Churchill Downs will distribute $10 million in stakes purses during this year’s Kentucky Derby week, including $120,000 in a stakes race re-named for the Hall of Fame rider Isaac Murphy, the son of a former slave who won three of the early runnings of the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Robertino Diodoro found himself at a crossroads in his early 20s. He could make the final push needed for a career in hockey or he could turn to the other sport he grew up in, horse racing. Diodoro now has his first Kentucky Derby prospect in Keepmeinmind, who will launch his 3-year-old season Saturday in the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
Minor setbacks prevented Weyburn from racing for three months, following a maiden win in December, but he came back better than ever in his 3-year-old debut, with a career-best Beyer Speed Figure while scoring a 46-1 upset.
Encouraged by the way Life Is Good dominated his latest prep with a 107 Beyer Speed Figure, bettors pounded the colt down to 2-1 favoritism in Pool 4 of the 2021 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Sunday evening following a customary three-day wagering window.
Life Is Good is unbeaten in three starts, having won a maiden special weight race at 6 1/2 furlongs by 9 1/2 lengths on Nov. 22 and his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile by three-quarters of a length over stablemate Medina Spirit here Jan. 2.
Life Is Good followed up his victory in the Sham with a dominating performance in his first try at 1 1/16 miles while earning a career-best Beyer fig that is at least nine points superior to what any other 3-year-old has turned in this year.
Trainer Brad Cox confirmed Sunday what was widely expected – that champion Essential Quality would have his final Kentucky Derby prep and second start of his 3-year-old season on April 3 at Keeneland in the Blue Grass Stakes.
All the work in recent weeks to get Life Is Good to ration his speed paid off handsomely in the San Felipe Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, as the brilliant 3-year-old colt showed why there has been so much fuss about him out here, with a romping, eight-length victory that left no doubt he’s the King of California.
Trainer Mark Casse said Helium emerged in good order from his 15-1 victory Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby and that the Ironicus colt is unlikely to race again prior to the May 1 Kentucky Derby.
Forced to miss two starts earlier in the year due to illness and injury, Weyburn made the most of his first opportunity to run in three months by outfinishing Crowded Trade to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes by a nose at Aqueduct.
