Wild On Ice will target Kentucky Derby

Wild On Ice emerged from his first work since his Sunland Park Derby victory in good order and is now being pointed for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Joel Marr said Tuesday. Wild On Ice arrived at Churchill Downs on Sunday.

“We’re in Kentucky,” Marr said. “We trained yesterday and today and so far everything is going smoothly.”

Wild On Ice worked last Friday at Sunland Park, going a half-mile by himself in 49.40 seconds. The horse’s regular rider, Ken Tohill, was aboard for the move, said Marr.

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Tohill, 60, is a winner of more than 4,100 races and is scheduled to ride Wild On Ice in the Kentucky Derby. He would be the oldest jockey to ride in the Derby, surpassing Jon Court, who was 58 when he rode Long Range Toddy in 2019.

Marr said Wild On Ice took a FedEx fight from El Paso, Texas – which is right near Sunland in New Mexico – to Cincinnati on Sunday. He then vanned to Churchill Downs. Marr was pleased how Wild On Ice initially shipped and has penciled in two additional works ahead of the Kentucky Derby.

“He’ll probably have two works,” he said. “We’ve just got to see how he bounces back off the trip as to when and how many we’re going to get.

“He’s eating good and feeling good.”

Wild On Ice is a son of Tapizar who races for his breeder, Frank Sumpter. The horse has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $405,400. He picked up 50 points for the Kentucky Derby for his win in the Grade 3, $600,000 Sunland Park Derby on March 26.

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