The Japan Racing Association will offer separate-pool wagering on the Kentucky Derby this year, provided that Master Fencer, a Japanese-bred colt, is entered in the race, officials of Churchill Downs said on Wednesday.
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The decision by Mike Smith and his agent, Brad Pegram, to ride Omaha Beach in the Kentucky Derby instead of their other enticing choice Roadster was reached on Tuesday, three days after Omaha Beach won the Arkansas Derby.
Smith’s decision unleashed a domino effect, including Florent Geroux picking up the mount on Roadster. But to even get to that point, a series of events took place, some of Smith’s choosing, many not, that would be a case study for chaos theory, how random events can yield unpredictable, unforeseen results.
Roadster
Quality Road - Ghost Dancing, by Silver Ghost
Bred in Kentucky by Stone Farm ($525,000 purchase by Speedway Stables at Keeneland September yearling sale)
Mike Smith has chosen to ride Omaha Beach in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Richard Mandella announced Tuesday afternoon.
"I just got the call," Mandella said. "We're good. Mike Smith. I'm very happy."
Smith had ridden Omaha Beach to victory in the Arkansas Derby last Saturday at Oaklawn Park. Seven days earlier, Smith had ridden Bob Baffert-trained Roadster to victory in the Santa Anita Derby. Those two colts are among the top two in this year's Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs, so the choice was a difficult one for Smith and his agent, Brad Pegram.
Churchill Downs plans to offer as many as six head-to-head matchups on both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks cards this year, as well as offer a pick six combining the six Grade 1 races on both cards, officials said on Tuesday.
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A group of racing companies that includes Churchill Downs, Keeneland, and the New York Racing Association are in discussions on a plan to prohibit the raceday use of furosemide in races for 2-year-olds and in stakes races, according to three officials with knowledge of the discussions.
Grade 3, $200,000 Lexington Stakes; 1 1/16 miles; Keeneland; April 20, 2019
(20 Derby qualifying points for a win, 8 for second, 4 for third, 2 for fourth)
Winner: Owendale, by Into Mischief
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Owner: Rupp Racing
Beyer Speed Figure: 98
Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Improbable in the Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs, according to Elliott Walden, the chief executive of co-owner WinStar Farm.
Jose Ortiz, Irad's brother, rode Improbable to a second-place finish in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday. Jose Ortiz has chosen to ride Tacitus, the Wood Memorial winner, in the Kentucky Derby.
Walden said Irad Ortiz was chosen because "he's a top rider, and we won a Belmont Stakes with him with Creator."
"It made sense," Walden said Monday. "He's an Eclipse Award-winning rider."
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The top three finishers in the Lexington Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland are all headed to Churchill Downs, but not necessarily to the Kentucky Derby.
In fact, Owendale, who earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure with his breakthrough triumph in the Grade 3 Lexington, won’t even be bothering with the May 4 Derby. The 20 points he earned mark his initial appearance on the Derby scoreboard and wouldn’t be enough to get him into the field. Brad Cox, who trains the Into Mischief colt for the Rupp Racing of Jim Rupp, said the May 19 Preakness is under serious consideration.