Mike Battaglia, the morning-line maker for Churchill Downs, would make The Factor the 7-2 favorite for the Kentucky Derby if the May 7 race were run today, according to a release from Churchill.
The 137th Kentucky Derby already has one feel-good story in Mucho Macho Man, whose trainer, Kathy Ritvo, has overcome major illness to become a natural root-for. And now the Derby could get a similar heart-tugger if King Congie runs well enough Saturday in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
With his upset win in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby, Midnight Interlude earned a place in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, and jockey Victor Espinoza is looking forward to the mount.
Arkansas Derby favorite The Factor was one of seven horses from Southern California who arrived in Hot Springs, Ark., around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday morning, most expected for stakes engagements this weekend at Oaklawn Park.
Alternation on Monday was committed to the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby – making for a prospective field of 13.
Trainer Pletcher will send out the trio of Queen’splatekitten, Sensational Slam, and Praetereo in Saturday’s 87th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass at Keeneland.
For months, Uncle Mo was the acknowledged favorite for the Kentucky Derby on May 7, but his stunning loss Saturday in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, part of an unpredictable day of Derby preps, has left the Derby picture quite unsettled less than four weeks out.
This weekend's Kentucky Derby prep-race results shook up the outlook for the May 7 race at Churchill Downs once again, with early Derby favorite Uncle Mo suffering a shocking upset in Saturday's Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
Dianne Cotter and her husband Julian were watching a recording of Saturday’s Wood Memorial early Monday afternoon at their home near Gainesville, Fla. Over and over again. The Cotters are the owners and breeders of Toby’s Corner who ran past both Uncle Mo and then Arthur’s Tale in the last 50 yards to win the $1 million Wood by a neck and earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs.
By finishing second in the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct last Saturday, Arthur’s Tale didn’t exactly pull Excalibur from the stone, but he leapt from Kentucky Derby non-entity to one of the intriguing “bubble” possibilities for this year’s Run for the Roses.
