Kentucky Derby hopefuls Gemologist, El Padrino, and Take Charge Indy were expected to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday and hit the track for the first time on Wednesday morning. It will be the first time in about a week they will get to step on dry land.
Rain in south Florida over the weekend forced these horses to train over wet tracks and do less than they likely would have had the conditions been dry.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Maybe next year, trainer Todd Pletcher will send his horses to Southern California to train for the Kentucky Derby.
Hoping to avoid the wet weather that plagued him in Kentucky last year, Pletcher opted this spring to keep his Kentucky Derby hopefuls Gemologist and El Padrino in south Florida for as long as possible. Given the beautiful weather here all winter it seemed like a good idea.
In reality, not so much.
Trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday that In Lingerie, six-length winner of the Bourbonette Oaks in March, would skip the Kentucky Oaks and instead point to the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico on May 18.
“We decided a couple more weeks would do her well,” said Pletcher, who trains In Lingerie for Aaron Wellman and Gary Barber. “She’s a lightly raced filly; only run three times. Maybe the Black-Eyed Susan makes a little more sense this early in her career.”
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Under less-than-ideal circumstances, Grace Hall, the potential Kentucky Derby Oaks favorite, had her final preparations for Friday’s race by working a half-mile in 52.32 seconds Sunday morning over a sloppy Palm Meadows surface.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – The electronic sign on the Florida Turnpike read "Severe Weather Ahead. Reduce Speed." It was both ominous and accurate.
Thunderstorms with heavy rain and lightning hit the south Florida area earlier than anticipated Saturday, slowing down most of the equine traffic at the saturated Palm Meadows training center, where a few horses pointing to next week’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks still reside.
With the final major preps in the books, our analysts tackle the big questions and key horses in the 138th Kentucky Derby:
1. Bodemeister is arguably the most talented 3-year-old this year, but does he have enough seasoning to win the Kentucky Derby?
Jockey Eusebio “Eddie” Razo Jr., 46, died Tuesday morning in an explosion at his home in Long Grove, Illinois.
Razo’s former longtime agent and friend, Lindy McDaniel, confirmed news of his death Tuesday afternoon. McDaniel, who now books mounts for jockey Jesse Campbell at Woodbine in Canada, said he had earlier in the day spoken with Razo’s wife, Doreen, who had given him only sparse details concerning Razo’s death.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Havre de Grace, the 2011 Horse of the Year, has been retired after being found to have an injury to her right front ankle following a Sunday workout at Churchill Downs, where she had been preparing to make her second start as a 5-year-old in the La Troienne Stakes on the May 4 Kentucky Oaks undercard.
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The Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility at Dream Chase Farm in Georgetown, Ky., will host its annual homecoming fundraising day on Sunday, May 6, starting at 4 p.m.
Catered by Furlongs and Staxx Barbecue, the event features live musice by Roger BonDurant, guided farm tours, a live and silent auctions, and on-site orders for art by Pottery Rowe artists. Tickets are $25 or $15 for students and Old Friends members and shareholders, and reservations are strongly encouraged at (502) 863-1775.
