By Esther Marr
Prior to the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) post position draw the morning of April 28, Mike Rutherford, owner/breeder of Flying Spur, and Michael Lauffer, co-owner of Rachel Alexandra, discussed the chances of their fillies in the 1 1/8-mile, $500,000 race May 1.
It was ironic that the two men were sitting next to each other, talking casually about the industry, considering the fact Rachel Alexandra and Flying Spur finished one-two, respectively, in the March 14 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II). But there was a feeling of mutual respect between them as they conversed about their fillies’ rematch in the run for the lilies.
“Do you think I did the right thing by entering Rachel in the Oaks instead of the (Kentucky) Derby (gr. I)?” Lauffer asked Rutherford.
“Well, I would have liked to see her run in the Derby, but I wouldn’t have run her in the Derby,” Rutherford said with a laugh.
After Rachel Alexandra drew the six post, and Flying Spur drew the eight, Lauffer and Rutherford rested easy and they both seemed satisfied with their respective positions.
“I think she’s going to be tough,” said Lauffer of Flying Spur, a daughter of Giant's Causeway —Lakeway, by Seattle Slew, who has won just once in six starts, a Jan. 5 maiden event at Fair Grounds. “She likes to run long distances, and I think a mile and an eighth is going to help her.”
In regards to her most impressive race, in which she was runner-up to Rachel Alexandra by 1 3/4 lengths, Rutherford noted, “(Flying Spur) was closing in at the end…Rachel Alexandra is obviously the big filly in this race, but they all go down sometimes. Maybe we’ll get lucky; we’re going to have to get lucky.”
Trained by Bill Mott, Flying Spur will be ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez.
Said trainer Hal Wiggins of Rachel Alexandra's post position: “It’s OK; it probably doesn’t make a whole lot of difference. I’d just as soon be on the outside…with eight horses (in the field), and going a mile and an eighth, you’ve got a long run up to the first turn, so I’m very satisfied (with her post).”
Rachel Alexandra, a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro —Lotta Kim, by Roar, who has won her last four starts by more than a combined margin of 23 lengths, will be ridden by jockey Calvin Borel. She was bred by co-owner Dolphus Morrison, who named her after his granddaughter.
Justwhistledixie, who has the second most impressive record in the field, will break from post five. Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm, and R. Dee Hubbard, she is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, who had not yet traveled to Churchill Downs as of April 28.
Justwhistledixie, a daughter of Dixie Union —General Jeanne, by Honour and Glory , has won five consecutive starts, including the March 1 Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) and the March 27 Bonnie Miss Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park. Bred in Kentucky by Hermitage Farm, she has career earnings of $337,927.
Julien Leparoux gets the mount on Justwhistledixie, who will be facing Rachel Alexandra for the first time at Churchill. Rachel Alexandra has one major advantage over Justwhistledixie in that she has already won under the Twin Spires in last year’s Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II). This will be Justwhistledixie’s Churchill debut.
Who is the greatest filly to ever win the Kentucky Oaks? Rank your top 10!
Trainer Bob Baffert will saddle Gabby's Golden Gal, one of the horses trainer Hal Wiggins said could pose a threat to Rachel Alexandra. Also a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, Gabby’s Golden Gal has never finished worse than third in four lifetime starts, and she won her last race, the March 29 Sunland Park Oaks, by an impressive 13 lengths.
“(The Oaks) is a big step up for her, but the way she ran at Sunland Park, we felt like she deserved a shot at the big event,” said Baffert of the Arnold Zetcher homebred, who has raced exclusively on the West Coast circuit. “She’s trained well, and looks fantastic. This filly isn’t very big, but she’s very aggressive and will be one to be near the lead. She’ll be up on the pace. I just can’t see Rachel (Alexandra) getting beat…after watching her work, she’s just amazing. But Gabby’s tough. She’s little, but she’s a strong filly and she’s doing really well.”
Gabby’s Golden Gal drew the four post and will be ridden by Victor Espinoza.
Nan, one of the probable longshots in the field, drew post seven and has been prepared by trainer Wally Dollase’s daughter, Amy. Craig Dollase, son of Wally and brother of Amy, trains Nan, but will be unable to attend to Oaks due to a prior engagement in California.
“(Nan) has galloped really well over this dirt, and she’s worked really well,” said Amy Dollase of the filly by High Yield—Trip Around Heaven, by Halo, who has been winless in her last four starts, including an off-the-board finish in the April 4 Ashland Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland.
