Kentucky Derby Update: Saturday, April 29, 2017

Posted On 30 Apr 2017

By Darren Rogers —-

J BOYS ECHO WORKS FIVE FURLONGS IN 1:01 AT CHURCHILL DOWNS;
GIRVIN WORKS FIVE-EIGHTHS IN :59.60 AT KEENELAND
SHIRREFFS DUO DRILLS AT SANTA ANITA
PLETCHER DECLARES BATTALION RUNNER, MALAGACY OUT OF DERBY

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, April 29, 2017) – Two Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) hopefuls worked Saturday morning in the state: Albaugh Family Stables’ J Boys Echo breezed five furlongs in 1:01 after the morning renovation break at Churchill Downs and, 75 miles to the east, Brad Grady’s Girvin worked five furlongs in :59.60 at Keeneland.
At Santa Anita, Jerry and Ann Moss’ Gormley worked seven furlongs in 1:26.20 and Royal Mo worked six furlongs in 1:13.
Arriving early afternoon at Churchill Downs from California for the Derby were WinStar Farm and Don Alberto Stable’s Battle of Midway and Calumet Farm’s Sonneteer. Also slated to come on board later in the afternoon from Keeneland was Blue Grass Stakes (GII) winner Irap, owned by Reddam Racing.

KENTUCKY DERBY NOTES

ALWAYS DREAMING/BATTALION RUNNER/MALAGACY/PATCH/TAPWRIT – There’s a great, old gotta-get-up-and-dance rocker out of the ‘60s by Archie Bell and the Drells (from Houston, Texas) called “Tighten Up.” Looks like they might be getting down with it at the Todd Pletcher barn.
The multiple Eclipse Award winning conditioner – as he has often done of late – came into Derby season with many possibilities for the Run for the Roses. As the race loomed closer, his “Todd Squad” was at six runners Then the number went to five. Then Saturday afternoon it went to three.
Pletcher announced that Sumaya U.S. Stable’s Malagacy and St. Elias Stable’s Battalion Runner would not run in the Derby.
On Saturday morning, Malagacy who did not work with his stablemates Friday, again did not work at Churchill Downs. Pletcher said at the time, Malagacy is “99.9% likely not to run in the Derby.”
”We’re not closing the door completely just yet, but it is all but sure he won’t go,” he said at Barn 40 on the Churchill Downs backside.
The next candidate to step out of the dance was Battalion Runner, who merely walked the shedrow this morning after working four furlongs in :48.20 Friday. What made the walk noteworthy is the fact that Pletcher’s other three Derby workers from Friday returned to gallop at Churchill Saturday morning, all looking good as they went trackside just before 6 a.m.
“I’m going to talk to Mr. Viola (St. Elias’ Vince Viola) about (Battalion Runner’s) situation and Derby participation today,” Pletcher said. “We might make a call on it then.”
The trainer had noted that the gray colt by Unbridled’s Song “wrestled with the track” in his Friday drill, done in company with the stakes winner Made You Look. He said the work was just “OK.”
Pletcher is still in good shape for Derby dancers, however, and might even be looking at saddling the possible favorite in Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing Stables, et al’s Always Dreaming, who turned in a sparkling drill Friday that had race watchers all abuzz.
Always Dreaming (with Adele Bellenger up), along with Calumet Farm’s Patch (Isabelle Bourez) and Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Robert LaPenta’s Tapwrit (Silvio Pioli) all galloped “about a mile and a quarter” according to Pletcher Saturday morning on a sealed racetrack following a night of storms that had deposited a copious amount of water on Louisville.
“I’m pleased with how they came out of their works yesterday,” Pletcher said. “Always Dreaming (who had worked in a bullet :59.60 under his rider John Velazquez) especially so. He demolished his breakfast after that work, then ate up again last night. You love to see that when you put a good work into them.
“I liked the way he galloped this morning, too. He was more relaxed. We took some of the vinegar out of him with that work, which is what we wanted to do. I don’t have any problems with a good, stiff work eight days out from the race. It’s what he needed.”
It is unusual for a Pletcher horses to work in :59 (for five furlongs), but, he noted, not unheard of.
“I remember working Invisible Ink in :59 and change here back in 2001 ahead of the race and he came running to finish second.”
The trainer’s recall is right on. He drilled Invisible Ink in :59.80 on the Sunday before the Derby in 2001, then saw him come running up the rail to beat everyone except Monarchos in Derby 127.
Tapwrit, who worked in 1:00.20 in company with Patch (same time) Friday, had his rider Jose Ortiz up for the exercise. Patch was handled by Bourez Friday and still hasn’t had an official rider named for the Derby.
“(Tyler) Gaffalione rode (Patch) well last time (a second in the Louisiana Derby-GII) and we’d have to give him serious consideration for the mount,” Pletcher said.

