Friends Lake's Kentucky Derby stock rose dramatically in the eyes of handicappers last weekend after two of his Florida Derby victims, Tapit and The Cliff's Edge, won the Wood Memorial and Blue Grass Stakes, respectively. On Saturday morning Friends Lake's stock went up even higher in the mind of trainer John Kimmel after Friends Lake worked five furlongs in 1:03.06 at Payson Park.
"That was perfect," said Kimmel. "This work was pretty much a ditto of his final breeze before the Florida Derby."
In an era when the use of the anti-bleeding medication Lasix, or Salix, has become routine, both Lion Heart and Smarty Jones have come through their preps for the Kentucky Derby without ever racing on that medication. Only one, however, will remain Lasix-free for the May 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
John Servis, who trains Smarty Jones, on Friday said the Arkansas Derby winner would go on Lasix for the first time in the Derby. But Patrick Biancone, who trains Lion Heart, said the Blue Grass Stakes runner-up would continue to race without Lasix.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - It seems altogether fitting that in a year in which the Kentucky Derby outlook could scarcely get more confusing, the final major Derby prep looks just as bad.
Or good, as it were. A full field that promises a bounty of lucrative wagering opportunities is set for the $325,000 , the 1 1/16-mile race that should help finalize the composition of the field for the May 1 Derby.
The sharks are circling. They always do this time of year, when lesser-name jockeys end up on big-name horses for the Kentucky Derby, and when big-name jockeys find themselves caught on more than one potential mount, while perhaps desiring yet another.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Amid the flood of dreams and excitement leading to the 130th Kentucky Derby on May 1, trainer Barclay Tagg has arrived at Keeneland with a few ounces of realism. Although Tagg will run Bride's Best Boy on Saturday in the final major race of the Derby prep season, the Coolmore Lexington Stakes, he is resisting the impulses that have helped make this the largest and most inscrutable pack of Derby candidates in many years.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Three days before the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, a weary Nick Zito stood outside his barn at Keeneland Race Course, eyes downcast, and said, "I can't wait for May 2."
By Saturday night, though, Zito again had May 1 circled on his calendar. The victory by The Cliff's Edge in the Blue Grass ended a miserable spring for Zito and put him on course for the 130th Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs.
"It's very, very humbling," Zito said Saturday night back at his barn. "I just hope we have three more good weeks."
While Kentucky Derby hopefuls battled in important prep races on three separate fronts Saturday, Florida Derby winner Friends Lake remained at his winter home at Payson Park where he worked five furlongs in 1:04.60 Saturday morning.
Trainer John Kimmel decided to train Friends Lake into the Kentucky Derby following his March 13 victory in the $1 million Florida Derby, and thus far is pleased at the way his colt has responded.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - If Birdstone runs in the Kentucky Derby, it will be without another prep race. Trainer Nick Zito said Birdstone, who was scratched from Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes because of a high white blood cell count, would head straight into the May 1 Kentucky Derby.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Last fall, four of the highest-ranked 2-year-olds in the country were kept out of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. In most cases, the desire to point for the Kentucky Derby six months later, and the failure of previous Breeders' Cup Juvenile winners to capture the Derby, was cited as the reason.
