Alpha, the Wood Memorial runner-up, passed a significant hurdle Saturday in his bid to make the Kentucky Derby by working a sharp five furlongs at Belmont Park and, more importantly, coming out of the drill in good shape.
Todd Pletcher, who purposely kept horses here this year in attempt to avoid the wet weather that plagued his training schedule last year in Kentucky, postponed workouts for Derby horses Gemologist and El Padrino.
Kentucky Derby-winning trainers Graham Motion and Michael Matz are back this year at Churchill Downs with runners whose final works on Saturday were almost carbon copies of what the trainers did with their Derby winners.
Union Rags worked five furlongs in 59.97 seconds while ending a hectic training session that included three other Kentucky Derby workers after the renovation break Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.
A desire to avoid the unpredictable spring weather in Kentucky has kept a fair share of Derby horses away from Churchill Downs so far this year, and this weekend, plus the results next week, might tell the tale over who made the better choice. A significant rainstorm was forecast for the weekend here at Churchill Downs, most notably Saturday, when Union Rags headed the list of Derby horses scheduled to work.
Union Rags’s first appearance in Louisville since his runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile highlighted the local Kentucky Derby activity report while on the West Coast, I’ll Have Another made big news with a somewhat unorthodox six-furlong work at Hollywood Park.
The 21st century horseplayer trying to handicap the Kentucky Derby is equipped with tools that were almost unimaginable 25 years ago – unlimited replays, lifetime past performances with sophisticated speed figures, comprehensive coverage of workouts, and more. Why, in the midst of this glorious new Information Age, is picking a Derby winner harder than ever?
Trinniberg, the likely pacesetter in this year’s Kentucky Derby, arrived at Churchill Downs shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday following a 16 1/2 hour van ride from Miami.
The first appearance at Churchill Downs of Union Rags and a somewhat unorthodox six-furlong work by I’ll Have Another at Hollywood Park highlighted Friday’s Kentucky Derby activity report across the country.
Countdown to the Crown returns for a seventh season online as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 6 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class.
