Intrepido still in Derby hunt but needs defections
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Intrepido finally resumed training Saturday at Santa Anita, one week after a distant fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby seemed to eliminate him from Kentucky Derby consideration.
But the picture changed this week. Intrepido, winner of the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita last year, is back in the Kentucky Derby hunt.
Trainer Jeff Mullins confirmed Saturday he will adhere to the wishes of the colt’s owners and aim Intrepido to the Kentucky Derby notwithstanding his 10-length loss in the Santa Anita Derby.
Intrepido, owned by Michele Arthur (Dutch Girl Holdings) and Ruben Islas (Irving Ventures), will need defections to crack the Kentucky Derby field. As of Saturday morning, Intrepido ranked 23rd on the points list.
The Derby is limited to 20 starters, but a handful listed above Intrepido on the points list are unconfirmed starters. Those include Ottinho, Stark Contrast, Iron Honor, and Chip Honcho.
Mullins was reserved in his comments Saturday morning after Intrepido went to the track for the first time since the Santa Anita Derby. Horses typically return to the track sooner than one week after a race.
“Just gave him some time,” Mullins said Saturday at 6 a.m. “The horse has been a little bit light. He went today, he jogged today.”
Intrepido ranked among the top 2-year-olds in California last year when he won the American Pharoah and finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The colt’s 3-year-old campaign began well enough, with a runner-up finish Feb. 7 in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis.
But the comeback knocked him out, and Mullins skipped the Grade 2 San Felipe on March 7 and instead trained Intrepido into the Santa Anita Derby. Intrepido did not improve. He finished fourth while earning an 85 Beyer.
“It wasn’t what we expected, he just got outrun,” Mullins said.
Intrepido has won two races and $342,800 from six starts. His career-high Beyer is the 89 he earned finishing second in the Lewis. Hector Berrios has ridden the colt his last five starts. Mullins said workouts and shipping arrangements are pending.
It was initially reported Intrepido would get a break after the Santa Anita Derby, but Mullins said Saturday his post-race comments were taken out of context. Mullins did acknowledge Intrepido would be an outsider if he makes the Kentucky Derby field.
“I always told myself I wouldn’t go back unless I had a shot,” he said. “My last shot got scratched on race day.”
Mullins-trained I Want Revenge was the early favorite for the 2009 Kentucky Derby after winning the Gotham Stakes and Wood Memorial. He was scratched from the Derby with an ankle injury.
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