The ease and speed of his wins made American Pharoah the acknowledged favorite for the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, and he certainly solidified that position on Sunday morning at Churchill Downs with final workout that was both fast and seemingly effortless.
.jpg)
Ten potential Kentucky Derby starters worked on Saturday, with only two of those breezes coming at Churchill Downs.
Like an elite quarterback, trainer Todd Pletcher read the defense and called an audible on Friday, pushing the final workouts for four of his Kentucky Derby hopefuls up one day due to a forecast that called for possible heavy rain here Saturday morning.
Institutional amnesia can be a beautiful thing, but before the 2015 Kentucky Derby is upon us with all its hurricane force, it can’t hurt to take a look at the field of 19 that performed for the pleasure of millions in the 2014 race. From back to front, here’s what happened to them
Jockey John Velazquez believes he will only ride for another two or three years and hopes there’s another Kentucky Derby with his name on it before he retires. Velazquez chose Carpe Diem over Materiality, a horse whom he rode to victory in the Grade 1 Florida Derby in March.
A little more than a week before Bolo’s scheduled start in the $2 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2, jockey Rafael Bejarano had a chance to exercise his mount for the first time. What he discovered was a colt with sharp acceleration who can be patient.
With rain in the forecast for early Saturday morning here at Churchill Downs, trainer Todd Pletcher worked four of his five prospects for the Kentucky Derby on Friday morning, and the performances in those workouts convinced Pletcher that Madefromlucky should indeed bypass the race, opening a spot for Keen Ice.
It was another quiet morning Thursday at Churchill Downs for the dozen potential Kentucky Derby starters stabled on the grounds, including several who still need a little help to get into the field.
Nick Zito is still ruing the fact Frammento finished fourth in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes instead of third or better. His state of mind would be much healthier if the colt had run just a little better.
There was a time when it seemed almost sacrilegious to forgo working at Churchill Downs prior to running in the Kentucky Derby.
