Kentucky Derby: Major work days still to come
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With a slew of final prerace workouts still to come, all was quiet on the Kentucky Derby front Thursday at Churchill Downs, where overnight rain into Friday morning was expected to keep local activity light until Saturday.
On the East Coast, however, Friday is supposed to be a busy day, with breezes set in New York for Wicked Strong, Samraat, and Uncle Sigh and in Maryland for Ring Weekend.
Works are tentatively scheduled for Saturday morning at Churchill for Ride On Curlin, Medal Count, and Candy Boy, as well as for Commanding Curve, who as of Thursday remained on the Derby bubble as the 21st horse on the list of hopefuls. The field is limited to 20, with an also-eligible list in play until final scratches are taken the day before the May 3 race.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
The weather was quite chilly here Thursday morning before the sun came out later in the day. The thermometer was forecast to hit 80 on Saturday and 82 on Sunday.[bc_video_id:322279:]
Meanwhile, from California, final works were scheduled for Saturday for the Derby favorite, California Chrome, at Los Alamitos, and for Dance With Fate on turf at Santa Anita.
The Churchill spring meet opens Saturday night, and while the Grade 3 Derby Trial that night offers no Derby qualifying points, it still could have an impact on the Derby field. Bob Baffert, who entered Bayern and Chitu among a field of 10, said he definitely would scratch Chitu and might do the same with Bayern. If Bayern, who already has 20 Derby points, does run and win, the colt actually could wheel back in the Derby by virtue of his graded stakes earnings, which would break a tie among a handful of horses with 20 points apiece.
As for the Todd Pletcher foursome of Danza, Intense Holiday, We Miss Artie, and Vinceremos, all will breeze here Sunday “if the weather cooperates,” said the trainer.
Derby entries will be closed Wednesday morning and post positions drawn at 5 p.m. Eastern in the Secretariat Lounge on the second floor of the clubhouse.