Pure Fun, the only filly in a field of 11 3-year-olds, was assigned the far outside post for the Grade 3, $200,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes, to be run Saturday at Keeneland for the 32nd time.
The licensing review committee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission voted Tuesday to approve a license application for Rudy Rodriguez, trainer of the Kentucky Derby hopeful Vyjack, but under a requirement that Vyjack be monitored by video surveillance while at Churchill Downs.
Rosie Napravnik became the first female rider to win the Kentucky Oaks last year on Believe You Can, and she will get a chance to become the first female rider to win the Kentucky Derby on May 4 after being named Tuesday to ride Mylute, who finished second most recently in the Louisiana Derby under Shaun Bridgmohan.
The winner of the Coolmore Lexington Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland will earn 20 “wild card” points toward eligibility for the May 4 Kentucky Derby, which at this juncture looks like enough points to crack the 20-horse lineup. Tom Proctor, who will send out Examen in the Lexington, doesn’t much care.
Rosie Napravnik will ride Mylute in the May 4 Kentucky Derby, according to a statement put out Tuesday by GoldMark Farm, which owns Mylute in partnership with Whisper Hill Farm.
Victories on Saturday by Java’s War in the Blue Grass Stakes and Overanalyze in the Arkansas Derby brought to seven the number of horses with at least 100 points on the new system used by Churchill Downs to determine the field for the May 4 Derby.
Rydilluc is out of the Kentucky Derby picture and likely will run next in the May 25 Arlington Classic or the new Penn Mile on June 1 at Penn National, Contessa said Monday.
Calvin Borel will ride Revolutionary and Mike Smith has picked up the mount on Palace Malice in the Kentucky Derby on May 4, trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday.
Rudy Rodriguez does not yet have a license to train in Kentucky and therefore his horses, including Kentucky Derby contender Vyjack, are not allowed on the grounds until he gets one. Rodriguez is scheduled to meet on Tuesday with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
A day after winning the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, Overanalzye was settled in at Churchill Downs to begin final preparations for next month’s Kentucky Derby.
