Liaison, the winner of the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park last December but winless in three starts this year, will be sent to Churchill Downs on Monday, moving closer to a potential start in the Kentucky Derby on May 5.
A 70-1 shot named All Squared Away was a stunning winner Saturday of the Grade 3, $200,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland in a race that, unlike most prior years, will not yield a starter for the Kentucky Derby.
Steady rain fell throughout training hours in Kentucky on Saturday morning, but all that precipitation was not a problem for Went the Day Well, whose six-furlong breeze went off as scheduled despite the inclement weather at Keeneland.
Rousing Sermon, who was only named a confirmed starter in the Kentucky Derby on Thursday, worked seven furlongs at Hollywood Park on Saturday in 1:27.20.
Kent Desormeaux strongly believes his mount in the upcoming Kentucky Derby, Dullahan, is as “live as they come” and that he would be greatly humbled if he were to join revered company by winning a fourth Derby.
The connections of Trinniberg confirmed their intentions to run in the Derby, and potential starter Reveron dropped out of the race due to an injury sustained during a routine morning workout.
As of Friday, 30 of the graded stakes races leading up to the Kentucky Derby listed on Daily Racing Form’s 2012 Road to the Kentucky Derby had been run. Those 30 were won by 26 different 3-year-olds.
With inclement weather looming in both Kentucky and Florida, the trainers of Union Rags, Gemologist, and El Padrino both decided to work their horses on Friday as final preparations grew ever closer for the Kentucky Derby on May 5 at Churchill Downs.
Todd Pletcher opted to work both Gemologist and El Padrino at the Palm Meadows training center while Bisnath Parbhoo cancelled a scheduled breeze at Calder for his speedy Trinniberg.
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.
