Kentucky Derby: Quick turnaround for 147th running

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – They just ran the Kentucky Derby, what, a few months ago? Now it’s that time again, with Churchill Downs once again a hub of activity to suggest that this pandemic might actually be on its way out.

Derby 147 is all set for May 1, less than eight months after 146 was run last September, marking the shortest span between renewals of America’s greatest race. That’s a dubious record everyone would just as soon forget – so it’s onward and upward as things get underway Saturday evening with a 10-race card.

Unlike at this time last year, when the Churchill spring meet and the Derby had been postponed amid tremendous anxiety, the last Saturday in April will bring a degree of normalcy absent for quite some time here. It’s the first evening card since September 2019, and although Churchill began admitting fans ontrack here last fall, they’ll be back in stronger numbers this meet, including at the Derby, albeit at reduced capacity and while still subject to pandemic protocols.

Most importantly, the first Saturday in May is back as the Derby date, one that Brad Cox has never experienced as a trainer of a Derby horse. This year, however, the 41-year-old Louisville native will have three runners in what is expected to be a full gate of 20, including the favorite, Essential Quality.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Cox. “Hopefully we won’t just be in it, but we’ll win it. Obviously that’s the goal.”

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Unlike in preceding days, when he was out for his exercise well before dawn, Essential Quality joined his Cox stablemates Mandaloun and Caddo River when training Thursday amid daylight, at 7:30 a.m. Eastern, during the exclusive period reserved for Derby and Kentucky Oaks runners. Prior to going through an easy gallop, the unbeaten Essential Quality was schooled in the 20-stall starting gate stationed in the quarter-pole chute, standing without incident for a couple of minutes before moving along.

“I’m very happy with how all my horses are moving,” said Cox.

Essential Quality and the other two Cox horses were scheduled to have their final pre-race breezes in the coming days, as were virtually all other hopefuls for the 1 1/4-mile Derby, including a handful still stabled in California. Saturday was supposed to be by far the biggest work day here, but a high chance of rain in this area for Saturday was leading numerous trainers to consider moving those works to Friday.

The only Derby worker Thursday was O Besos, who was ridden by his Derby jockey, Marcelino Pedroza, when he breezed a half-mile in 48 seconds, followed by a strong gallop-out. The son of 2013 Derby winner Orb figures as one of the latecomers in what will be the second straight Derby for trainer Greg Foley, following Major Fed, 10th behind Authentic last year.

“I thought his work was great,” said Foley. “He went plenty quick enough, all that, but his gallop-out was what I liked the best.”

From California, workouts on Saturday by fringe contenders Dream Shake and Get Her Number are pivotal as to whether they’re subsequently flown here, according to their respective connections. Those decisions will be closely monitored, given that the race status of a number of would-be also-eligibles such as Hozier (No. 21) and King Fury (No. 22) could be affected.

Meanwhile, the timing of the rain could factor into an opening-day card noticeably short on entries, a carryover from the just-ended Keeneland meet when starters-per-race were at historic lows. The $125,000 William Walker (race 9), is an exception to that rule, having been oversubscribed beyond its 10 permitted starters, while a $118,000 allowance (race 7) also drew a big field. Otherwise, there are just a combined 52 entries in the other eight races, an average of less than seven per race, a statistic that had insiders discussing among themselves on the backstretch early Thursday the various reasons for such scarcity.

One thing is sure – purses aren’t the problem, especially this week. “Supercharged” with additional money from the purse account and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund for the first six cards of this 38-day meet, there’s a $115,000 maiden-special (race 8) and a $121,000 allowance (race 10) in ending the opening-night card. Post-Derby, purses for such races will shrink, but they’re still lucrative, with maiden-specials worth up to $91,000 and allowances starting at $93,000, including KTDF bonuses.

Following the Saturday opener, there is no racing here Sunday, a tradition initiated several years ago. Derby week spans Tuesday through Saturday, with a regular four-day schedule (Thursdays through Sundays) being conducted post-Derby.

Opening night is the first of three night cards at the meet with a post time of 6 p.m. Eastern; the others are set for May 22 and June 12. The meet runs through June 26, when the Stephen Foster and six other stakes are part of a daytime card.