LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Arkansas Derby, on April 10 this year, was the last major Kentucky Derby prep, and since Super Stock won the Arkansas Derby just two weeks ago, the tenor of his final Derby workout Saturday at Churchill Downs was relatively muted.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Essential Quality, who has won all his races and will almost certainly be the Kentucky Derby favorite, and Mandaloun, soundly defeated last out as the favorite in the Louisiana Derby, put in their final Derby works Saturday morning at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox.

Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Like the King turned in his final serious work for the Derby on Saturday morning at his Keeneland home base.

The colt, under regular work rider Julio Garcia, broke off two lengths behind stablemate Artie’s Princess, who earlier this month was named Canada’s champion female sprinter of 2020. Like the King collared his workmate easily in the stretch and was edging clear at the wire as Keeneland clockers credited him with five furlongs in 1:01. The duo galloped out in 1:15.40.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - While trainer Todd Pletcher was pleased with what he saw from all four of his 3-year-olds Friday morning when they put in their final workouts at Churchill Downs for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, there was one move in particular that seemed to stand out.

Hozier was declared out of the Kentucky Derby as the field continues to shift with one week remaining before the May 1 classic. 

Hozier, who is trained by Bob Baffert for the multi-pronged partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Golconda Stable, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson, had been second in the Rebel Stakes, but sixth in the Arkansas Derby. He had worked six furlongs in "lackluster" fashion on Friday morning at Churchill Downs, in the eyes of Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch. 

Churchill Downs
Weather: Cloudy
Track: Fast
Temp: 43

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In sharp contrast to the previous several days, action was fast and furious on the Kentucky Derby/Oaks front Friday morning at Churchill Downs, with 10 potential Derby starters and seven Oaks candidates, including three of the likely top five betting choices, getting in their final serious preps.

Dream Shake, third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 3, will start in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on May 1 at Churchill Downs and not the Kentucky Derby on the same day, trainer Peter Eurton said Friday.

The decision was made after conversations through the week between Eurton and the partnership that owns the colt – Exline-Border Racing, Philip Hausman, and SAF Racing. The Pat Day Mile distance compared to the Kentucky Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles was the difference.

ARCADIA, Calif. – At 6 o’clock every morning here at Santa Anita, Ron McAnally arrives to watch his handful of horses train. He’s kept the same routine for decades, back when he was the nation’s champion trainer three times, before he got into the Hall of Fame. He craves the stability, the familiarity, and, most of all, the horses. They have given him everything. And he came from nothing.

Churchill Downs
Weather: Clear
Track: Fast
Temperature: 36

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The snow was gone but the cold weather lingered at Churchill Downs on Thursday, where the temperature hovered at a chilly 36 degrees when the racetrack opened for business at 5:15 a.m.

Medina Spirit has been a constant presence in 3-year-old stakes at Santa Anita since the beginning of the year, and consistent enough to merit a start in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1.

Medina Spirit won the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes on Jan. 30, and was second in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes in early January, the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 6, and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 3.