Anneau d’Or, a close second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November but ninth as the even-money favorite in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes last month at Fair Grounds, is on schedule for a start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4.
Anneau d’Or worked six furlongs in 1:12.80 at Golden Gate Fields last Saturday, the colt’s second workout since the loss in the Risen Star on Feb. 15.
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Trainer Pete Eurton was relieved his Plan A for Royal Act worked out, because Plans B and C ended up going away.
Eurton had desired running Royal Act in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby on Saturday at Fair Grounds, believing the race’s 1 3/16 miles would be of benefit to his colt. But until entry time Saturday, Royal Act was in danger of winding up on the also-eligible list, as there were 14 others who were preferred under the race’s conditions.
Enforceable
Tapit–Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union Bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms
The road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby has been thrown into flux, but for now it continues with Saturday’s Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, with the regally bred Enforceable the favorite.
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who is wintering at Oaklawn, has pretty much seen it all when it comes to the Kentucky Derby – having won four runnings. This year, the race will have a completely different look, with the coronavirus forcing its postponement until Sept. 5.
“It’s going to change the dynamics, going to change the field, I think, quite a bit,” Lukas said when asked about the later date. “I personally don’t think they’ll get 20. A number of things could happen.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Todd Pletcher had Gouverneur Morris as his main hope for the Kentucky Derby when the race was still scheduled for May 2, even though the gray colt was far short on qualifying points.
But with the new Sept. 5 date having been set for the Kentucky Derby, not only does Pletcher have far more opportunity for Gouverneur Morris to crack the lineup, but the possibility now exists that a late bloomer might ultimately surface from his deep bench.
“It could work out in favor of a few of ours,” Pletcher said.
The announcement Tuesday that the Kentucky Derby will be moved to Sept. 5 due to the coronavirus pandemic could lead to a new date for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, according to Oaklawn Park president Lou Cella. The Arkansas Derby is currently scheduled for April 11.
Cella said Tuesday that Oaklawn has been in discussions with a number of factions to determine the best date for the 1 1/8-mile race that has been won by such horses as American Pharoah, Smarty Jones, and Sunny's Halo.
The news that Churchill Downs would delay the Kentucky Derby by four months to Sept. 5 owing to the coronavirus pandemic, and that the Preakness would be delayed, too, caused trainers of leading Derby and Triple Crown contenders to ponder how they’d proceed in coming months, while realizing the situation in regards to racing’s overall schedule remains fluid.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Derby, the race whose name is synonymous with the first Saturday in May, has been re-scheduled for the first Saturday of September on Labor Day weekend, the race’s host, Churchill Downs, announced on Tuesday morning.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Brendan Walsh wishes trouble for no one. He’s not that kind of guy.
Still, Walsh couldn’t help but crack a smile when talking about how the chances of Maxfield making the Kentucky Derby field would be helped greatly by what appears to be an imminent postponement of the race.
“Absolutely, I’ve thought about that,” Walsh said. “I think about nothing else.”
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