LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As the trainers of Kentucky Derby and Oaks hopefuls continued to monitor the coming April showers, Kingsbarns was the first of Todd Pletcher’s major prep winners to turn in his penultimate breeze toward the Run for the Roses on Thursday morning at Churchill Downs.
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Skinner bounced out of his Santa Anita Derby third-place finish in such good shape he has already returned to work. Just nine days after missing by a half-length in the Santa Anita Derby, Skinner worked a half-mile Monday to stay on target for the Kentucky Derby.
Only one problem. As of Wednesday morning, Skinner ranked 22nd on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 45 points. He needs two defections to make the field. For trainer John Shirreffs, who won the 2005 Derby with Giacomo, it is déjà vu all over again.
Forte, the clear-cut favorite for the May 6 Kentucky Derby, has settled into a daily routine at Churchill Downs after arriving before dawn Monday following the long overnight van ride from trainer Todd Pletcher’s winter base at Palm Beach Downs in South Florida. The Florida Derby winner was sent through easy gallops Tuesday and Wednesday morning and was scheduled to be sent through his first Churchill workout Thursday or Friday, depending on weather.
WHO’S HOT
Disarm finished third with a 90 Beyer in the Lexington Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland. The performance was not remarkable, but it was good enough. The Louisiana Derby runner-up needed a third-place finish or higher in the Lexington to earn at least six points and make the Derby field with 46 points or more. Mission accomplished. Disarm makes the cut, as trainer Steve Asmussen seeks his first Kentucky Derby victory with his 25th Derby starter. Disarm is 30-1 by Derby Watch linemaker David Aragona.
WHO’S NOT
There is life after the Kentucky Derby. Whoever wears the roses in less than three weeks at Churchill Downs will have new foes awaiting them in Baltimore, as the field for the May 20 Preakness Stakes is already beginning to take shape, with some late bloomers and those who may miss the Derby for various reasons already targeting the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.
Two Phil’s, impressive winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks over the Tapeta surface at Turfway Park, had a major dirt tune-up for the Kentucky Derby on Sunday morning at Hawthorne Racecourse.
Working in company with his Larry Rivelli-trained stablemate Smokin Richie, Two Phil’s was clocked in 1:00 for five furlongs and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13, Rivelli said.
“It was awesome. He sat a couple lengths off the other horse and at the top of the lane just ran by him. I didn’t think he was going to get by him that easy, but he did,” Rivelli said.
Mandy Pope, who breeds and races as Whisper Hill Farm, is known for being a major player at Thoroughbred auctions in North America. She was ready to play at a high level again when a yearling Tapit colt from the family of Eclipse Award champion Jaywalk stepped into the Keeneland September ring in 2021.
“I always try to set a realistic price, but Mandy has been known to push the envelope when she really likes a horse,” Whisper Hill manager Todd Quast said. “I knew who we were against, and I knew we had to stay strong.”