BATTLE OF MIDWAY – WinStar Farm and Don Alberto Stable’s Santa Anita Derby (G1) runner-up Battle of Midway arrived at Churchill Downs this afternoon following a flight from Southern California with other Derby Week contenders.
The Smart Strike colt worked Friday at Santa Anita, where he was officially given a six-furlong time of 1:13.40. Using workmate Mangita as a target, Battle of Midway logged fractional times of 24.80, 37, 49.20 and 1:00.40, as reported by the Santa Anita press office, with a seven-furlong gallop out of 1:27.20.
“It was a very good work, nice and smooth,” Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “When they hit the wire he drew off from his workmate very well.”

CLASSIC EMPIRE/STATE OF HONOR – John Oxley’s 2-year-old champion Classic Empire and Conrad Farm’s Florida Derby (GI) runner-up State of Honor walked the shedrow Saturday morning for trainer Mark Casse following their breezes Friday.
Both colts are expected to jog Sunday morning, according to Casse.

FAST AND ACCURATE – Kendall Hansen, Skychai Racing and Bode Miller’s multiple stakes winner Fast and Accurate galloped 1 1/8 miles under exercise rider Joel Cano at 5:45 a.m. Saturday at Trackside Louisville.
According to trainer Mike Maker, the Spiral (GIII) winner will van over to Churchill Downs on Sunday morning and have his final pre-Kentucky Derby (GI) work during the exclusive Kentucky Derby/Kentucky Oaks 8:30-8:45 a.m. training period.
“He went well today,” Maker said.
A jockey has yet to be confirmed for the son of Maker-trained 2011 champion juvenile colt Hansen. He was ridden in his past two races — both stakes victories — by Tyler Gaffalione and Julien Leparoux, respectively.
“Everything is still falling into place,” he added.

GIRVIN – Brad Grady’s Joe Sharp-trained Louisiana Derby (GII) winner Girvin made his highly anticipated return to the work tab on Saturday morning on Keeneland’s main track for his final Kentucky Derby (GI) drill.
Ridden by retired jockey Rosie Napravnik, spouse of and assistant to Sharp, the son of Tale of Ekati worked five furlongs in company in 59.60 after the break at 8:30 a.m. Working inside, the three-time winner from four starts carved out furlong fractions of :12, :24, :36 :48 for the first four furlongs before coming home his final eighth in :11.60 and galloping out in 1:13 flat for six furlongs.
The work, which was twice postponed — from Saturday to Monday, then Monday to Saturday — comes after a quarter crack was discovered in his right front hoof on Wednesday, April 19. Utilizing a special bar shoe, hyperbaric chambers and swimming amenities at Kentucky Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center (KESMARC) in the interim, Girvin worked for the first time since posting a half-mile bullet of 30 in :47.80 at Trackside Louisville on April 15.
The dark bay 3-year-old colt’s Saturday workmate (under Sharp) was Grady-owned Louisiana Derby rabbit and appropriately named gelding Hotfoot.
“He worked extremely well and cooled out great,” Sharp said, while audibly relieved. “Every day the foot has been better and better, but typically this kind of issue does improve like that. It’s definitely been a huge team effort.”
Sharp, who is training his first Kentucky Derby starter, confirmed that Girvin would stay at Keeneland until shipping to Churchill on Wednesday morning.
“He will train here that day and then ship over. I know we have to be there 72 hours out.”

