
Sunday’s activity for the UAE Oaks (GIII) winner calls for being hand-walked in the Quarantine Barn with a return to the track scheduled for Monday.
Mimi Kakushi arrived here April 22 and made her first appearance on track April 24.
“She has settled in very well,” bin Ghadayer said of Mimi Kakushi, who will represent his first starter in the United States.
Mickael Barzalona, who has the Oaks riding assignment, is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Thursday.
PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS – Godolphin’s homebred Pretty Mischievous kept to her routine as scheduled on Friday, heading out to the track at 7:30 a.m. to gallop her usual one mile and a half under exercise rider Albino Martinez.
Trainer Brendan Walsh then instructed her to school in the paddock at 10:15 a.m. The Rachel Alexandra (GII) victress will be ridden in the Oaks by Tyler Gaffalione, who on Friday at Keeneland won three races, securing the jockey title.
PROMISEHERAMERICA – Returning to the track a day after her :49.77 half-mile work, Hoffman Thoroughbreds and Tom McCrocklin’s Promiseher America galloped one mile across a sloppy track at Belmont Park.
“She had a nice light gallop this morning and looked awesome,” trainer Ray Handal said. “The track is sloppy and sealed up here so I just did a short mile gallop and let her hack around there. She really bounced out of it well with a lot of good energy.”
Handal reports that the daughter of American Pharoah by the Unbridled’s Song mare Promisedyouheaven will retain the services of Jorge Vargas Jr. Who piloted her to victory in the Gazelle Stakes (GIII).
Scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Sunday, Promiseher America will make her debut appearance on Monday during the Derby and Oaks exclusive work time at 7:30 a.m.
SOUTHLAWN – Robert Masterson’s Southlawn had another routine 1 ½-mile gallop for trainer Norm Casse Saturday morning.
WONDER WHEEL – Stringing together her second easy day after breezing on Thursday, D.J. Stable’s Wonder Wheel went to the track at 6 a.m. under assistant trainer David Carroll.
“Today was an easy day. She walked and galloped a short distance then had a nice long walk home,” Kim Carroll, assistant trainer for Mark Casse, said. “The biggest thing we try to do with her is give her a lot of time out on the track to just relax.”
On Sunday Wonder Wheel will go out in the Casse barn’s second set around 5:45 a.m. and gallop one mile and a half.
ALSO-ELIGIBLE – Richard Bahde’s Taxed (No. 15 on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard) galloped 1 ½ miles at 6:30 with Saturino Vergara aboard for trainer Randy Morse.
SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY OAKS – Here are the horses (with trainers) that are qualified for the Longines Kentucky Oaks and those on the also-eligible list (in alphabetical order with AEs listed last in preference order):
Affirmative Lady (John Velazquez, Graham Motion); And Tell Me Nolies (Ramon Vazquez, Peter Miller); Botanical (Chris Landeros, Brad Cox); Defining Purpose (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Dorth Vader (TBA, Mike Yates); Flying Connection (Florent Geroux, Todd Fincher); Gambling Girl (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Mimi Kakushi (Mickael Barzelona, Salem bin Ghadayer); Pretty Mischievous (Tyler Gaffalione, Brendan Walsh); Promiseher America (Jorge Vargas Jr., Ray Handal); Southlawn (Rey Gutierrez, Norm Casse); The Alys Look (Luis Saez, Brad Cox); Wet Paint (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox); Wonder Wheel (Joel Rosario, Mark Casse).
Also-Eligible: Taxed (Rafael Bejarano, Randy Morse); Julia Shining (TBA, Todd Pletcher); Hoosier Philly (Edgar Morales, Tom Amoss).
STAKES PROBABLES – The following are the early probable stakes race entrants for Kentucky Derby Week, according to assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator Dan Bork:
The 37th running of the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI) on Saturday, May 6 for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf (entries close Monday, May 1): Santin (Brendan Walsh); Spooky Channel (Jason Barkley); Up to the Mark (Todd Pletcher); and Wolfie’s Dynaghost (Jonathan Thomas).