“You always like to see them come into a big race off a good performance, but she had an excuse that day, and she seems to have recovered well,” said Dollase of Nan, who had a slight bleeding problem in the Ashland.
Nan, who is owned by J. Paul Reddam and was bred in Kentucky by De Savino Stable, enters the Oaks off a record of 1-2-2 from 10 starts at tracks across the country. Corey Nakatani will ride.
D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer, will saddle three of the longest shots in the field: Tweeter, Be Fair, and Stone Legacy. Ironically enough, the horses drew the respective positions of 1, 2, 3.
Post positions, trainers and jockeys for the May 1 Kentucky Oaks:
Pgm. # Horse Trainer Jockey Morning Line
1 Tweeter D. Wayne Lukas Miguel Mena 30-1
2 Be Fair D. Wayne Lukas Rafael Bejarano 15-1
3 Stone Legacy D. Wayne Lukas Kent Desormeaux 30-1
4 Gabby's Golden Gal Bob Baffert Victor Espinoza 10-1
5 Justwhistledixie Kiaran McLaughlin Julien Leparoux 5-2
6 Rachel Alexandra Hal Wiggins Calvin Borel 3-5
7 Nan Craig Dollase Corey Nakatani 20-1
8 Flying Spur Bill Mott Garrett Gomez 8-1
Friday, May 1, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
I Want Revenge: Post 13, Derby Favorite
By Evan Hammonds
runaway winner of the Gotham Stakes (gr. I) and a determined victor in the April 4 Wood Memorial (gr. I), has been made the 3-1 morning line favorite for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The son of Stephen Got Even will break from post 13 in a full field of 20 3-year-olds for the $2-million classic that will be run under the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs set for 6:24 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia put the 3-1 price on I Want Revenge. He noted the lower price on the colt based on the fact that Quality Road was withdrawn from consideration earlier in the week. Battaglia made co-second choices of Pioneerof the Nile (post 16) and Florida Derby (gr. I) runner-up Dunkirk (post 15) at 4-1. The fourth choice is Friesan Fire (post 6) at 5-1. Hold Me Back and Desert Party have been pegged at 15-1 and all of the other starters are 20-1 or higher.
The draw was conducted at the Marquee Village at Churchill Downs, an area of luxury suites past the first turn adjacent to the Longfield Avenue parking lot. The past few years the post position selection process took place later in the afternoon at Fourth Street Live! in downtown Louisville on a nationally-televised stage.
A traditional pill pull was drawn by Churchill racing officials to select the order of finish. After a five-minute break, they went in order to select post positions. The connections of Join in the Dance were the first to select, while the connections of West Side Bernie chose last. Favored I Want Revenge’s post position was the 10th selected.
I Want Revenge, out of the Roy mare Meguial, is co-owned by IEAH Stables, Puglisi Stables, and Jeff Singer. A winner of three of eight starts, I Want Revenge will be ridden by 19-year-old Joe Talamo who will be making his first Derby start. Prior to his smashing wins in New York, I Want Revenge was third behind Pioneerof the Nile in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II). He closed out his 2-year-old season with a nose loss to the same colt in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I).
“These guys (the owners) do all the handicapping and I worry about the horse, but I think their goal was to keep all the speed inside of us,” said I Want Revenge’s trainer Jeff Mullins. “So I think we’re pretty satisfied with (the post). I think we’ll be fairly close to the pace, tracking the leaders. It’s nice to have the favorite because they are giving us respect. I didn’t want to come back here again unless I had a good horse.”
Zayat Stables’ homebred Pioneerof the Nile is three-for-three this year, having added the March 14 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) and the April 4 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) to his resume. Eclipse Award winner Garrett Gomez will be aboard the son of classic winner Empire Maker for trainer Bob Baffert.
“I’ve been thinking 16,” Baffert said. “I wanted to have 16 for this horse. It takes him a little while to get going and I just didn’t want him to be getting all clogged up down on the inside. I’ve been feeling 16 all week. I was really nervous today because I wanted to get a shot of at least having an option. I wanted 16 because sometimes they can break inward a little bit because you have that open space (between the main gate and the auxiliary gate; posts 14 and 15). If you don’t break, it doesn’t matter but at least if you were to miss the break you have a choice where you can be.
Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith’s Dunkirk was second behind Quality Road in the Blackberry Presents the 58th Running of the Florida Derby in just his third career start. The $3.7 million sale yearling is trained by Todd Pletcher.
