LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The heavy lifting is now over for the 22 horses still under consideration for this year’s Kentucky Derby, with the final major works turned in at both Churchill Downs and in South Florida on Monday morning.
Two of the greatest victories in the Hall of Fame career of Steve Asmussen have come in the Kentucky Oaks, with Summerly (2005) and Untapable (2014). Asmussen believes he merits a good chance at a third Oaks triumph Friday when he sends out Lady Apple off three straight victories at Oaklawn Park, the latest in the Grade 3 Fantasy.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey Flavien Prat piloted both Omaha Beach and Gray Magician to their maiden victories. Prat will now get experience with a third horse in this year’s Kentucky Derby, as he picks up the mount on Country House for what will be his third Derby ride.
Country House, who is trained by Bill Mott, finished second in the Risen Star and fourth in the Louisiana Derby with Luis Saez up, then was third in the Arkansas Derby under Joel Rosario.
LOUISVILLE, K.y. – Mark Casse had always intended to step up the intensity of War of Will’s training between the Louisiana Derby, his final prep on March 23, and the Kentucky Derby 42 days later. But after what transpired in the Louisiana Derby, War of Will’s subsequent training took on even greater importance.
The Lecomte and Risen Star winner, War of Will lost his action shortly after the start of the race and never got involved, finishing ninth. Casse theorized that the colt caught his patella at the start.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tyler Baze, a perennial top-five jockey for many years on the Southern California circuit, rode his first Churchill Downs winner when booting home Moonfield in the third race on the Saturday night opener.
Baze had been 0 for 11 with sporadic mounts at Churchill dating to 2003. The 36-year-old Seattle native, a winner of more than 2,600 races during a 20-year career, intends to ride here through the spring meet, which ends June 29. Joe Santos, the son of retired Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos, is his new agent.
Moonfield is trained by Phil Sims.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hidden Scroll, the Juddmonte Farms homebred who emerged as one of the Kentucky Derby favorites earlier this year, was expected to be entered by trainer Bill Mott in a seven-furlong first-level allowance on the Derby undercard, according to Juddmonte general manager Garrett O’Rourke.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After incurring his first career defeat Saturday night in the William Walker Stakes under the Churchill lights, Bulletin still will be pointed to the Royal Ascot meet next month in England, said Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Just a few minor touches were being made on Monday as the Kentucky Derby neared, with a field that looked as though it would be more than the maximum of 20, a development that would keep out several horses who want in.
Final works were recorded by Long Range Toddy here at Churchill Downs, and by Bodexpress and Maximum Security in Florida. Barring anything unforeseen, Bodexpress was going to wind up on the also-eligible list when entries were taken and posts drawn Tuesday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Six months later, trainer Shug McGaughey still wonders what might have been in the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs. Now, the Hall of Fame trainer wonders what might be in the Kentucky Derby.
