Thu, 04/27/2023 - 08:42

Kentucky Derby: Wild On Ice euthanized after training injury

Barbara D. Livingston
Wild On Ice, pictured Monday morning at Churchill Downs, was euthanized after an injury Thursday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Derby hopeful Wild On Ice was euthanized Thursday morning after suffering a catastrophic injury to his left hind leg at Churchill Downs in a pre-dawn workout intended to prepare him for the Derby on May 6.

Wed, 04/26/2023 - 14:15

2023 Kentucky Derby Clocker Report: Derma Sotogake clearly outworks Continuar

Continuar (right) and Derma Sotogake work at CD April 26 2023
Barbara Livingston
Continuar (right) began the workout well ahead of Derma Sotogake, but was far behind at the finish.

Churchill Downs
Wednesday, April 26
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 46
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A serious drill by the two Japanese contenders in this year’s Kentucky Derby, Derma Sotogake and Continuar, and a test run with the addition of blinkers for Sun Thunder highlighted Wednesday’s Derby-Oaks training session at Churchill Downs.

Wed, 04/26/2023 - 13:10

2023 Kentucky Derby: Ortiz has excellent chance in race that has eluded him

Forte.Irad Ortiz Jr.Florida Derby April 1 2023
Barbara Livingston
Kentucky Derby favorite Forte overcame a difficult journey in the Florida Derby, his fifth consecutive win under Irad Ortiz Jr.

He has won four of the last five Eclipse Awards as North America’s outstanding jockey and has averaged 320 wins annually the last eight years. At age 30, Irad Ortiz Jr. has risen to the top of his profession.

Ortiz also has developed a reputation as an aggressive rider, who in his quest to win walks the tightrope of daring and dangerous.

“I’m very competitive, but I would never try to put somebody in danger,” Ortiz said. “Everybody who knows me, knows how I am. I am very competitive but I’m not going to try and drop somebody, that’s for sure.”

Wed, 04/26/2023 - 12:20

Kentucky Derby: Flame of hope still flickers for bubble horses

Cyclone Mischief, training at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, needs two scratches to get into the Kentucky Derby.
Barbara Livingston
Cyclone Mischief, training at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, needs two scratches to get into the Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The skeptics who believed bubble horses only add clutter to the Kentucky Derby had their bubble busted last year when Rich Strike pulled his 80-1 stunner as a last-minute runner.

Will lightning strike in the same spot twice? The connections of a handful of horses eager to run next Saturday in the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs sure hope so.

Wed, 04/26/2023 - 11:30

Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for April 26, 2023

WHO’S HOT

Jace’s Road might seem curious as a “Who’s Hot.” After all, he is a 50-1 outsider by Derby Watch linemaker David Aragona and finished a fading third in the Louisiana Derby despite easy fractions. The reason Jace’s Road is hot is the Kentucky Derby defection of Blazing Sevens, which allows Jace’s Road into the field. He has 45 qualifying points, the same as Skinner and Cyclone Mischief. Jace’s Road wins the tiebreaker, which is non-restricted stakes earnings.

Wed, 04/26/2023 - 11:10

2023 Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Continuar

Continuar trains at CD April 25 2023
Barbara Livingston
Japan-bred Continuar is from the second crop of Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Drefong.

Continuar

Drefong – Pan de Ring, by King Kamehameha

Bred in Japan by Lake Villa Farm ($635,432 JRHA yearling purchase by Toshihiko Tabata)

 

Tue, 04/25/2023 - 15:14

2023 Kentucky Derby Clocker Report: Confidence Game, Mage make appearances on quiet morning

Barbara D. Livingston
Confidence Game gallops over the main track on Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs
Tuesday, April 25
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 39 degrees
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The closest thing to a timed workout relevant to the Kentucky Derby on Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs came immediately after the track opened for training at 5:15 a.m., when the reigning Derby champion, Rich Strike, breezed an easy half-mile in preparation for his next start in the Alysheba Stakes to be decided on this year’s Derby undercard.

Tue, 04/25/2023 - 12:42

Kentucky Derby: Castellano takes off Raise Cain to ride Mage

Mage at CD April 24 2023
Barbara Livingston
Mage comes into the Kentucky Derby following a stong runner-up effort to Forte in the Florida Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The connections of Florida Derby runner-up Mage have tabbed Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano to ride their horse in this year’s Kentucky Derby, a turn of events that now leaves Raise Cain without a rider just 11 days out from the race.

Castellano had originally given trainer Ben Colebrook a call to ride Raise Cain, runaway winner of the Grade 3 Gotham but a non-threatening fifth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass.

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 14:05

2023 Kentucky Derby Clocker Report: Disarm drills serious five furlongs

Disarm works at CD under Rosario April 24 2023
Barbara Livingston
Disarm worked five furlongs in 59.90 on Monday, just nine days after finishing third in the Lexington Stakes.

Churchill Downs
Monday, April 24
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 35
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An impressive work just nine days removed from his last start by Disarm and a very strong open gallop with blinkers on by Sun Thunder highlighted the special Kentucky Derby-Oaks training session at a chilly Churchill Downs on Monday.

Sun, 04/23/2023 - 15:50

2023 Kentucky Derby Clocker Report: Rocket Can works in blinkers

Barbara D. Livingston
Rocket Can was the only Kentucky Derby contender to work during Sunday's special session.

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Sunday, April 23, 2023

Weather: Sunny
Track: Fast 
Temperature:  38

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Nobody had any problem keeping their cool Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, where the temperature dipped into the mid-to-high 30s during training hours, and reached its low point about the time the track opened for the 15-minute window reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses at 7:30 a.m. following the renovation break.