"When we talked about it before the draw, 15 was my first choice, so I’m glad it was there,” Pletcher said. “I like the auxiliary gate; there’s a little space between the there and the 14. If there is a defection inside, we can still move inside and have a good position. But I think the goal was to be positioned towards the outside. I would expect him to be mid-pack early on.
"I thought we'd be a little higher (than 4-1 on the morning line), to be honest,” he said. “But it’s a very evenly-matched race.”
Friesan Fire, a winner of three straight in Louisiana, is trained by Larry Jones and owned by Vinery Stables and Richard Porter’s Fox Hill Farm. The son of A.P. Indy will be ridden by Gabriel Saez.
“This horse is going to have a whole lot of the same style Eight Belles did,” Jones said of his ill-fated 2008 Derby runner-up. “We drew the five hole with her and she had a wonderful trip. Hopefully we can repeat what we did there and get a good run before we turn for home.”
The center of the starting gate was where everyone wanted to be during the selection process. Join in the Dance selected post 9 with the first pick. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor chose second for Godolphin’s Regal Ransom and took post 10. His other starter, Desert Party, will break from post 19 after having the 17th pick.
“It depends on how fast they go,” said bin Suroor of the early placement of pace contender Regal Ransom in the Derby. “If he is second or third, I would be happy with that. The horse is doing well.”
Bin Suroor noted he would prefer to come from the outside with Desert Party, so that is why he selected the 19 post. “I am happy; content,” he said. “It’s a tough race, a very hard race. Our horses are doing well, and there is no excuse for them.”
Chocolate Candy was pegged in post 11 with the third choice.
Three-year-old Bodie Baffert, son of trainer Bob Baffert, put the tag for Pioneerof the Nile on post 16 with the fifth pick. Breeder and co-owner David Lanzman took “lucky” 13 with I Want Revenge.
WinStar Farm, with three horses in the Derby field, chose starting stalls five, four, and three, for Hold Me Back, Advice, and Mr. Hot Stuff, respectively.
WinStar racing manager Elliott Walden said “We’re real happy,” with the draw. “All of them are going to be coming from off the pace, so the closer to the fence the better for us. We were really hoping to get inside. I would rather save the ground, so we’re excited.”
Deirdre B. Biles, Amanda Duckworth, and Jason Shandler contributed to this story.
Copyright © 2009 Blood-Horse Publications. All rights reserved internationally.
runaway winner of the Gotham Stakes (gr. I) and a determined victor in the April 4 Wood Memorial (gr. I), has been made the 3-1 morning line favorite for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The son of Stephen Got Even will break from post 13 in a full field of 20 3-year-olds for the $2-million classic that will be run under the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs set for 6:24 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia put the 3-1 price on I Want Revenge. He noted the lower price on the colt based on the fact that Quality Road was withdrawn from consideration earlier in the week. Battaglia made co-second choices of Pioneerof the Nile (post 16) and Florida Derby (gr. I) runner-up Dunkirk (post 15) at 4-1. The fourth choice is Friesan Fire (post 6) at 5-1. Hold Me Back and Desert Party have been pegged at 15-1 and all of the other starters are 20-1 or higher.
The draw was conducted at the Marquee Village at Churchill Downs, an area of luxury suites past the first turn adjacent to the Longfield Avenue parking lot. The past few years the post position selection process took place later in the afternoon at Fourth Street Live! in downtown Louisville on a nationally-televised stage.
A traditional pill pull was drawn by Churchill racing officials to select the order of finish. After a five-minute break, they went in order to select post positions. The connections of Join in the Dance were the first to select, while the connections of West Side Bernie chose last. Favored I Want Revenge’s post position was the 10th selected.
I Want Revenge, out of the Roy mare Meguial, is co-owned by IEAH Stables, Puglisi Stables, and Jeff Singer. A winner of three of eight starts, I Want Revenge will be ridden by 19-year-old Joe Talamo who will be making his first Derby start. Prior to his smashing wins in New York, I Want Revenge was third behind Pioneerof the Nile in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II). He closed out his 2-year-old season with a nose loss to the same colt in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I).
“These guys (the owners) do all the handicapping and I worry about the horse, but I think their goal was to keep all the speed inside of us,” said I Want Revenge’s trainer Jeff Mullins. “So I think we’re pretty satisfied with (the post). I think we’ll be fairly close to the pace, tracking the leaders. It’s nice to have the favorite because they are giving us respect. I didn’t want to come back here again unless I had a good horse.”
Zayat Stables’ homebred Pioneerof the Nile is three-for-three this year, having added the March 14 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) and the April 4 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) to his resume. Eclipse Award winner Garrett Gomez will be aboard the son of classic winner Empire Maker for trainer Bob Baffert.
