Social Inclusion breezes for possible Derby bid

Social Inclusion, currently 24th on the points list and running out of time in his quest to qualify for the Kentucky Derby field, worked three furlongs in 34.41 seconds and galloped out a half-mile in 47.63 Thursday morning at Gulfstream Park. Elvis Trujillo breezed Social Inclusion for trainer Manny Azpurua, but regular rider Luis Contreras will be aboard if he runs in the Derby.

“He worked well this morning and will breeze again here on Monday,” said Social Inclusion’s owner, Ron Sanchez. “We decided today that if he isn’t 20th by Monday, if he hasn’t qualified to be in the race by then, we won’t ship him to Kentucky, and he’ll be pointed for the Preakness. We don’t want to be on the also-eligible list. Shipping him all the way up there and not getting into the race just doesn’t make any sense. If he does get in, he’ll van to Louisville on Tuesday.”

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Social Inclusion has started just three times, winning twice before suffering his lone defeat when third after setting the pace in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial. The 20 points he received for that performance ties him with five others in the point standings that determine eligibility to run in the Derby, although he is placed last among that group by virtue of the tie-breaker, which is non-restricted stakes earnings.

“I think he has the quality to be in the Derby, and I think if he can get in, he could win the race,” said Sanchez. “But we’ve got to follow the rules. And we also recognize the fact that the Derby doesn’t mean the whole career for any horse.”

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Jesus Castanon was the regular rider of Social Inclusion and would ride hime in the Kentucky Derby. Social Inclusion's regular rider is Luis Contreras, who will be aboard if he makes the Derby field.