Divisidero seeks third Derby Day win in Woodford Reserve Turf Classic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Although predicting the outcome of the Kentucky Derby is difficult, and so is even forecasting the day’s weather, there is one thing you can count on for Derby Day: Divisidero will make his annual appearance.

For the third year in a row, Divisidero is running on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs, starting as the tepid 4-1 morning-line favorite in the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, two years after winning the Grade 2 American Turf on Derby Day in 2015 and the Turf Classic in 2016.

Scoring his third Derby Day victory will be a challenge in Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile race against 10 evenly matched rivals that include Grade 1 winners Bal a Bali, World Approval, and Beach Patrol, but given his past success at Churchill in front of large crowds, Divisidero holds the edge in the intangible department. He and 10-1 shot Ballagh Rocks are the only horses with wins on the Churchill course.

Trained by Buff Bradley, Divisidero could become the third horse to win back-to-back runnings of the Turf Classic, joining Einstein in 2008-09 and Wise Dan in 2013-14.

As he was at this time last year, Divisidero is winless on the season, though two of his three starts this year were promising. He rallied to be third in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale, and then after regressing with a sixth-place finish in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap when uncharacteristically close to the pace, he finished a fast-closing second in a stakes-quality allowance April 9 at Keeneland in which he was beaten a nose.

“He ran big at Keeneland, a super race,” Bradley said. “It looked like he had it won in the last second but didn’t get it.”

With rain forecast from Thursday into Saturday, the possibility for a wet course adds a wrinkle to an already challenging race for handicappers. Most of the entrants are accustomed to racing on firm turf.

Beach Patrol, the winner of the Grade 1 Secretariat last year at 3, is one of the few with a victory on wet ground, having won his maiden last year over “good” turf at Santa Anita.

Among the most consistent horses in the field, Beach Patrol last raced Feb. 11 in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, crossing the wire second, beaten three-quarters of a length by his now-sidelined stablemate Almanaar, before getting disqualified and placed fourth for causing interference in the stretch.

Trainer Chad Brown is pleased with how Beach Patrol has done in the nearly three months since, what he called a “designed break.”

“He had a hard race there, right up on the pace, did all the work, and was quite tired afterward,” Brown said.

Turf Classic, Race 11

Key Contenders

Divisidero, by Kitten’s Joy

Last 3 Beyers: 95-96-101

◗ Bradley believes his horse is most successful running from well off the pace, making the patient-riding Julien Leparoux a good fit aboard him.

Conquest Panthera, by Kitten’s Joy

Last 3 Beyers: 100-96-93

◗ The least experienced member of the lineup with only seven starts, he has developed rapidly this spring, with a close third-place finish in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland last month his best race.

Bal a Bali, by Put it Back

Last 3 Beyers: 103-95-95

◗ Has largely been managed as a turf miler since being imported to the U.S., though he did win longer races in his native Brazil. He finished third in the San Gabriel in January 2016 in his only U.S. start at 1 1/8 miles.

Beach Patrol, by Lemon Drop Kid

Last 3 Beyers: 101-99-98

◗ Had the most financially rewarding campaign of any Turf Classic entrant in 2016, making $675,000, and could be ready for another lucrative year in 2017.

Can’thelpbelieving, by Duke of Marmalade

Last 3 Beyers: 102-101-101

◗ Ran quickly last summer but returns in a highly difficult race after being away since August.