“I’ve been thinking 16,” Baffert said. “I wanted to have 16 for this horse. It takes him a little while to get going and I just didn’t want him to be getting all clogged up down on the inside. I’ve been feeling 16 all week. I was really nervous today because I wanted to get a shot of at least having an option. I wanted 16 because sometimes they can break inward a little bit because you have that open space (between the main gate and the auxiliary gate; posts 14 and 15). If you don’t break, it doesn’t matter but at least if you were to miss the break you have a choice where you can be.
Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith’s Dunkirk was second behind Quality Road in the Blackberry Presents the 58th Running of the Florida Derby in just his third career start. The $3.7 million sale yearling is trained by Todd Pletcher.
"When we talked about it before the draw, 15 was my first choice, so I’m glad it was there,” Pletcher said. “I like the auxiliary gate; there’s a little space between the there and the 14. If there is a defection inside, we can still move inside and have a good position. But I think the goal was to be positioned towards the outside. I would expect him to be mid-pack early on.
"I thought we'd be a little higher (than 4-1 on the morning line), to be honest,” he said. “But it’s a very evenly-matched race.”
Friesan Fire, a winner of three straight in Louisiana, is trained by Larry Jones and owned by Vinery Stables and Richard Porter’s Fox Hill Farm. The son of A.P. Indy will be ridden by Gabriel Saez.
“This horse is going to have a whole lot of the same style Eight Belles did,” Jones said of his ill-fated 2008 Derby runner-up. “We drew the five hole with her and she had a wonderful trip. Hopefully we can repeat what we did there and get a good run before we turn for home.”
The center of the starting gate was where everyone wanted to be during the selection process. Join in the Dance selected post 9 with the first pick. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor chose second for Godolphin’s Regal Ransom and took post 10. His other starter, Desert Party, will break from post 19 after having the 17th pick.
“It depends on how fast they go,” said bin Suroor of the early placement of pace contender Regal Ransom in the Derby. “If he is second or third, I would be happy with that. The horse is doing well.”
Bin Suroor noted he would prefer to come from the outside with Desert Party, so that is why he selected the 19 post. “I am happy; content,” he said. “It’s a tough race, a very hard race. Our horses are doing well, and there is no excuse for them.”
Chocolate Candy was pegged in post 11 with the third choice.
Three-year-old Bodie Baffert, son of trainer Bob Baffert, put the tag for Pioneerof the Nile on post 16 with the fifth pick. Breeder and co-owner David Lanzman took “lucky” 13 with I Want Revenge.
WinStar Farm, with three horses in the Derby field, chose starting stalls five, four, and three, for Hold Me Back, Advice, and Mr. Hot Stuff, respectively.
WinStar racing manager Elliott Walden said “We’re real happy,” with the draw. “All of them are going to be coming from off the pace, so the closer to the fence the better for us. We were really hoping to get inside. I would rather save the ground, so we’re excited.”
Deirdre B. Biles, Amanda Duckworth, and Jason Shandler contributed to this story.
Copyright © 2009 Blood-Horse Publications. All rights reserved internationally.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
I Want Revenge gets in his final work
Jay Privman, Daily Racing Form 4/28/2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the weather forecast calling for heavy rain on Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs, trainer Jeff Mullins was rolling the dice just a bit delaying I Want Revenge's workout until after the renovation break at 8:30 a.m. And perhaps it was an omen of good things to come for I Want Revenge, the likely Derby favorite, that the wet weather held off long enough for him to complete his important drill just minutes before a deluge turned a fast track to slop for the remainder of Tuesday's training session.
Churchill Downs
Cloudy/rainy; track fast, then sloppy; 71 degrees
I Want Revenge was the lone Derby worker on a relatively quiet Tuesday that also featured the first local appearance of Mr. Hot Stuff following his arrival from California the previous day. As has been the case for much of the past week, the racetrack was fast but not overly so before the rains arrived.
I Want Revenge (four furlongs in 47.34 seconds): Skies were darkening as I Want Revenge made his way onto the racetrack and jogged back around to the finish line in preparation for his work. It was evident right from the start that the Wood Memorial winner was keyed up for the task at hand, as he reared and briefly wheeled away from the pony before quickly coming back to hand for jockey Joe Talamo.
