ARCADIA, Calif. - Not much worked for Blame the Rider in his first five starts, all on dirt. From October to early March, his best result was a third in a maiden race.
But Blame the Rider has been perfect since he was switched to turf last month. A win in a maiden race on April 14 was followed by a stakes win in Saturday’s $101,035 Singletary Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile at Santa Anita.
Kentucky Oaks runner-up Wonder Gadot will target the Queen’s Plate, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, on June 30 at Woodbine, trainer Mark Casse said as he makes plans for his 3-year-olds.
Wonder Gadot dueled the length of the stretch with Monomoy Girl in the Kentucky Oaks before Monomoy Girl prevailed by a half-length, surviving a claim of foul. Casse said Wonder Gadot, who won the Mazarine Stakes at Woodbine and the Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct last year, emerged in good order.
“She is amazing. She’s bouncing around,” Casse said.
Trainer Keith Desormeaux was hands-on Sunday morning, walking his standout 3-year-old My Boy Jack around the shed row and then holding him for his bath. He spoke with admiration for the colt who, he said, after a busy spring campaign and a major effort in the Kentucky Derby, will not run in the Preakness Stakes.
“This horse has got a heart of gold,” Desormeaux said. “I already had plenty of respect for him, but after yesterday, man. This horse, he is to be commended.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There were 19 horses who took on Justify in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, but by Sunday morning here at Churchill Downs, few trainers were even entertaining the thought of trying him again in two weeks in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, let alone committing to the race.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As Justify was brought out to meet an adoring throng on Sunday morning here at Churchill Downs, like a king granting an audience to his loyal subjects, the colt got a bit worked up from the attention and the constant clicks from the cameras.
“You better get used to this,” said trainer Bob Baffert, looking up at Justify from the other end of the lead shank. “This is your new life.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bolt d’Oro is done chasing Justify for now.
Second to him in the Santa Anita Derby and then 12th in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday after being spurned on the far turn by Justify, Bolt d’Oro will return to California on Tuesday and will not run in either the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes, the next two legs of the Triple Crown, according to owner and trainer Mick Ruis.
“It’s not in his best interest,” Ruis said Sunday of continuing on the Triple Crown trail.
“Bob,” Ruis said, referring to Bob Baffert, the trainer of Justify, “has a monster.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Good Magic, the runner-up to Justify in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, and the quartet of horses trained by Todd Pletcher – including third-place finisher Audible – all emerged from their efforts in good shape Sunday morning. While Pletcher is likely to focus on the Belmont Stakes with a couple of his horses, Chad Brown, the trainer of Good Magic, is leaving the door open for a potential start in the Preakness on May 19.
Wagering on the Kentucky Derby and the 14-race Derby day card at Churchill Downs in Louisville on a rain-soaked Saturday broke records for the second year in a row, according to charts of the race, demonstrating the continuing strength of big race days in the U.S. racing industry.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Chad Brown said there was a point in the stretch on a rain-soaked Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs that he thought Good Magic had “a really, really good chance” to give him his first Kentucky Derby victory.
By Marty McGee and Mary Rampellini
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen became just the second trainer to saddle 8,000 Thoroughbred winners in North American racing history when Lookin At Lee won the third race on the Kentucky Derby Day card Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Only the late Dale Baird, with 9,445, has more wins, according to Equibase statistics.
Asmussen, 52, is a clear second on the all-time leader list. Jerry Hollendorfer ranks third with 7,436 wins through Thursday, while the late Jack Van Berg is fourth at 6,523.
