WHO’S HOT
Except for the curious case of Owen Almighty, it was a relatively quiet week for Kentucky Derby aspirants. Some 24 horses remain under consideration according to Churchill Downs, including Journalism, the 3-1 early favorite on the Daily Racing Form Derby Watch Top 20 odds line by David Aragona.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sandman and Coal Battle, first and third, respectively, in the Arkansas Derby, both turned in maintenance moves toward the Kentucky Derby on a brisk and windy Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.
Working on a fast track at about 7:15 a.m., just after the first renovation break, Sandman was credited with a half-mile in 49.60 seconds by the Churchill Downs clockers.
"We just wanted him to stretch his legs," said assistant trainer Allen Hardy, who oversaw the work.
Journalism, the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby after overcoming trouble to win the Santa Anita Derby by three-quarters of a length, is tentatively scheduled for his first work back this coming weekend at Santa Anita.
“I have to figure out his travel schedule first,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “He’ll work this weekend.”
McCarthy added that Journalism is “doing very well, seems like he’s in a pretty good groove at the moment.”
ARCADIA, Calif. – The best 3-year-old who is not already qualified for the Kentucky Derby worked an easy half-mile Monday morning at Santa Anita in preparation for a potential Derby start.
Baeza, runner-up to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby, needs defections to make the Kentucky Derby lineup. He ranked 24th on the points list as of Monday morning, and only 20 horses can start. Trainer John Shirreffs is proceeding as if Baeza will get in. Monday’s workout was slow, by design.
ARCADIA, Calif. – California-based Baeza is not in the Kentucky Derby field yet, but he is getting close. Saturday morning at Santa Anita, trainer John Shirreffs outlined plans to train Baeza toward the Run for the Roses.
Baeza earned 37.5 Derby points finishing second to Journalism on April 5 in the five-runner Santa Anita Derby. It’s not enough to make the Kentucky Derby field. At least not yet. As of April 12, Baeza ranks 24th on the Derby points list. Only 20 can start. Shirreffs prefers not shipping to Kentucky if Baeza is on the also-eligible list.
INDIANTOWN, Fla. – Tappan Street and Sovereignty, two of the six top-ranked 3-year-olds in the latest Daily Racing Form Derby Watch and the first- and second-place finishers, respectively, in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, got back to work Friday morning. Both breezed easy half-miles over a fast track at their winter home of Payson Park.
A few jockey assignments for the May 3 Kentucky Derby have been finalized, with John Velazquez getting back on Grande and Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the mount on Publisher.
Grande, the Wood Memorial runner-up, got into the Kentucky Derby field because Heart of Honor, runner-up in the UAE Derby, is no longer being considered for the Kentucky Derby, according to a racing official with the International Racing Bureau.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Grade 3, $400,000 Lexington Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland is the final race awarding points toward the Kentucky Derby. However, the race is more likely to produce candidates for the Preakness Stakes.
