The Factor, who disappointed as the heavy favorite in the Arkansas Derby in his last start, on Tuesday morning was officially withdrawn from consideration for the May 7 Kentucky Derby, co-owner George Bolton said.
Tuesday morning’s Derby-Oaks training session ended in tragedy when Gilded Gem broke down crossing the finish line after breezing six furlongs in company with trainer Bob Baffert’s Oaks candidate Plum Pretty.
A sloppy track on Kentucky Derby Day should prove no problem for Nehro after the Arkansas Derby and Louisiana Derby runner-up splashed five furlongs in 1:02.81 over a very wet track Monday morning at Churchill Downs.
Wet weather has pummeled the Louisville, Ky., area for weeks, and there is no let-up expected until Thursday, so training conditions have not been ideal for horses already at Churchill Downs who are preparing for the May 7 Kentucky Derby. The biggest work of the week was slated for Tuesday morning, when Uncle Mo was scheduled for his first drill since suffering his first loss in the Wood Memorial, from which he emerged with a gastrointestinal infection.
Surely a baseball manager wishes he could save a few of his team’s runs from a 14-1 blowout for the next night, when they come up short in a 3-2 loss. The same sort of principle might logically apply for a horse trainer such as Mike Maker, who came within a couple inches of sweeping the two major 3-year-old races at Keeneland this spring – and yet still finds himself without a confirmed Kentucky Derby starter.
With trainer Bob Baffert looking on, The Factor galloped Monday morning for the first time since his arrival at Churchill Downs on April 19 and for the first time since having minor throat surgery performed here last week.
Trainer Bob Baffert on Sunday announced that Jaycito would not make this year's Kentucky Derby on May 7, owing to a foot bruise that has prevented the colt from working for more than three weeks.
Neither steady rain, a sloppy track or even a little thunder and lightning could keep Kentucky Derby hopefuls Mucho Macho Man and Stay Thirsty from sticking to their schedule and working at soggy Churchill Downs on Sunday morning.
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela will ride Santa Anita Derby runner-up Comma to the Top in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7, co-owner Gary Barber said at Hollywood Park on Saturday.
Derby Kitten ended a big afternoon for Ken and Sarah Ramsey when rallying from last to post a 9-1 upset Saturday in the 30th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.
