LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Exaggerator, the Santa Anita Derby winner, on Saturday at Churchill Downs turned in his final work for the Kentucky Derby seven days hence, one of five potential Derby runners who worked at two different locales.
Exaggerator and Brody’s Cause, the Blue Grass Stakes winner, worked at Churchill Downs, as did Dazzling Gem and Cherry Wine, both of whom currently have insufficient points to make the 20-horse Derby field.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Nyquist was fast enough to win going five furlongs in his debut nearly 11 months ago, so there’s no need to work on his speed. As he edges closer to the Kentucky Derby on May 7, when he will run 1 1/4 miles for the first time, the emphasis has been on stamina.
While a strong performance in the Kentucky Derby can carry a horse all the way to a stall at a major stallion farm, several in this year’s field enter the gates with their stud careers already secured.
Shadwell Farm holds a strong hand, with a pair of stallion prospects in multiple Grade 2 winner Mohaymen and Grade 3 winner Shagaf.
The small-scale but quality operation Hinkle Farms will have a strong rooting interest in both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, as its broodmare band of about 30 includes the dams of both Derby favorite Nyquist and Oaks contender Weep No More.
The Hinkle family, which has been raising Thoroughbreds for more than half a century, maintains a boutique operation on just over 1,000 acres in Paris, Ky. The farm is co-owned by brothers Tom and Henry Hinkle, who were raised on the farm after their father began buying horses in the 1960s, and Tom’s daughter Anne.
As the Kentucky Derby nears, handicappers pore over mounds of statistics, historical records, breeding theories, and other information to find the winner. Each tries to figure out the most important factor or factors: recent form, ability to get 10 furlongs, trainer, sire, dam, post position, or a combination of the above.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Led by Todd Pletcher’s two Kentucky Derby candidates, a total of 10 horses with designs on the May 7 Derby turned in workouts Friday morning at Churchill Downs, with several of those works moved ahead from Saturday to avoid the wet weather predicted for the weekend.
Outwork, the Wood Memorial winner, was timed by Daily Racing Form working five furlongs in 1:01.16 in company with Azar for Pletcher. Destin, his Tampa Bay Derby winner, also worked five furlongs in company in 1:01.27.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Adventist, who still remains on the outside looking in as far as the Kentucky Derby is concerned, worked five furlongs in 1:02.37 on Thursday over the Belmont Park training track.
Adventist, third in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial, sits 22nd on the Kentucky Derby points list and would need two defections between now and Wednesday – entry day – to get into the Derby field, which is limited to 20 starters. He could be entered as an also-eligible but would need sufficient scratches by 9 a.m. Friday to get into the race.
CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Cloudy
Track: Good/fast
Temp.: 64
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The fillies took center stage Thursday morning at Churchill Downs, with the majority of the locally based Kentucky Derby hopefuls scheduled to turn in their final works on Friday. Likely Derby favorite Nyquist is at Keeneland, where he was scheduled to work before the first race on Friday.
