Jockeys who intend to ride in the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville will be required to be on the grounds by Aug. 31, according to a document distributed by Churchill on Thursday night to horsemen’s groups.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. wanted to make sure he found someone competitive enough in his barn to work with his Kentucky Derby-bound Ny Traffic after the renovation break here Thursday. And he found the perfect mate in the older Grade 1 winner Math Wizard.
The road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby officially began with the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes on Sept. 14, 2019, the first race awarding qualifying points toward a spot in the 20-horse starting gate. Almost exactly 11 months later, prep season finishes up with the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park.
Top jockeys and their agents often face difficult decisions when two horses the jockey has been riding end up pointing for the same race, which takes on added significance when it's a race with the profile of the Kentucky Derby. This year, though, that decision is further complicated.
Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for Aug. 12, 2020
Churchill Downs has placed new restrictions on attendance for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby as coronavirus positives surge in the state, limiting total attendance to approximately 24,000 people and closing the infield, the company announced on Wednesday.
Max Player, the third-place finisher behind Tiz the Law in both the Belmont Stakes and Runhappy Travers Stakes, has been transferred from trainer Linda Rice to Steve Asmussen and will be pointed to the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5, according to majority owner George Hall.
The dominating victories last weekend by Tiz the Law and Art Collector further strengthened their position at the top of the list of candidates for the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs, and several of those left in their wake are now seeking other options. They've seen enough. Combined with the attrition rate for this Derby owing to its postponement by four months, there is the very real possibility fewer than the maximum 20 horses could enter the Derby, which has not happened since 2003.
Art Collector emerged from his fourth straight victory in good order as trainer Tommy Drury starts making plans to get the colt ready for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby.
Tommy Drury said he was so uptight as the Ellis Park Derby was being run Sunday that “I thought my legs were going to give out.” Wait until the next one.
