LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Classic Causeway is back in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Brian Lynch said early Monday afternoon.

Classic Causeway earned more than enough qualifying points for the May 7 Derby in winning the Sam F. Davis and Tampa Bay Derby but had been removed consideration after finishing 11th and last in his latest race, the Florida Derby on April 2.

However, Lynch said recent discussions with the colt’s owners, Clarke M. Cooper and Patrick O’Keefe, resulted in the decision to go forth with a Derby run.

Robert A. “Cowboy” Jones, whose feats during a riding career that spanned more than five decades were the stuff of legend, died Sunday evening, according to his daughter, Kaci Rae Smith. He was 79.

Jones was diagnosed earlier this year with an esophageal tumor, which caused his death while in hospice in his hometown of Henderson, Ky., where he was widely known as an icon from his years as a jockey at Ellis Park.

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.

Proxy, one of trainer Mike Stidham’s charges in the older horse division for Godolphin, is set to head to the trainer’s Maryland base and could make his next start in that state. 

Proxy finished third in the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland, his second graded stakes placing of the spring. With the Keeneland meet ending Friday, Stidham is preparing to move his string back to his base at the Fair Hill Training Center. From there, the colt could potentially make the short trip to run in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special on May 20.  

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Last Samurai has run his best races to date at distances of 1 1/8 miles and 1 1/2 miles. So, perhaps, 1 1/4 miles might hit him right between the eyeballs come the first Saturday in November.  

“That would be terrific,” trainer Dallas Stewart said.  “We’d like to be in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with him.”  

The 1 1/4 miles championship race will be held Nov. 5 at Keeneland.  

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

The champion Letruska was getting a whole lot of it Sunday morning at Oaklawn Park, a day after winning her second consecutive Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap.

A shower that started to intensify just before she was to board a van heading back home to Keeneland gave way to sunshine as Letruska emerged from the barn - in an apparent nod from Mother Nature.

From there, Letruska's van driver announced her as “The Queen.”

And looking on, trainer Fausto Gutierrez was exuding pure joy in her presence.

Stablemates Epicenter and Echo Zulu, who are expected to be among the favorites for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, respectively, turned in their penultimate and most serious breezes for the spring classics on Sunday morning at Churchill Downs.

Unbeaten champion juvenile filly Echo Zulu worked shortly after the track opened at 5:15 a.m. for trainer Steve Asmussen. Inside of workmate King Ottoman, she went six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 seconds, according to Churchill Downs clockers.

Churchill Downs
Weather: Clear 
Track: Fast  
Temp: 65

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The action started early, as it usually does when trainer Brad Cox has a Kentucky Derby or Breeders’ Cup horse scheduled for an important work, on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs with CYBERKNIFE and jockey Florent Geroux ready to get down to business just minutes after the racetrack opened for training at 5:15 a.m.

Taiba, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby, will have just one work in preparation for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Tim Yakteen said Saturday, a few hours after he had worked his other potential Derby starter, Santa Anita Derby runner-up Messier.

Taiba was making only his second start in the Santa Anita Derby. Yakteen said Taiba “took the race well, but it was a hard race, and I want to make sure he’s energetic.”

ARCADIA, Calif. – The track was fast, and Messier motored over it Saturday at Santa Anita.

In his first workout since finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9, Messier worked five furlongs under Drayden Van Dyke in 59.80 seconds over a surface that produced fast times. As a point of reference, Grade 1-placed Stilleto Boy worked five furlongs Saturday in 58.80 seconds.