DERBY DOINGS: Trainer Juan Arias only shares a name with the trainer who won the 1971 Kentucky Derby with Canonero II, but he'd like to pull a similar upset with Decisive Moment. Also: Archarcharch and Soldat work, Garrett Gomez to ride Master of Hounds, Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty to have their final drills on Sunday.
Derby Week is officially upon us, and Nick Zito was a little bit confused. Not about Dialed In. Not hardly. As far as Zito was concerned, the Florida Derby winner was living up to his name.
When trainer Kiaran McLaughlin puts Soldat on the plane that will take his Kentucky Derby prospect to Louisville on Saturday, he will do so with the confidence that his horse couldn’t be doing any better coming into the biggest race of his young career.
Though no official announcement has yet been made, jockey Garrett Gomez is expected to ride Master of Hounds if the Irish-based colt, as expected, ships to Kentucky next Tuesday for the May 7 Kentucky Derby.
Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty, the two Kentucky Derby prospects whom Todd Pletcher trains for owner Mike Repole, will work in company on Sunday morning in their final preps for the May 7 Derby.
Arkansas Derby winner Archarcharch got serious on Friday morning at Churchill Downs, working a crisp five furlongs in 59.36 seconds with jockey Jon Court aboard. VIDEO: DRF clocker Mike Welsch says of Archarcharch, "I now have to include him among my major contenders."
Mr. Commons worked seven furlongs in 1:25.20 at Hollywood Park, getting ready in case he gets the opportunity to join the field for the Kentcuky Derby.
Fountain of Youth winner Soldat worked four furlongs in 49 seconds early Friday at the Palm Meadows training center in Boynton Beach in his final prep for next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.
There are defining moments in every athlete’s career, and jockey Eddie Castro had several before the age of 21. Last month, a day before he turned 26, Castro had another memorable moment, guiding Toby’s Corner to an upset of heavily favored Uncle Mo in the $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. That set him up for perhaps a crowning achievement in his career next Saturday at Churchill Downs.
The first program of the spring meet at Churchill Downs has always been cause for celebration, and why not? Spring is in the air, the horses are back in town, and most importantly, the Kentucky Derby is only a week away. Churchill Downs will open Saturday with a glitzy night program for the first time in track history. The feature is the $200,000 Derby Trial, but none of the nine 3-year-olds entered is expected back for the 137th Derby on May 7.
