Trainer Jeff Bonde said Sway Away will most likely add blinkers for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 16 after he breezed six furlongs in the equipment Thursday morning at Oaklawn Park.
Shackleford, who was a courageous second in last Sunday’s Florida Derby, is the lone newcomer to this week’s top 20 of Derby Watch. He is a 40-1 shot on the future line set by Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper.
Elite Alex and J P’s Gusto are horses with natural speed, but you would not have known it watching their last starts. Both raced farther off the pace than usual and as a result will add blinkers for the Arkansas Derby. Elite Alex worked in the equipment Wednesday morning at Oaklawn, when he covered six furlongs from the gate in a bullet 1:11.60.
Uncle Mo arrived at his Belmont Park home at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday and two hours later was assigned post 5 for his engagement in Saturday’s $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, where he will face nine opponents. Uncle Mo, the 1-5 morning-line favorite, has won three stakes – the Grade 1 Champagne, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and the Timely Writer Stakes – which is one more than his nine Wood rivals combined.
Premier Pegasus drew post 8 and Jaycito landed the outside post in a field of 11 when post positions were drawn on Wednesday for the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby.
Premier Pegasus will try to solidify his standing as a top Kentucky Derby contender for owner, breeder, and trainer Myung Kwon Cho when he runs in Saturday's Santa Anita Derby. With a team that includes assistant trainer Maria Ayala, Cho's 17-year-old son Raxon, and up-and-coming jockey Alonso Quinonez, Cho could add his story to the list of unconventional Derby fairy tales.
Mike Smith says that the Kentucky Derby can weigh on a rider’s mind each spring. This year, there is no guarantee of a mount. His primary hope rests with Mr. Commons, an improving colt trained by John Shirreffs who makes his stakes debut in Saturday’s $1 million Santa Anita Derby.
Not only is jockey Rosie Napravnik set to compete for the first time on a regular basis this month with the elite at Keeneland, where the 15-day spring meet starts Friday with the top jockeys in North America on hand as usual, but she also learned Monday that she will indeed become just the sixth woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby, where she has the mount on Pants On Fire.
Twenty-four hours later than scheduled, but none the worse for wear, undefeated champion Uncle Mo arrived in New York at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday morning for his engagement in Saturday’s $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
Churchill Downs and NBC Sports announced Wednesday that they once again will offer a $100,000 win bet on the Kentucky Derby to one fan.