GORMLEY/ROYAL MO – Trainer John Shirreffs reported that his Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley worked seven furlongs Saturday morning at Santa Anita in his final major prep for next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. He accomplished the drill under regular exercise rider Francisco Alvarado and did it in company with the maiden Ziconic.
Santa Anita clockers registered a final time of 1:26.20 for Gormley, noting that he pulled well away from his workmate through the lane. Ziconic’s was timed in 1:27.40.
“It was a good work for (Gormley); just what we wanted to get him ready for the race,” the conditioner offered via phone from his Santa Anita barn.
Shortly afterward, Shirreff sent out Alvarado again, this time aboard Royal Mo and they went through a six-panel drill in company with an unnamed workmate. Royal Mo proved best at the wire and the clockers gave him a final time of 1:13.
Shirreffs, who won Derby 131 in 2005 with the 50-1 shot Giacomo, has his two colts booked on an early Monday morning flight to Louisville. He noted that he’d be headed to Kentucky on Sunday.
Gormley has the points to be assured a spot in the starting gate for Derby 143. His barnmate will need a bit of help to run, as he currently sits at No. 23 on the list of the 20 runners slated for the mile and a quarter classic
Gormley is scheduled to be ridden by brand-new Hall of Fame rider Victor Espinoza, who already has three Kentucky Derby victories notched in his belt. If Royal Mo goes, he gets the services of Gary Stevens, a 20-year veteran (1997) of the Hall of Fame who also has three Derby tallies on his scorecard.
Both Shirreffs’ horses are owned by Jerry and Ann Moss. They also were the owners of Giacomo, who flew late under Mike Smith to get up by half a length in his Derby surprise.

GUNNEVERA – Peacock Racing Stables’ Gunnevera walked the shedrow Saturday morning, a day after working five furlongs in 1:03.60.
“I am glad we got the work in yesterday,” trainer Antonio Sano said as dark clouds circled an already soggy Churchill Downs from overnight storms. “He is good this morning and he will go to the track tomorrow morning.”
Sano will be trying to give his native Venezuela a second Kentucky Derby success story to go with the magical ride of Canonero II in 1971.
“I watched Canonero’s race on TV with my dad,” Sano said. “I was 9 years old.”
The Canonero frenzy also swept up Solomon Del-Valle, the majority owner of Gunnevera.
“The first time I came to the United States, I was 20,” Del-Valle said. “I went to New York for Canonero’s Belmont. He finished fourth. Pass Catcher beat him.”

HENCE/UNTRAPPED – With trainer Steve Asmusssen accompanying Calumet Farm’s Hence and assistant trainer Scott Blasi accompanying Mike Langford’s Untrapped, both Kentucky Derby hopefuls came to the track during the special 8:30 a.m. training time for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders.
They walked around the paddock and then galloped once around the track. Exercise rider Angel Garcia was aboard Hence and Juan Vargas was aboard Untrapped.
“I’m very pleased,” Asmussen said. “Knock on wood, they’re both in great physical shape. I’m very proud of the job the whole team has done. I think everyone deserves a lot of credit for how well they’ve arrived here.
“Things have changed in the paddock with the balcony so I just wanted them to see it. They just walked around and we kept them moving. They’ll school in the paddock during the races Wednesday and Thursday.”
Asmussen said both Hence and Untrapped would have their final work Monday morning.

IRAP – The always ebuillent Doug O’Neill reported Saturday morning from California that his Derby charge Irap was “doing great” at Keeneland following his work at the Lexington track Friday morning. The Blue Grass Stakes (GII) winner had drilled a mile in 1:44.20 in his final major exercise prior to Kentucky Derby 143.
“He came out of the work in fine shape and will be headed to Churchill today,” the two-time Derby winning conditioner said.
“I’m flying to Kentucky Monday night,” he added.
Mario Gutierrez, also a two-time Derby winner, will handle Irap in this year’s “Run for the Roses.”
O’Neill and Gutierrez teamed up to win the Run for the Roses in 2012 with I’ll Have Another, then again last year with Nyquist.

IRISH WAR CRY – Isabelle de Tomaso’s homebred Irish War Cry was out at 9:30 a.m. for a 1 5/8-mile gallop at the Fair Hill Training Center, according to trainer Graham Motion.
“I’ve been very happy with how he’s been doing,” Motion said. “We changed up the time he went out but that was just because of the track We went just after it had been harrowed.”
Motion expects to work Irish War Cry six furlongs Sunday morning at Fair Hill with Derby jockey Rajiv Maragh aboard.
“We won’t be looking for anything fancy,” Motion said. “But he does need a proper work because he hasn’t one since before the Wood (Memorial). We’ve just been galloping him but that’s how I do it with all my horses.”

