CHURCHILL DOWNS
Monday, April 22
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 38
Track: Fast
The Thoroughbred event horse Phelps and his longtime partner, rising U.S. event star Mia Farley, make their first run around the country's most well known three-day event, the Defender Kentucky five-star, this week at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Muth, a powerful winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on March 30, and Imagination, second by a neck in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6, worked at Santa Anita on Sunday in advance of expected starts in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 18 for trainer Bob Baffert.
Muth worked five furlongs in 1:00.20, while Imagination went a half-mile in 48 seconds.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Several hours apart on Saturday, well-accomplished 4-year-olds trained by Bob Baffert were in action at Santa Anita. One is being prepared for a highly anticipated campaign in the second half of 2024, while the other is attempting to establish a meaningful role in the older male division.
On Saturday morning, Arabian Knight, winner of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar last September but unraced since a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November, worked a half-mile in 50 seconds, his second workout of the year.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - As expected, Deterministic will not run in the Kentucky Derby, his connections made official on Sunday, opening up a spot for Florida Derby third-place finisher Grand Mo the First.
Deterministic, who earned enough qualifying points to get into the Kentucky Derby by virtue of his victory in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 2, finished eighth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 6 with no apparent excuse.
Churchill Downs
Sunday, April 21
Weather: Cloudy
Track: Fast
Temperature: 45 degrees
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Anybody wanting to see what little action there was on the Kentucky Derby and Oaks front Sunday at Churchill Downs needed to arrive early and would have been wise to have brought an extra jacket. The temperature was hovering in the mid-40s from the time the track opened at 5:15 a.m. until it closed for business following turf works nearly five hours later.
Manama Gold's career journey has taken her from her birthplace in Louisiana to changing hands at sales in Kentucky and Florida, to the Middle East to begin her career – and now, to Churchill Downs, potentially for a major event.
Trainer Todd Pletcher told Churchill Downs publicity on Sunday that Manama Gold, who won the Group 3 UAE Oaks in her most recent outing, has been transferred to his care, and is “possible” to supplement to the Kentucky Oaks. The filly is scheduled to arrive at his Churchill Downs barn on Monday.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold worked a half-mile in a quick 46.60 seconds on Saturday in advance of a flight to Kentucky on Tuesday for an intended start in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4.
Working behind stablemate Shady Tiger, a stakes winner against California-bred sprinters on April 6, Stronghold closed through the stretch to finish slightly in front. Antonio Fresu, who has ridden Stronghold in his last four starts, was aboard for the workout, the colt’s first since the win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles on April 6.
Churchill Downs
Saturday, April 20
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 48
Track: Fast
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Saturday morning was a busy one under the Twin Spires, not only for potential Kentucky Derby starters but the general population as well. Seven Derby hopefuls got in what, for most, will be their penultimate works for the big event now just two weeks away as part of a clocker’s tab that included over 210 names when the final drill went in the books shortly before 10 a.m.