The Grade 3, $200,000 Derby Trial is more likely to serve as a prep for the Preakness three weeks later, as opposed to any of its 11 runners wheeling back in just a week in the 138th Kentucky Derby.
Union Rags arrived at Churchill Downs shortly before 2 p.m. Thursday and was bedded down in barn 42, stall 10, the same stall from which Barbaro won the 2006 Kentucky Derby.
Thursday was a another day of relative inactivity on the Kentucky Derby watch here at Churchill Downs, where early morning showers gave way to sunshine and warm temperatures by the time the special Derby-Oaks training session began at 8:30 a.m. Only seven potential Derby starters trained, including likely favorite Bodemeister.
Daily Racing Form analysts offer up their top-five Kentucky Derby contenders. Plus, a statistical look at Derby history.
Does Bodemeister have enough seasoning to win the Kentucky Derby? How legitimate is Gemologist's unbeaten record? Will Dullahan's deep-closing style hurt him? With the final major preps for the Derby in the books, our analysts tackle the big questions and key horses heading into the race.
Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy worked five furlongs in 1:00:47 at Palm Meadows on Thursday in his final prep for the Kentucky Derby.
Ahmed Zayat sold a piece of Arkansas Derby winner Bodemeister on Wednesday, taking some money off the table while retaining the majority share in the favorite for the Kentucky Derby on May 5 at Churchill Downs. Bodemeister is the 9-2 favorite on the Derby future line set by Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper.
Both on and off the track at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, the Bob Baffert barn was the newsmaker, with a partial interest being sold in Bodemeister, the likely favorite for the May 5 Kentucky Derby, and Liaison, Baffert’s other Derby runner, working six furlongs.
Liaison was the only Kentucky Derby worker Wednesday morning when he drilled six furlongs after the renovation break under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan.
Michael Moreno, who races as Southern Equine Racing Stables, has purchased a minority interest in Arkansas Derby winner Bodemeister.