J BOYS ECHO – Albaugh Family Stable’s J Boys Echo breezed five furlongs in 1:01 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs over a track labeled as “good” for trainer Dale Romans.
The 3-year-old son of Mineshaft went with regular exercise rider Tammy Fox up in company with stablemate Little Irishdancer (four furlongs, :48.20) through splits of :11.40, :23.20, :35.60, and :48.20, before galloping out three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.60 and seven furlongs in 1:28.60.
“That’s what we wanted,” Romans said. “The gallop-out was strong. He did that by himself. You couldn’t ask for much better.”
The 3 ½-length victor in the March 4 Gotham (GIII) at Aqueduct, J Boys Echo was most recently a troubled fourth-place finisher in the April 8 Blue Grass (GII).
“He is a blue collar horse, he just gets out and does what he needs to,” Romans said. “The best scenario for us in the Derby is there is a lot of speed. We’ll settle back toward the middle of the pack, get a clean trip like Mine That Bird did a few years ago and hopefully come running at the end.”

McCRAKEN – Whitham Thoroughbreds’ McCraken is on track to breeze Sunday morning with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. scheduled to be aboard for trainer Ian Wilkes.
With exercise rider Yoni Orantes aboard Saturday morning, McCraken galloped a mile during the 8:30-8:45 special training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks hopefuls.
“That’s what I wanted to see this morning,” Wilkes said. “He’s ready to breeze.”

PRACTICAL JOKE – Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence’s Practical Joke walked the shedrow and is in good order the morning after his final timed workout of 1:01.60 for five furlongs, according to Baldo Hernandez, assistant to trainer Chad Brown.

SONNETEER – Calumet Farm’s Sonneteer, who would be the only maiden in the Kentucky Derby field should he make the 20-horse lineup, was among a contingent of California runners en route to Churchill Downs from California that arrived just before noon. The Rebel Stakes runner-up is 22nd on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard list and would need two defections to draw into the race.

THUNDER SNOW – Godolphin Racing’s Thunder Snow has been confirmed for the Kentucky Derby (GI). Given the go-ahead by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and trainer Saeed bin Suroor to compete, the UAE Derby (Group II) and UAE 2000 Guineas (Group III) winner is slated to arrive at Churchill Downs on Sunday after flying from Dubai to Cincinnati and subsequently vanning to Louisville. He will take up residence in Barn 17 and is expected to clear quarantine late Monday/early Tuesday. If all holds to schedule, the winner of four of eight starts will train Tuesday morning.
A Group I winner on the grass at 2, the son of top Australian sprinter-miler Helmet (AUS) stretched out to 1 3/16 miles on Meydan’s dirt course last out, earning 100 Kentucky Derby qualification points. His back form also includes a respectable fourth-place finish in England’s top juvenile event, the Dewhurst Stakes (GI).
Thunder Snow will be bin Suroor’s seventh runner in the Run for the Roses and is arguably his most accomplished. The veteran conditioner’s best finish was a sixth-place effort by China Visit in 2000.
“Sheikh Mohammed has made the decision to run Thunder Snow in the Kentucky Derby,” bin Suroor said. “The horse is in good form. He is sound, healthy, working really well and I am so happy with him. It is great to see another horse from Godolphin travel to the Kentucky Derby, as it is one of the best races in the world. Thunder Snow prepared (for this race) in Dubai. He will be in quarantine for two days and then it will be back to his normal routine. Thunder Snow has improved a lot and it would be brilliant to see him run well.”
Christophe Soumillon, whose lone Kentucky Derby (GI) mount was an eighth-place finish on Mubtaahij (IRE) in 2015, has the return call.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 143rd running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) to be run for 3-year-olds at 1 ¼ miles on Saturday, May 6:
Always Dreaming (John Velazquez), Battalion Runner (TBA), Battle of Midway (Flavien Prat), Classic Empire (Julien Leparoux), Fast and Accurate (TBA), Girvin (Mike Smith), Gormley (Victor Espinoza), Gunnevera (Javier Castellano), Hence (Florent Geroux), Irap (Mario Gutierrez), Irish War Cry (Rajiv Maragh), J Boys Echo (Luis Saez), Lookin At Lee (TBA), McCraken (Brian Hernandez Jr.), Patch (TBA), Practical Joke (Joel Rosario), Sonneteer (Kent Desormeaux), State of Honor (Jose Lezcano), Tapwrit (Jose Ortiz), Thunder Snow (Ire) (Christophe Soumillon) and Untrapped (TBA).
Next up in order of preference: Royal Mo (Gary Stevens), Local Hero (TBA), Master Plan (TBA) and Petrov (TBA).