The 88th running of the $750,000 Churchill Downs presented by Ford (GI) on Saturday, May 6 for 4-year-olds and up at seven furlongs (entries close Monday, May 1): Cody’s Wish (Bill Mott), Endorsed (Mike Maker); Get Her Number (Peter Miller); Here Mi Song (Billy Stinson); Hoist the Gold (Dallas Stewart); Sir Alfred James (Lynn Cash); and Steal Sunshine (George Papaprodromou).
The 37th running of the $750,000 Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (GI) on Saturday, May 6 for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at seven furlongs (entries close Monday, May 1): Frank’s Rockette (Bill Mott); Hot and Sultry (Norm Casse); and Matareya (Brad Cox).
The 32nd running of the $500,000 American Turf (GII) on Saturday, May 6 for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf (entries close Monday, May 1): Far Bridge (Todd Pletcher); Johannes (Tim Yakteen); Major Dude (Todd Pletcher); Mendelssohns March (Kenny McPeek); Mo Stash (Vicki Oliver); Scoobie Quando (Ben Colebrook); Talk of the Nation (Shug McGaughey); and Wadsworth (Brad Cox).
The 38th running of the $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GII) on Saturday, May 6 for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at one mile on turf (entries close Monday, May 1): Haughty (Chad Brown); Sharp Hero (Bradley Ross); Spendarella (Graham Motion); Sweet Dani Girl (Carlo Vaccarezza); and Wakanaka (IRE) (Bill Mott).
The 99th running of the $500,000 Pat Day Mile (GII) on Saturday, May 6 for 3-year-olds at one mile (entries close Monday, May 1): Bourbon Bash (D. Wayne Lukas); Dreaming of Kona (Aldana Spieth); Frosted Departure (Kenny McPeek); General Jim (Shug McGaughey); Gilmore (Brendan Walsh); Kangaroo Court (Tim Yakteen); and Tall Boy (Doug O’Neill).
The 29th running of the $500,000 TwinSpires Turf Sprint (GII) on Saturday, May 6 for 3-year-olds and up at 5 ½ furlongs on turf (entries close Monday, May 1): Artemus Citylimits (Mike Maker); Bad Beat Brian (Brittany Vanden Berg); Big Invasion (Christophe Clement); Carotari (Brian Lynch); Evan Sing (Al Stall Jr.); Go Bears Go (Wesley Ward); and Oceanic (Jordan Blair).
The second running of the $175,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes on Saturday, May 6 for 4-year-olds and up at one mile (entries close Monday, May 1): Caddo River (D. Wayne Lukas); Gulfstream Way (Rachel Sells); Masqueparade (Al Stall Jr.); Noble Drama (David Fawkes); Petulante (Victor Barboza Jr.); Promise Keeper (Dallas Stewart); Surly Furious (Glenn Wismer); Three Technique (Jason Cook); and Zozos (Brad Cox).
The 38th running of the $750,000 La Troienne (GI) on Friday, May 5 for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at 1 1/16 miles (entries close Monday, May 1): A Mo Reay (Brad Cox); Classy Edition (Todd Pletcher); Kathleen O. (Shug McGaughey); Played Hard (Phil Bauer); and Secret Oath (Wayne Lukas).
The 20th running of the $600,000 Alysheba presented by Sentient Jet (GII) on Friday, May 5 for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles (entries close Monday, May 1): Milliken (Ian Wilkes); Rich Strike (Eric Reed); Smile Happy (Kenny McPeek); and West Will Power (Brad Cox).
The 39th running of the $500,000 Edgewood presented by Forcht Bank (GII) on Friday, May 5 for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf (entries close Monday, May 1): Cairo Consort (Todd Pletcher); Girl Named Charlie (Tom Amoss); Heavenly Sunday (Brad Cox); Mission of Joy (Graham Motion); and Sabalenka (Whit Beckman).
The 68th running of the $500,000 Eight Belles (GII) on Friday, May 5 for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs (entries close Monday, May 1): Ami Please (Doug O’Neill); Grand Love (Rodolphe Brisset); Munnys Gold (Todd Pletcher); Olivia Twist (Todd Fincher); Positano Sunset (Ian Wilkes); Red Carpet Ready (Rusty Arnold); and Yvonne’s Miss (Bill Morey).
