LOUISVILLE, Ky. – While their Kentucky Derby counterparts, as usual, get most of the attention at Churchill Downs, the fillies being pointed to the Kentucky Oaks also are undergoing final preparations as a sizable field takes shape for the May 6 classic.
R Heat Lightning, who figures as the Oaks favorite over Joyful Victory and Kathmanblu, will have her final workout Saturday after breezing here the previous Saturday.
While the El Camino Real Derby has attracted more attention of late, Saturday’s Grade 3 San Francisco Mile is considered by many to be Golden Gate Fields’s signature event. Among those who have run in the Mile is Silic, who finished fourth in 1999 before going on to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
The San Francisco Mile was dropped from Grade 2 to Grade 3 status this year, and Golden Gate Fields has cut the purse to $100,000 – the minimum level for Grade 3 races – after initially offering $150,000. As recently as 2009, the purse was $300,000.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The first stage of jockey Tyler Baze’s comeback from facial injuries sustained last summer began on Monday. He finished last of four in a maiden claimer at Turf Paradise, where he has been exercising horses this month for trainer friends.
Thursday, the comeback shifts to his home circuit in Southern California where he has three mounts on an eight-race program at Hollywood Park.
“I’m ready,” Baze said over the weekend. I’ve been ready.”
Jockey Ramon Dominguez will ride Gotham Stakes winner Stay Thirsty in the Kentucky Derby on May 7, owner Mike Repole said Tuesday.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Akkadian was ticked off, and so were bettors that considered the colt a standout in a turf allowance for 3-year-olds on March 18 at Santa Anita.
“The horse got mad,” trainer Julio Canani explained. “It took him three minutes to get into the gate, his ears got pulled, and he got pissed off.”
Based on a powerful maiden win, Akkadian was favored at even money his first try against winners. But he copped an attitude before the start and continued to misbehave when the race began. He got rank, steadied, pulled, and finished a disappointing fourth.
J P’s Gusto on Tuesday joined The Factor as horses who were not expected to run in the Kentucky Derby and whose connections finally made that news official.
“We're not running,” Dr. John Waken, who owns J P's Gusto under his GEM Inc. banner, said Tuesday. “As far as I know, he leaves for New York today or tomorrow.”
The Factor, who disappointed as the heavy favorite in the Arkansas Derby in his last start, on Tuesday morning was officially withdrawn from consideration for the May 7 Kentucky Derby, co-owner George Bolton said. That leaves his trainer, Bob Baffert, with just Midnight Interlude as a Derby starter. Baffert over the weekend officially took out Jaycito because of a foot injury.
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail
LOUISVILLE, KY. - Tuesday morning’s Derby-Oaks training session ended in tragedy when Gilded Gem broke down crossing the finish line after breezing six furlongs in company with trainer Bob Baffert’s Oaks candidate Plum Pretty.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It’s that time of year again. Time to break out the stopwatches and binoculars and track the prospective starters during the all-important final two weeks leading up to another Kentucky Derby.