KENTUCKY OAKS NOTES

ABEL TASMAN – China Horse Club and Clearsky Farms’ Abel Tasman, winner of the Starlet (Grade I) at 2 and runner-up in last month’s Santa Anita Oaks (GI), arrived in Kentucky late Saturday morning on a flight from Southern California. Yesterday the Quality Road filly worked seven furlongs in 1:25.60 at Santa Anita.
“It was a really, really good work,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “I see a big difference since we added the blinkers. She worked well and we’ll just gallop up to Friday.”
Baffert said the blinkers were added since the Santa Anita Oaks on the recommendations of both Martin Garcia, the filly’s frequent exercise rider, and Mike Smith, who has been working her in advance of his call in Oaks.
“Martin said that she needed them after he worked her, and then Mike worked her and came back and said the same thing. They just help her to be a little more aggressive.”

DADDYS LIL DARLING – Still based at trainer Kenny McPeek’s Keeneland stable, Daddys Lil Darling walked the shedrow Saturday morning following a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.80 Friday morning
The daughter of Scat Daddy is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Monday.

EVER SO CLEVER – Clearview Stable LLC.’s Kentucky Oaks hopeful Ever So Clever went to the track about an hour before her Kentucky Derby bound stablemates, who took advantage of the special 8:30 a.m. training time, and galloped once around under Angel Garcia.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said the Medaglia d’Oro filly would have “a little work” Sunday morning.

FARRELL – Coffeepot Stables’ Wayne Catalano-trained Farrell galloped for the first time on Saturday morning since completing her final serious work for the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), a six-furlong bullet three days prior in 1:13 flat. The last-out Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) winner had walked Thursday and jogged Friday.
With exercise rider Antonio Ramos aboard and assistant Sara Tittle escorting on pony, the three-time Grade II-winning daughter Malibu Moon left Barn 30 and hit the Churchill Downs main track at 8:30 a.m. After schooling in the paddock, she galloped just over a mile with Catalano, head assistant Fernando Canteria and jockey Channing Hill watching.
“It was absolutely a perfect gallop and everything went really well today,” Catalano said. “She schooled very well. I really like how she galloped nice and relaxed. Today was a good day for her after a couple light days.”

JORDAN’S HENNY – Erv Woolsey and Ralph Kinder’s Jordan’s Henny walked the shedrow a day after working five furlongs in 1:02.40.
Trained by Mike Tomlinson, Jordan’s Henny comes into the Kentucky Oaks off a third-place finish in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) to Friday rivals Salty and Tequilita.
Joe Rocco, who has ridden Jordan’s Henny four times, will have the Oaks mount. Rocco worked Jordan’s Henny on Friday, his first time back aboard her since last fall.
“She is a laid-back filly and you can do what you want with her,” Rocco said. “She worked very comfortably yesterday and I felt like there was more in the tank.”
Jordan’s Henny finished fourth in her debut here July 1 going six furlongs with Rocco aboard, trailing another Oaks rival, Ever So Clever.
“All along we felt she would be better going long,” Rocco said. “Mike is good at looking down the road.”
Rocco has not dived into his Oaks planning yet.
“I’ll wait until the post positions are drawn (on Tuesday) and see where the speed is,” Rocco said. “This year there doesn’t look like there is the one superstar. It looks more wide open. I’ll see if I can work out a trip and get lucky.”

