LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With approximately three furlongs remaining in the $441,600 Churchill Downs Stakes, reigning sprint champion Amazombie and Preakness champion Shackleford were on even terms.
For Amazombie, the question was how he would handle the seven-furlong distance. For Shackleford, the question was whether he could end a seven-race losing streak dating back 50 weeks.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Great Attack has tended to be a prototypical Wesley Ward horse, with speed aplenty through the early stages. But the speed that Great Attack put on awesome display Saturday was of the late variety when the 5-year-old horse, well back early, flew past favored Bridgetown in the final 40 yards to capture the Grade 3, $150,350 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby odds as of 4:30 p.m. Eastern
Pool Total: $18,356,561
1. Daddy Long Legs: 23-1
2.Optimizer: 35-1
3. Take Charge Indy: 10-1
4. Union Rags: 9-2
5. Dullahan: 10-1
6. Bodemeister: 7-1
7. Rousing Sermon: 36-1
8. Creative Cause: 11-1
9. Trinniberg: 39-1
10. Daddy Nose Best: 12-1
11. Alpha: 21-1
12. Prospective: 56-1
13. Went the Day Well: 26-1
14. Hansen: 13-1
15. Gemologist: 8-1
16. El Padrino: 26-1
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – From two perspectives, California-based trainer Peter Miller will focus on New York racing later this month.
On May 28, Miller plans to saddle Reneesgotzip in the $300,000 Acorn Stakes, a Grade 1 for 3-year-old fillies over a mile at Belmont Park. Last Friday at Betfair Hollywood Park, Reneesgotzip won an allowance race over 6 1/2 furlongs against older fillies and mares.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey Robby Albarado, arrested on a fourth-degree domestic violence charge Friday, was indefinitely suspended Friday afternoon by Churchill Downs stewards, pending an appearance and evaluation by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Licensing Review Committee.
As a result of his suspension, he was removed from his mounts Saturday on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. Although he did not have a mount in the Kentucky Derby, he had been scheduled to ride, among others, Tapitsly in the Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile and Sassy Image in the Humana Distaff.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Believe You Can emerged from her victory Friday in the 138th Kentucky Oaks in good shape, said trainer Larry Jones, who will keep the filly based primarily at Churchill Downs when pointing her to major stakes on the East Coast this summer.
Jones, who trains Believe You Can for breeder-owner Brereton C. Jones (no relation), said the ultimate summer goal is the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes, the same race that Oaks winner Proud Spell narrowly captured in 2008 as a deciding factor in her eventually being voted 3-year-old champion.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Churchill Downs main track was closed for training on Saturday morning because of heavy rain overnight.
The track is normally open for just two hours, from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., on Derby Day, owing to the early 10:30 a.m. post.
Several Derby horses, in particular Hansen, were scheduled to train Saturday morning, but conditions precluded that from happening. Hansen was quite eager in his training here Thursday and Friday, and his Mike Maker, was hoping to give him something to do Saturday morning, 12 hours before the race.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - At 6-1, Union Rags is a slight favorite for Saturday’s 138th Kentucky Derby through 7:20 p.m. Eastern on Friday. The total includes only money bet ontrack at Churchill Downs. The pool was $108,501.
Take Charge Indy, the Florida Derby winner, and Hansen, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, are listed at 7-1. Bodemeister, the Arkansas Derby winner, and Gemologist, undefeated winner of the Wood Memorial, are both listed at 8-1.
[KENTUCKY DERBY: Past performances, video previews, latest news]
