Stanford has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby, allowing Frammento to get in, according to trainer Todd Pletcher, who said he just called in the scratch to the stewards.
Pletcher said Stanford would await the Preakness or the Peter Pan Stakes.
All horses outside of Stanford move in one spot in the starting gate. Frammento will get post 20.
Tale of Verve is now the lone also-eligible left. He needs a scratch by 9 a.m. Friday morning to get in.
– additional reporting by David Grening
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Five years ago, it was not certain if Ahmed Zayat had a future in horse racing.
After having spent tens of millions of dollars since 2005 on horses and quickly rising to the highest echelon in the sport, Zayat in early 2010 was embroiled in a lawsuit with his bank over his line of credit. His coast-to-coast racing stable had filed for bankruptcy. His highly regarded colt Eskendereya was withdrawn from the 2010 Kentucky Derby just days prior to the race with an injury.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – American Pharoah on Wednesday night drew post 18 in a field of 20 for the 141st Kentucky Derby, in which he will start as the favorite on Saturday here at Churchill Downs.
The post, though quite wide, was viewed favorably by trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza, both of whom said they preferred having the opportunity for a clear run to the first turn.
“That’s not a bad spot. He’ll be able to see what’s inside him,” Baffert said, referring to Espinoza.
Espinoza agreed, saying, “He’ll be in the clear.”
Tonalist and Palace Malice, winners of the last two runnings of the Belmont Stakes, will make their 2015 debuts in the Grade 3 Westchester at Belmont Park on Saturday.
The Belmont card also includes a pair of turf stakes, the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles and the Grade 3, $150,000 Fort Marcy at 1 1/8 miles.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – By his own admission, Rick Violette has a big mouth. But he does know when to keep it closed.
Case in point: Last July, while walking the streets of Delray Beach, Fla., with two daughters of a longtime employee, Violette and the women were held up at gunpoint. Violette knew this was no time to play hero.
“There’s no being brave,” Violette said. “Once the gun went to the young lady’s head, it was ‘Don’t screw this up.’ ”
Though money and documents were stolen, Violette and the two women came away from the episode unharmed.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The stars won’t just be on “Millionaire’s Row” leading up to Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. As usual, equine stars also will be showcased, long before the Kentucky Derby is run.
Older female sprint champion Judy the Beauty kicks off her 2015 campaign in one of six undercard stakes races, the Grade 1 Humana Distaff, and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern also gets his year started in the Churchill Downs Stakes.
Although jockey Sheldon Russell, who was injured in a spill at Pimlico last Saturday, seemed to be improving Tuesday, he is scheduled for surgery Thursday.
Russell, who fractured ribs and punctured a lung in the spill, has some internal bleeding, and the purpose of the surgery is to locate the source of the bleeding and stop it. According to Russell’s agent, Marty Leonard, the surgeons will use a scope with a camera to find out where the bleeding is originating.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – This year’s Kentucky Oaks field is as evenly matched as it gets, with several of the 14 prospective starters capable of winning the race at their best and with the right trip.
The following is a brief assessment of some of the contenders based on impressions from their workouts and gallops here over the past 10 days. The rundown is given in post-position order.
ESKENFORMONEY – Her recent works, both here and at Palm Beach Downs, were decent, nothing special, although she’s looked strong during her gallops coming out of her latest breeze.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The remarkable comeback of Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens continues on Saturday, when he rides in the Kentucky Derby for the 21st time, seeking his fourth win.
It will be the third straight appearance in the Derby for Stevens after a retirement that kept him out of the race from 2006-12, and it will be the first time he has ridden in the race since undergoing a full knee replacement last July.
CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 51
Track: Fast
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The gang’s all here.
All 20 of this year’s prospective Kentucky Derby starters – 22 of them if you count the also-eligibles FRAMMENTO and TALE OF VERVE – are on the grounds, making for a very active Derby/Oaks training session following the renovation break at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
