Franco, Castellano, Moreira secure Derby mounts

Manny Franco has picked up the mount on East Avenue in the Kentucky Derby, while Javier Castellano will ride Owen Almighty.

Luan Machado rode East Avenue to a second-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes, but he is committed to ride Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Final Gambit in the Derby.

East Avenue is owned by Godolphin and trained by Brendan Walsh. Franco filled in for the injured Junior Alvarado aboard the Godolphin-owned Sovereignty for the Grade 1 Florida Derby. Alvarado returned to action Wednesday and will ride Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby.

Castellano, who won the 2023 Kentucky Derby on Mage, will ride Owen Almighty, who was rerouted from the Pat Day Mile to the Kentucky Derby on Tuesday. Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz rode Owen Almighty in six of his seven starts, but they are otherwise committed in the Derby.

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Additionally, Joao Moreira has been confirmed to ride Luxor Cafe in the Derby. Moreira rode Luxor Cafe to victory in the Fukuryu Stakes in Japan.

The only horse in the body of the Derby field without a confirmed rider is Madaket Road. The Bob Baffert trainee has had a different rider in all five of his starts. Frankie Dettori, who rode him to a third-place finish in the Robert Lewis Stakes, is among the available jockeys.

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