LEXINGTON, Ky. – Dale Romans hangs around enough horseplayers to know the nuances of the tote board, which is one reason the veteran trainer will be running Medal Count back on just seven days’ rest in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday.
“He’s the second choice,” said Romans, referring to a morning line that lists Medal Count at 9-2, behind only Bobby’s Kitten (3-1) on the Keeneland program. “That’s enough right there to run.”
CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome jogged a mile Wednesday at Los Alamitos, his first day of training since a comprehensive win in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby last Saturday.
Judging by California Chrome’s behavior Wednesday, the Santa Anita Derby did not take its toll on the red-hot 3-year-old, who will make his next start May 3 in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
“He was full of himself,” trainer Art Sherman said. “He was ready to do something. He was bucking and playing. I was happy with the way he came out of the race.”
In 1882, the electric iron was patented, Jesse James was killed, and Apollo won the Kentucky Derby. The Derby was 8 years old. It turns the ripe old age of 140 this year, and in all the years since, no horse has equaled the feat of Apollo, who won the Derby after never racing at age 2.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – An oversubscribed field of 3-year-olds has been entered for Saturday in the 90th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
Bobby’s Kitten, making his Polytrack debut after establishing himself as a standout on grass, has been listed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after being assigned post 5 in the 1 1/8-mile race.
Fifteen were entered, although only as many as 14 can run. Divine Oath is the lone also-eligible as one of three entries for Todd Pletcher, who also is represented by Gala Award and Vinceremos.
California Chrome just made my Kentucky Derby superfecta play much less complicated.
After the San Felipe Stakes, when I went back and reviewed California Chrome’s entire record, looked at his recent races, and wrote about it, I decided, two months out, that California Chrome was my Derby horse. It was not just the 108 Beyer Speed Figure in the San Felipe, although that certainly got my attention. It was the way the horse was winning – speed on command, powerful strides, and wide margins.
A relatively slow start (1 for 7) to the spring meet can be easily forgotten by Ken Ramsey with a big upcoming weekend.
Ramsey, who with his wife, Sarah, more than doubled their own record for the most wins for an owner at a Keeneland meet with 25 last spring, not only will be looking to get a third horse into the May 3 Kentucky Derby but also is anxious to see his standout turf mare, Stephanie’s Kitten, in her 5-year-old debut.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
ARCADIA, Calif. – Almost a year ago, Santa Anita Derby winner California Chrome began to catch trainer Art Sherman’s attention.
California Chrome was ready to start in the first race for juveniles of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting. Going into the race, Sherman gave the colt the sort of mild compliment that a trainer with an unraced juvenile might express.
“He acts like he can run a little bit,” Sherman said last April 23, three days before the colt’s debut in the 4 1/2-furlong race for California-breds.
Trainer Jamie Osborne on Tuesday made official what he and owner Michael Buckley had insinuated for the past week: Toast of New York, the winner of the United Arab Emirates Derby, will not travel to the United States for the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