LOCKDOWN – The Juddmonte Farms homebred Lockdown galloped under exercise rider Jo Lawson during the Oaks and Derby training session.
“She had a beautiful gallop,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “She was almost the only one on the racetrack. It was just a nice, medium kind of gallop to get a little exercise.”
Lockdown has only one race in the past three months, a distant second in the Gazelle (GII) at Aqueduct, but Mott is confident that fitness won’t be an issue.
“I would think her race in the Gazelle helped her quite a bit,” he said. “She had been off three months in between races but she should benefit from that. I think that’ll have her tuned up pretty good.”

MISS SKY WARRIOR – Arlene’s Sun Star Stable’s Miss Sky Warrior left Barn 43 and jogged one mile at 6 o’clock Saturday morning at Churchill Downs in advance of the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).
The three-time GII-winning Kelly Breen trainee has won five of six starts and has logged two half-mile works over the local surface since arriving two weeks ago, including a 49.20 drill on Thursday.
“She jogged one mile today and is doing very well,” Breen said. “We took her out early to avoid the rain. It was all good. She has breezed twice here already and everything has gone well, so far.”
A winner of the Gazelle Stakes (GII) last out, the Arlene London homebred is the only filly in the field with two victories over the Oaks’ nine-furlong trip.

PARADISE WOODS – Trainer Richard Mandella said all was good with his Kentucky Oaks charge Paradise Woods at their home track of Santa Anita in California Saturday morning.
“She galloped a good mile and a half this morning,” he said. “My assistant, Alex Bisono, the former jockey, was up. He’ll come with her to Kentucky Monday and we plan to have her out on the track at 7 a.m. Tuesday”
Paradise Woods became a Grade I winner in her first stakes try as she romped home by nearly 12 lengths in the Santa Anita Oaks on April 8. She was ridden that day by Flavien Prat, who has the call once more for next Friday’s Kentucky Oaks.
Mandella noted that he’d be flying to Kentucky Sunday and was looking forward to setting up shop at Barn 42 on the Churchill Downs backside.

SAILOR’S VALENTINE – Semaphore Racing LLC and Homewrecker Racing LLC’s Ashland Stakes (GI) winner Sailor’s Valentine is expected to arrive at Churchill Downs between 3-4 o’clock this afternoon after vanning from Keeneland. She is one of only two GI-winning fillies, along with Santa Anita Oaks (GI) winner Paradise Woods, competing in the 143rd running of the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).
The Eddie Kenneally-trained daughter of Mizzen Mast worked five furlongs at Keeneland in 1:00 flat on Wednesday. She galloped Saturday morning at Keeneland and will do the same at Churchill Downs during its designated 8:30-8:45 a.m. Kentucky Derby/Oaks training period Sunday.
“She’s great and came out of the work perfectly,” Kenneally said. “She’s training very well and everything has worked out so far. We’re looking forward to the Oaks.”

SALTY – Gary Barber, Baccari Racing Stable LLC and Chester Prince’s Salty walked the shedrow Saturday morning for trainer Mark Casse following her four-furlong breeze in :48.40 Friday.
Salty is expected to jog Sunday, according to Casse.

TEQUILITA – Trainer Michael Matz reported Tequilita, the filly he conditions for his wife Dorothy Matz, came out of her Friday work well and was “still on go” for the Kentucky Oaks.
“She seems fine,” Matz said. “She ate up. She’s fit enough. We weren’t looking for anything too fast. Her gallop out was real nice.”

VEXATIOUS – Calumet Farm’s regally bred Vexatious went out for a one-mile trot at 9:30 a.m. with exercise rider Freddy Quevero aboard, according to Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale.
Although winless since breaking her maiden at Del Mar in November, the Giant’s Causeway filly has had reasonable excuses for not yet breaking through against tougher company.
“She’s always been down on the inside, getting stuck,” Drysdale said. “In Hot Springs (in the Fantasy-GIII) she got hit like three times. In New Orleans (in the Fair Grounds Oaks-GII) we flew her in right on top of the race and she was a little bit keyed up, a little bit rank, so she was up on the pace and she needs to come from off it. We learned our lesson and she needed experience.
“In her first trip this year, against the colts, she got stopped cold and went back to last and still came on again for third when she would’ve had every right to say, ‘the hell with it.’ And her maiden race was a disaster, too, just look at it.
“We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t think she had a chance. The extra sixteenth of a mile will help a lot.”

