Six months later, trainer Shug McGaughey still wonders what might have been in the Breeders' Cup. Now, the Hall of Fame trainer wonders what might be in the Kentucky Derby.
An oversubscribed field of 3-year-old fillies headed by Bellafina was entered Monday for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks, to be run Friday for the 145th time at Churchill Downs.
Maximum Security, the undefeated winner of the Grade 1 Florida Derby, on Monday had his final serious training session prior to Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
The first time trainer Bob Baffert ran a horse in the Kentucky Derby, Cavonnier lost by a nose, and Baffert was crestfallen, wondering if he'd ever get another chance.
Jack and Laurie Wolf throw a party at their house here in Louisville every year on the night of the Kentucky Derby, but last year's was far more celebratory than usual. Earlier in the day, Justify, a colt in whom their Starlight Racing partnership had a minority interest, had been draped in roses in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs.
Quality Road made a statement in April when he sired the winners of the Santa Anita Derby and Santa Anita Oaks on the same day. Currently the nation's leading sire by earnings, he'll get a chance to widen his margin in emphatic fashion when Roadster is among the favorites in the Kentucky Derby and Bellafina starts as the heavy choice in the Kentucky Oaks.
Owner Mike Gatsas will participate in his first Kentucky Derby on Saturday with Vekoma, a winner of three of four career starts, including the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
Sunday was by far the busiest morning yet on the Kentucky Derby workout front this week at Churchill Downs, with plenty of action and a little bit of craziness packed into the 15-minute window set aside for Derby and Oaks horses immediately after the first renovation break.
The skies were clear, the track was fast, and the action hot and heavy during the 15-minute training session reserved for prospective Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks starters Saturday at Churchill Downs. It was a sharp contrast to the past couple of mornings, when stormy weather and a wet racetrack reduced most of the activity during the Derby/Oaks training window to routine gallops.
Gray Magician, the runner-up in the UAE Derby, had his final breeze before the May 4 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, working five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in California under Drayden Van Dyke, who has picked up the ride in the Derby.
