Jockey Rafael Bejarano is still seeking his first win in the Kentucky Derby. He was to be away from Santa Anita on Saturday to ride Overanalyze in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. He is still looking to secure a mount for the May 4 classic at Churchill Downs.
While this year’s Arkansas Derby may seem softened by the absence of the three major local stakes preps winners on the season, it would be foolhardy not to look at this race as perhaps the definitive event on the trail. In Kentucky, Rydilluc looks like a horse to fear in Saturday’s $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes on Polytrack.
Pure Fun, a Grade 1-winning filly seeking a spot in the Kentucky Oaks, is foremost among the possible starters for the Grade 3, $200,000 Lexington, a 1 1/16-mile race set for next Saturday at Keeneland.
Will Take Charge put in some prep work for the Kentucky Derby early Friday morning at Oaklawn Park, where he worked a mile in 1:40.80. He is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday.
We’ll find out soon enough if there is a statute of limitations on heightened media scrutiny, or if Doug O’Neill will get credit for time served last year when he stage dives back into the Triple Crown mosh pit next month with Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents.
The scramble for Kentucky Derby eligibility points has brought an eclectic mix of 3-year-olds to Oaklawn Park for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday. The field of 10 includes horses who last raced at Aqueduct, Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Tampa Bay Downs, and Turfway Park.
A successful run over 1 1/8 miles of Polytrack in the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland will translate to 72 miles' worth of pavement to Churchill Downs, where a spot in the 139th Kentucky Derby awaits.
Despite racing on what was the worst part of the track in the Rebel, Den’s Legacy made a nice move into contention nearing the far turn, challenged for the lead in upper stretch, and wound up third. With a better trip, he can win the Arkansas Derby.
Itsmyluckyday, one of the leading contenders for this year’s Kentucky Derby, breezed an easy half-mile in 48.22 seconds at Calder on Thursday morning.
More dominos fell into place as far as the riding situation is concerned for the Kentucky Derby as Javier Castellano has chosen to ride Wood Memorial runner-up Normandy Invasion instead of two-time graded stakes winner Revolutionary.