WICKED LICK – Lee Mauberret’s Wicked Lick jogged before 7 o’clock under exercise rider Leo Garcia for trainer Brendan Walsh.
Wicked Lick had worked a half-mile in :49.60 on Friday with Walsh aboard. Walsh was at Keeneland Saturday morning where he has another string of horses.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY OAKS – Likely starters in the 143rd running of the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) to be run for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on Friday, May 5:
Abel Tasman (Mike Smith), Daddys Lil Darling (Julien Leparoux), Ever So Clever (Luis Contreras), Farrell (Channing Hill), Jordan’s Henny (Joe Rocco), Miss Sky Warrior (Paco Lopez), Mopotism (TBA), Paradise Woods (Flavien Prat), Sailor’s Valentine (Corey Lanerie), Salty (Joel Rosario), Tequilita (Luis Saez), Vexatious (Kent Desormeaux), Wicked Lick (Brian Hernandez Jr.).
Possible starters within the Top 14 on the preference list: Lockdown (Jose Ortiz)
Next up in order of preference: Torrent (TBA), Summer Luck (TBA).

KNOWN WORKOUT SCHEDULE

SUNDAY – Fast and Accurate (Mike Maker, Receiving Barn, 8:30 a.m.); McCraken (Ian Wilkes, Barn 26, 8:30 a.m.)

MONDAY – Hence (Steve Asmussen, Barn 38, TBA), Lookin At Lee (Asmussen, Barn 38, TBA), Untrapped (Asmussen, Barn 38, TBA)

KNOWN ARRIVAL SCHEDULES

SUNDAY (BY PLANE FROM DUBAI TO CINCINNATI, VAN TO LOUISVILLE) – Thunder Snow (Ire) (Saeed bin Suroor, Barn 17)

SUNDAY OR MONDAY (BY VAN FROM MARYLAND) – Irish War Cry (Graham Motion, Barn 41)

MONDAY (BY VAN FROM KEENELAND) – Daddys Lil Darling (Kenny McPeek, Barn 7)

MONDAY (BY PLANE FROM CALIFORNIA) – Masochistic (Ron Ellis, Barn 39); Bal A Bali (Richard Mandella, Barn 42); Paradise Woods (Richard Mandella, Barn 42); Conquest Farenheit (Peter Miller, Barn 43); Richards Boy (Peter Miller, Barn 43); Solid Wager (Peter Miller, Barn 43); Storm the Hill (Peter Miller, Barn 43); Denmans Call (Doug O’Neill, Barn 41); Mopotism (Doug O’Neill, Barn 41); What What What (Doug O’Neill, Barn 41); Gormley (John Shirreffs, Barn 42); Royal Mo (John Shirreffs, Barn 42).

WEDNESDAY (BY PLANE FROM CALIFORNIA) – Finest City (Ian Kruljac, Barn 24); Ritzy A.P. (Dan Blacker, 9); Union Strike (Mick Ruis, Barn 24).

PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES

$400,000 ALYSHEBA (GII) (Entries taken Tuesday, May 2, race Friday, May 5) – Probable: American Freedom, Behesht, Bird Song, Breaking Lucky, December Seven, El Huerfano, Honorable Duty, International Star, Noble Bird

$300,000 LA TROIENNE (GI) (Entries taken Tuesday, May 2, race Friday, May 5) – Probable: Big World, Eskenformoney, Impasse, Paid Up Subscriber, Streamline, Walkabout

$200,000 EIGHT BELLES (GII) (Entries taken Tuesday, May 2, race Friday, May 5) – Probable: Benner Island, Cajun Delta Dawn, China Grove, Florida Fabulous, Ghalia, I’mluckysgirl, Let It Ride Mom, Lovely Bernadette, Mopotism, Phone Chick, Pretty City Dancer, Summer Luck, Union Strike, What What What. Possible: Someday Soon

$150,000 EDGEWOOD (GIII) (Entries taken Tuesday, May 2, race Friday, May 5) – Probable: Bernadiva, Dream Dancing, Emphatically, India Mantuana, My Sweet Stella, Purely A Dream, Stallion Heiress, Storm the Hill, Sweeping Paddy, You Missed It

