LEXINGTON, Ky. – Wagering records were shattered at the 15-day spring meet that ended Friday at Keeneland, with more than $219 million in all-sources handle marking an all-time high.

Per-day purse payouts of $1,147,834 also were easily an all-time record.

This was the third straight meet for record handle at Keeneland. Total handle was $219,284,979, for a daily average of more than $14.6 million.

Gross handle surpasses the former record of $181 million bet during the 17-day fall meet last October. Handle was $164.7 million last spring.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After firing off a brisk work last weekend, Un Ojo did so again Saturday morning at Churchill Downs in his final half-mile work in advance of the Kentucky Derby.

Un Ojo, working on his own during the training period reserved for Derby and Oaks horses following the first harrow break on the fast main track, went a half-mile in 47.60 seconds under Colby Hernandez, according to Churchill Downs clockers. It was the 13th-fastest of 121 works at the distance on a busy morning.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Brad Cox got strong performances from his two Kentucky Derby runners in 2021, Mandaloun crossing the wire second, Essential Quality fourth. Mandaloun eventually became the Derby winner through Medina Spirit’s disqualification, and one might think, a year after getting good runs from his two Derby starters, Cox would approach the race the same way. Not exactly.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Arkansas Derby runner-up Barber Road turned in his final serious piece of work for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs, breezing a half-mile in 48.80 seconds, according to track clockers.

“We’re not trying to do any speed drills here,” trainer John Ortiz said. “We know what he wants.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Cyberknife and Zozos, two of the three horses trainer Brad Cox plans to run in the Kentucky Derby one week hence, were the first two Derby runners to drill Saturday morning here at Churchill Downs, beginning a parade of works that will pick up after the break at 7:30 a.m.

Baby Yoda has long been thought highly of, with a Grade 1 placing and gaudy speed figures on his resume, but he has yet to break through with a stakes victory. He gets a chance in the $160,000 St. Matthews Stakes on Wednesday at Churchill Downs.
 
The St. Matthews, which was drawn Friday, is a six-furlong dirt sprint for 4-year-olds and up who have not won a graded stakes in 2021 or 2022.

Graded stakes winners Forbidden Kingdom and Slow Down Andy are recovering from recent illnesses that kept them out of the Triple Crown this year.

Forbidden Kingdom, winner of two Grade 2 races earlier this year, was diagnosed with a swollen throat after finishing last of six as the even-money favorite in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The weather forecast for Saturday was improving by the time trainer Chad Brown arrived at Churchill Downs early Friday morning. But he decided it was better to go with what was in front of him than risk chancing a different track Saturday morning, so out went the highly regarded Zandon for his final workout for the May 7 Kentucky Derby, highlighting a morning of activity here that otherwise focused on fillies in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Callie Witt, an exercise rider for Joe Sharp for nearly a year, died early Friday in an accident on the training track at Keeneland. She was 20.

Sharp said the accident occurred when the 2-year-old that Witt was riding “did a kind of side-step in mid-gallop and fish-tailed,” throwing the rider into the outer rail or a concrete section underneath a railing.

Sharp, who was working elsewhere, said “it’s my understanding she lost consciousness” and that numerous attempts to revive her by medical personnel were unsuccessful.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Furniture maven Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale bet roughly $2.4 million to win on Essential Quality in the Kentucky Derby last year to help make sure the colt would be the post-time favorite.

With the 148th Derby set for Saturday at Churchill Downs, McIngvale once again is offering a full refund to any customer spending at least $3,000 on merchandise from his Houston-based Gallery Furniture stores if the Derby favorite wins.