The major work has been done. All that remains for the trainers of the 20 prospective Kentucky Derby starters is to maintain their horses’ forms over the next several days and hope fortune smiles down upon them during Wednesday’s post position draw.
Churchill announced on Tuesday that the guarantee for its Derby Day pick six will be $1 million, double the $500,000 guarantee from last year, while the guarantee for the Oaks Day pick six would be boosted $50,000 to $250,000.
Trainer Eddie Plesa said Itsmyluckyday couldn’t have adapted any better to his new surroundings at Churchill Downs or, even more important, the racetrack itself, following his arrival from Calder.
Twenty-one years ago, Casual Lies, owned and trained by Shelley Riley, left his stall at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton on a Triple Crown adventure that included a second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, third in the Preakness, and fifth in the Belmont. Riley is reliving the adventure with the publication last month of “Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure.”
Doug O’Neill, perhaps maligned by the media last year when he won the Kentucky Derby with I'll Have Another, is back at Churchill Downs this week with another prime Derby contender, Goldencents.
Most people’s recollections of school field trips involve museums and much yawning. The young men and women from the North American Racing Academy were treated to something far more engaging Monday. On the Churchill Downs backstretch while awaiting the works and morning training of Kentucky Derby and Oaks competitors, they listened to retired Hall of Fame jockeys Chris McCarron and Pat Day recount their Derby experience from 1987.
Both the likely field, and perhaps even the likely favorite, for the 139th Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs came into sharper focus Monday, when Code West, Govenor Charlie, Tiz a Minister, and Winning Cause all were officially taken out of consideration for the Derby, and Florida Derby winner Orb turned in an eye-catching workout.
Already highly popular among bettors and fans, jockey Rosie Napravnik’s profile was raised even higher when she appeared in an episode of “60 Minutes” on Sunday.
Joel Rosario is going so good these days that even when he finishes second, he wins.
Longines, the watch-making company, has reached a long-term agreement with Churchill Downs Inc. that will give the company the naming rights for the Kentucky Oaks, Churchill announced on Monday.
