Nehro, a Mineshaft colt trained by Steve Asmussen, opened some eyes with a runner-up finish in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.
The first two finishers in the Grade 3 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes will both race next in the 137th Kentucky Derby, their respective connections said Sunday, the day after the annual Turfway Park showcase was run amid unseasonably cold weather.
Three of the top contenders for this year’s Kentucky Derby worked at the Palm Meadows training center Sunday morning, including division leader Uncle Mo who had his first breeze since launching his 3-year-old campaign with an easy victory in Gulfstream Park’s Timely Writer Stakes 15 days earlier. He was joined on the work tab by stablemate Stay Thirsty and Fountain of Youth winner Soldat as they put in their final preps for next Sunday’s Grade 1 Florida Derby.
Both Pants On Fire, the upset winner of the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on Saturday, and Mucho Macho Man, who finished a close third despite losing his right front shoe at the start of the race, were reported in good condition Sunday morning by their trainers.
Pants On Fire earned a mild upset victory on Saturday at Fair Grounds in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby, a race in which favored Mucho Macho Man finished third after losing a front shoe leaving the gate.
Animal Kingdom passed all 10 of his rivals before finally getting the best of a stubborn last one when stamping his Kentucky Derby ticket Saturday by winning the 40th running of the Grade 3, $500,000 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes, the annual showcase event at Turfway Park.
