Churchill Downs starts its spring meet with a clean slate Saturday night. Not only have major improvements been undertaken and completed all around these historic grounds, including a $10 million turf course, but the upcoming Kentucky Oaks and Derby are real doozies.
If there is a buzz horse going into the 2022 Kentucky Derby not named Zandon, it would be Crown Pride, whose stock has risen a long ways in a short time, not only from the attention he receives as a result of his somewhat unconventional training regimen, but also because of works like the one he posted during the Derby/Oaks training session Wednesday at Churchill Downs.
2022 Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Zandon
Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for April 27, 2022
Classic Causeway was in the Kentucky Derby, then out, and now back in. While the decision on Monday to go ahead and run in the Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs despite a belly flop in his final prep, the Florida Derby, can be debated right up until post time, if not beyond, the significance of his addition cannot be overstated in terms of how he impacts the pace.
April has been a breakthrough month for Saffie Joseph Jr., but he’s hoping May brings an even greater first.
Manny Franco has picked up the mount on Zozos for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Brad Cox said Monday afternoon.
Pioneer of Medina made the news here Friday when forced to miss a scheduled workout due to an issue with some blood work. Pioneer of Medina, the Louisiana Derby third-place finisher, was in the spotlight again on Monday as the only potential Derby starter to work during the special 15-minute training session reserved for Derby and Oaks candidates each morning at 7:30 a.m. at Churchill Downs.
Classic Causeway is back in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Brian Lynch said early Monday afternoon.
While saying he is still leaning toward running Early Voting in the Preakness Stakes on May 21, trainer Chad Brown said Sunday afternoon that he is not shutting the door on pivoting to the Kentucky Derby if the complexion of the race changes between now and the May 2 entry day.