The 13th running of the $300,000 Unbridled Sidney presented by Sysco (Listed) on Friday, May 5 for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at 5 ½ furlongs on turf (entries close Monday, May 1): Bay Storm (Jonathan Thomas); Caravel (Brad Cox); Mamba Wamba (IRE) (Brendan Walsh); and New Boss (Bret Calhoun).
The 66th running of the $300,000 Modesty (GIII) on Friday, May 5 for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf (entries close Monday, May 1): Australia Mia (Michael McCarthy); New Year’s Eve (Chad Brown); and Transient (GB) (Chad Brown).
KENTUCKY DERBY, OAKS DRAWS MONDAY AT 2 P.M. – The Post Position Draw for the 149th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) and $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) will be held Monday, May 1 at 2 p.m. ET in the Aristides Lounge on the second floor of Churchill Downs’ Clubhouse.
Both post position draws are a traditional “pill pull” in which horses’ entry blanks are pulled simultaneously with a numbered pill to determine what stall a horse will break from the starting gate.
Preference to America’s greatest race is given to the top point-earners on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Up to 24 three-year-olds may enter the 1 ¼-mile race and four horses can be listed as “also eligible” and would be ranked in order accordingly; they could draw into the field should any horse(s) be scratched before scratch time on Friday, May 5, 2023 at 9 a.m. ET.
Preference to the nation’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies is given to the top point-earners on the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks.” Up to 18 horses may enter the 1 1/8-mile race and four horses can be listed as “also eligible” and would be ranked in order accordingly; they could draw into the field should any horse(s) be scratched before scratch time on Friday, May 5, 2023 at 9 a.m. ET.
BRISNET.COM PAST PERFORMANCES –
Derby: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/uploads/wysiwyg/assets/uploads/PPs_20230429_Derby.pdf
Oaks: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/uploads/wysiwyg/assets/uploads/PPs_20230429_Oaks.pdf
2023 KENTUCKY DERBY WEEK SCHEDULE
* Saturday, April 29: Opening Night / Live racing (First of 10 races: 6 p.m.; Last race: 10:42 p.m.)
* Sunday, April 30: Dawn at the Downs
* Monday, May 1: Dawn at the Downs / Kentucky Derby & Kentucky Oaks Post Position Draw in the Aristides Lounge (2-3 p.m.) / Second Stride Champions Night at Molly Malone’s Highlands (6-9 p.m.)
* Tuesday, May 2: 502’sDay / Live racing (First of 9 races: 12:45 p.m.; Last race: 4:55 p.m.) / KTA’s Kentucky Derby Trainers’ Dinner at The Speed Art Museum (6 p.m.)
* Wednesday, May 3: Champions Day / Live racing (First of 10 races: 12:45 p.m.; Last race: 5:25 p.m.)
* Thursday, May 4: Thurby presented by Old Forester / Live racing (First of 11 races: 12:45 p.m.; Last race: 6:14 p.m.)
* Friday, May 5: Kentucky Oaks Day / Live racing (First of 13 races: 10:30 a.m.; Last race: 7:00 p.m.) / Race 11: Kentucky Oaks (5:51 p.m.) / Fillies & Lilies at Kentucky Derby Museum (7:30-10 p.m.) / Barnstable Brown Gala (Barnstable residence) / Unbridled Eve at The Galt House (7:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.) / Rockin’ Derby Eve at Paristown Hall (7:30 p.m.)
* Saturday, May 6: Kentucky Derby Day / Live racing (First of 14 races: 10:30 a.m.; Last race: 8:30 p.m.) / Race 12: Kentucky Derby (6:57 p.m.) / Winner’s Party at Kentucky Derby Museum (7:30-9:00 p.m.)
Latest posts by Mark Blankenbaker (see all)
- Cardinals Lose to Kentucky 17-13 in Battle of the Bluegrass - April 17, 2024
- Pat Kelsey Officially Adds Kloman, Carr, Hamilton, Foy to Staff - April 11, 2024
- Louisville Athletics, 502Circle Announce Membership Campaign - April 1, 2024