Danzig Moon eyes Kentucky Derby, Queen’s Plate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After running second to Carpe Diem in Saturday’s Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, Danzig Moon was shipped to Churchill Downs on Monday morning to join trainer Mark Casse’s string in Louisville.

Danzig Moon earned 40 Kentucky Derby qualification points by finishing second in the Blue Grass. He now sits 12th in the Kentucky Derby points standings, with 45 points. There are two points races remaining in the Kentucky Derby Championship Series.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

Bred in Ontario, Danzig Moon, owned by John Oxley, also is considered a top contender for the $1 million Queen’s Plate at Woodbine on July 5. Casse said having the Queen’s Plate as a long-term target would not prevent Danzig Moon from running in the Kentucky Derby.

“That was the first question that Mr. Oxley asked me yesterday afternoon. He said ‘will this stop us from making the Queen’s Plate’ and I said no, he can do both,” Casse said. “We’re going to go to Churchill, and if he trains well then we’ll see. Mr. Oxley has won the Derby once, so I don’t think he wants to run in it just to run in it.”

Oxley won the Kentucky Derby in 2001 with Monarchos.

Last year, We Miss Artie finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Plate Trial and running fourth in the Queen’s Plate after being left at the start.