$150,000 TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT (GIII) (Entries taken Tuesday, May 2, race Friday, May 5) – Probable: Black Bear, Derek’s Smile, Green Mask, Holding Gold, Partly Mocha, Power Alert, Pure Sensation, Tell All You Know, Why Two

$500,000 WOODFORD RESERVE TURF CLASSIC (GI) (Entries taken Wednesday, May 3, race Saturday, May 6) – Probable: Bal A Bali, Ballagh Rocks, Beach Patrol, Can’thelpbelieving, Conquest Panthera, Divisidero, Enterprising, Flatlined, Kaigun, Kasaqui, Oscar Nominated

$300,000 HUMANA DISTAFF (GI) (Entries taken Wednesday, May 3, race Saturday, May 6) – Probable: Carina Mia, Finest City, Paulassilverlining

$500,000 CHURCHILL DOWNS (GII) (Entries taken Wednesday, May 3, race Saturday, May 6) – Probable: Awesome Slew, Clearly Now, Denman’s Call, Limousine Liberal, Masochistic, Solid Wager, Tarpy’s Zapper, Tom’s Ready

$300,000 CHURCHILL DISTAFF TURF MILE (GII) (Entries taken Wednesday, May 3, race Saturday, May 6) – Probable: Believe In Bertie, Harmonize, Linda, Miss Temple City, Mississippi Delta, Roca Rojo

$300,000 AMERICAN TURF (GII) (Entries taken Wednesday, May 3, race Saturday, May 6) – Probable: Big Score, Conquest Farenheit, Holiday Stone, Kitten’s Cat, La Coronel, Made You Look, Oscar Performance, Parlor, Ritzy A.P.

$250,000 PAT DAY MILE (GIII) (Entries taken Wednesday, May 3, race Saturday, May 6) – Probable: Bitumen, Bobby On Fleek, Chief Know It All, Colonelsdarktemper, Excitations, Guest Suite, Impressive Edge, No Dozing, Rapid Dial, Rockin Rudy, Sonic Mule, Uncontested, Warrior’s Club, Wild Shot, You’re To Blame

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …

DERBYGIVES.COM 50/50 RAFFLE – The Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation will host a trio of nationwide online 50/50 charitable raffle drawings on Thurby (May 4), Kentucky Oaks Day (May 5) and Kentucky Derby Day (May 6) to help raise money for its charitable initiatives, including Thoroughbred aftercare; arts and educational opportunities for stable area employees; and breast and ovarian cancer research and prevention. Raffle tickets are on sale now at www.DerbyGives.com for $5 in jurisdictions where online wagering is permitted. The winner will receive half of each day’s sale and the other half will go toward the charitable initiative. The Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation has donated more than $2.2 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable partners, including more than $740,000 for education and prevention of breast cancer and more than $140,000 to Thoroughbred retirement aftercare.

ENHANCED APP FOR ON-TRACK GUESTS – Churchill Downs Racetrack has launched a new version of its on-track mobile app to provide guests with additional features and information to enhance their experience at the racetrack and The Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands. The new features offer fans easy access to equine, racing and wagering information, as well as up-to-date information about each day’s events and news. Additionally, guests can wager from their mobile device; find parking and get directions to seating locations; skip food and beverage lines in seats where Express Pickup or In-Seat Delivery is offered; and buy, manage and scan mobile admission tickets. The updated app is available at iTunes at https://appsto.re/us/USS6bbi and the Google Play Store at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.venuenext.churchilldowns&hl=en.

WORKOUT VIDEOS

Saturday, April 29, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kxsPlKI4Uo

Friday, April 28, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRX3vhcIk6k

Thursday, April 27, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFEIUxoKKLs

Wednesday, April 26, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwvX6FhLHc4

Tuesday, April 25, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MULqY6_yM0

Monday, April 24, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF3Fs4JUYkM&t=1s

Sunday, April 23, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40LNE7itWks

Saturday, April 22, 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97zKxR_qh0U

PAST PERFORMANCES

Brinset.com Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Past Performances
http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/DerbyOaks17.pdf

SILKS