When 2020 began, it would have been impossible to conjure the Ellis Park Derby as a stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby – just as Tommy Drury was oblivious to having a top Kentucky Derby hopeful in his barn.
But when Art Collector goes postward as a heavy favorite Sunday in the $200,000 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby, the reality of this bizarre year will start sinking in even further for Drury.
“If I told you I was thinking Kentucky Derby when I first got him, I’d be lying to you,” Drury said.
All eyes on Saratoga this Saturday. Sure, we’d love to see some larger, more competitive fields on the Runhappy Travers card, but it’s also worth keeping in mind that only a couple months ago, there was no racing at all in New York.
Travers
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ny Traffic, beaten a nose by Authentic in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 18, returned to the work tab Thursday at Saratoga, breezing a half-mile in 49.90 seconds over the main track.
Ny Traffic, who got his last quarter in 24.25 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.63, is training toward a start in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Four years ago, trainer Bob Baffert shipped a lightly raced 3-year-old from California to take on a dozen horses, including the winners of two Triple Crown races, in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. All Arrogate did that day was win by 13 1/2 lengths and smash a 37-year-old stakes and track record by running 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.36.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Naturally, Tiz the Law and Uncle Chuck will command the bulk of the attention – and wagering money – in the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
However, the recent failures by short-priced horses in the Travers – favorites have won just two of the last 12 runnings – could sway bettors to look beyond the top two choices in Saturday’s 151st running of the race.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Six new names are among the 23 separately listed interests in the seventh and final pool in the 2020 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which opens Friday at noon Eastern for the customary three-day run.
Churchill Downs has never had more than four futures pools since the first were offered in 1999, but these are unprecedented times amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 146th Derby has been postponed from its original May 2 date until Sept. 5, and the Belmont Stakes became the first leg of the Triple Crown when run June 20. The Preakness is set for Oct. 3.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Back on May 2, the day the Kentucky Derby originally was supposed to be run, Art Collector was about 25 miles up the road from Churchill Downs at the Skylight Training Center, having an easy day of training following a half-mile drill the day before, his second recorded work after Tommy Drury took over as his trainer. He would not make his first start of the year until May 17, the day after the Preakness originally would have been run.
Uncle Chuck
Uncle Mo – Forest Music, by Unbridled’s Song
Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet ($250,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman)
Uncle Chuck, among the late bloomers to arrive on this year’s elongated Kentucky Derby trail, will get a litmus test when he challenges divisional leader Tiz the Law this Saturday at Saratoga. The colt is the product of crossing a young classic sire over a classy sprint mare who has developed into an outstanding broodmare.
The connections of Major Fed considered running the Ghostzapper colt in the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby on Sunday before deciding instead to train him straight into the Kentucky Derby.
“We’re happy with where we are with him and comfortable with the points situation,” said Travis Foley, assistant to his father, Greg Foley. “Everything’s goo,d and we didn’t feel like we needed the race in between.”
:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2020: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more
