Cyberknife and Zozos, two of the three horses trainer Brad Cox plans to run in the Kentucky Derby one week hence, were the first two Derby runners to drill Saturday morning here at Churchill Downs, beginning a parade of works that will pick up after the break at 7:30 a.m.
A minority interest in Wood Memorial winner Mo Donegal has been sold to Mike Repole in advance of the colt's run in next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, majority owner Donegal Racing announced Friday.
It was Ladies Day at Churchill Downs on Friday morning, although with a little wrinkle thrown in during the special Derby-Oaks training session, which takes place from 7:30 to 7:45 daily. Six likely Oaks starters and a seventh hoping to draw into the race here next Friday turned in their final works, although all were overshadowed somewhat by the appearance of potential Derby favorite Zandon, who made his way onto the work tab 24 hours earlier than expected.
The unwavering belief in the long game has brought former Kentucky Gov. Brereton C. Jones, 82, to the brink of breeding a Kentucky Derby winner, at last. Not only was Zandon – one of the Derby favorites off his win in the Blue Grass Stakes – bred, foaled, and raised at Airdrie, so too was Derby hopeful Summer Is Tomorrow. Both are by young farm stallions in Upstart and Summer Front, respectively.
Notwithstanding drama that preceded the workout and the noise he made during the work, Messier posted a visually impressive drill on an eventful Friday morning at Santa Anita.
The weather forecast for Saturday was improving by the time Chad Brown arrived at Churchill Downs early Friday morning. But he decided it was better to go with what was in front of him than risk chancing a different track Saturday, so out went the highly regarded Zandon for his final workout for the May 7 Kentucky Derby.
The weather forecast for Saturday was improving by the time trainer Chad Brown arrived at Churchill Downs early Friday morning. But he decided it was better to go with what was in front of him than risk chancing a different track Saturday morning, so out went the highly regarded Zandon for his final workout for the May 7 Kentucky Derby.
Furniture maven Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale bet roughly $2.4 million to win on Essential Quality in the Kentucky Derby last year to help make sure the colt would be the post-time favorite. With the 148th Derby set for Saturday at Churchill Downs, McIngvale once again is offering a full refund to any customer spending at least $3,000 on merchandise from his Houston-based Gallery Furniture stores if the Derby favorite wins.
Thursday was the calm before the storm in regard to Kentucky Derby and Oaks activity at Churchill Downs, with nary a single workout from horses training locally for either race. Routine gallops were the order of the day, with a majority of the Oaks runners scheduled to work Friday and Derby contenders penciled in for Saturday and Sunday mornings.
After a quiet Thursday morning for Kentucky Derby and Oaks prospects at Churchill Downs, there was serious work happening some 2,000 miles west when Taiba went six furlongs in 1:12.80 at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
