El Areeb, a 3-year-old with two Grade 3 stakes wins this year, came out of his Wednesday workout at Laurel Park with an injury to his right knee and is off the Kentucky Derby trail, trainer Cal Lynch said Thursday.
Girvin's path to last month's Risen Star Stakes here at Fair Grounds was not ideal, yet he won anyway. He has had a perfect schedule since then, and that makes the lightly raced but improving colt strictly the horse to beat on Saturday in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby.
Gunnevera he will be a short-priced favorite in Saturday's Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. But I still think there's a wagering opportunity here because I don't like some other horses who are likely to take money, and I do like Impressive Edge to complete a cold exacta.
For 14 years, Brian Hernandez would have jumped at the chance to ride any horse in the Derby, but this year, he is on the verge of having to choose between two of North America's leading 3-year-olds.
After a trip to Dubai to watch Gun Runner finish second in the Dubai World Cup, Steve Asmussen has returned focus to his 3-year-olds and will saddle Local Hero on Saturday in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby.
The late addition of three decided outsiders to the field suddenly made Wednesday's post-position draw for Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby very relevant. And sure enough, the draw proved significant, with Fountain of Youth winner and 9-5 morning-line favorite Gunnevera assigned the far-outside post 11, a disadvantage with such a short run to the first turn in 1 1/8-mile races at Gulfstream Park.
Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not
Kentucky Derby pedigree analysis: Local Hero
The Grade 2, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes on April 8 at Keeneland lost one significant player but picked up another on Tuesday as the connections of Classic Empire and Practical Joke finalized plans.
The connections of Sunland Derby runner-up Conquest Mo Money tried to make the horse a late nominee to the Triple Crown, but they missed the deadline and the nomination was rejected.