Equipped in blinkers, I Want Revenge remained keen as he turned down the backstretch and was in full stride well before he left the half-mile pole. As a result, the early splits were predictably fast, with an opening eighth and quarter in 11.84 and 23.34. I Want Revenge changed leads on cue after fanning several paths wide entering the stretch, then effortlessly completed his final quarter-mile in 24 seconds while giving the impression there was plenty left in the tank as he cruised past the wire and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.14.
Tuesday's workout was arguably just a notch better than his previous drill, which came in company with stablemate Gato Go Win, and completed a very good week for I Want Revenge, who has also looked sharp during his daily regimen of pre-dawn gallops. Nothing, perhaps, that would separate him from the other top contenders in the Derby field, but solid enough to keep him at or near the top of that list.
As expected, Mr. Hot Stuff did little more than jog once around the track alongside a pony following his long trip from California, although he did get a little frisky along the way, giving every indication he was ready and willing to do more. All will watch with interest as Mr. Hot Stuff begins his final string of pre-Derby gallops on Wednesday.
The improvement General Quarters has shown over the past week continues to impress. The Blue Grass winner had another in a series of energetic gallops since his final Derby prep five days earlier
Regal Ransom was the first of the Derby contenders to hit the track, as usual, at 6 a.m. and was tugging along in earnest while equipped in draw reins for his daily gallop. His stablemate Desert Party followed suit about 30 minutes later with another strong gallop of his own.
It was taken as a very positive sign that Hold Me Back has not needed a day off to recuperate following Sunday's work. Another who goes in draw reins to temper his enthusiasm, he looked a picture of health galloping through the stretch under exercise rider Ken McCarthy.
Papa Clem was given a couple of days off following Saturday's disappointing seven-furlong work, and looked none the worse for wear from the ordeal during an easy gallop.
Musket Man continues to look a little uncomfortable over the Churchill surface. He did not change leads through the stretch during Tuesday's routine gallop. Summer Bird was also not traveling as smoothly as some of the other Derby hopefuls while completing his morning exercise just as heavy rains began to fall over the Twin Spires.
ACTIVITY REPORT
ADVICE - Jogged one mile
ATOMIC RAIN - Worked half-mile at Monmouth, scheduled to van to Churchill Downs
CHOCOLATE CANDY - Walked the shed row
DESERT PARTY - Galloped 1 1/4 miles
DUNKIRK - Galloped 1 1/4 miles at Palm Meadows, flew to Churchill
FLYING PRIVATE - Walked the shed row
FRIESAN FIRE - Walked the shed row
GENERAL QUARTERS - Galloped 1 1/2 miles
HOLD ME BACK - Galloped one mile
JOIN IN THE DANCE - Jogged one mile
I WANT REVENGE - Worked four furlongs in 47.34 seconds
MINE THAT BIRD - Walked the shed row
MR. HOT STUFF - Jogged one mile with pony
MUSKET MAN - Visited gate, galloped 1 5/8 miles
PAPA CLEM - Galloped 1 1/2 miles
PIONEEROF THE NILE - Walked the shed row
REGAL RANSOM - Galloped 1 1/4 miles
SUMMER BIRD - Galloped 1 1/2 miles
WEST SIDE BERNIE - Galloped 1 1/2 miles
WIN WILLY - Walked the shed row
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the weather forecast calling for heavy rain on Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs, trainer Jeff Mullins was rolling the dice just a bit delaying I Want Revenge's workout until after the renovation break at 8:30 a.m. And perhaps it was an omen of good things to come for I Want Revenge, the likely Derby favorite, that the wet weather held off long enough for him to complete his important drill just minutes before a deluge turned a fast track to slop for the remainder of Tuesday's training session.
Churchill Downs
Cloudy/rainy; track fast, then sloppy; 71 degrees
I Want Revenge was the lone Derby worker on a relatively quiet Tuesday that also featured the first local appearance of Mr. Hot Stuff following his arrival from California the previous day. As has been the case for much of the past week, the racetrack was fast but not overly so before the rains arrived.
I Want Revenge (four furlongs in 47.34 seconds): Skies were darkening as I Want Revenge made his way onto the racetrack and jogged back around to the finish line in preparation for his work. It was evident right from the start that the Wood Memorial winner was keyed up for the task at hand, as he reared and briefly wheeled away from the pony before quickly coming back to hand for jockey Joe Talamo.
Equipped in blinkers, I Want Revenge remained keen as he turned down the backstretch and was in full stride well before he left the half-mile pole. As a result, the early splits were predictably fast, with an opening eighth and quarter in 11.84 and 23.34. I Want Revenge changed leads on cue after fanning several paths wide entering the stretch, then effortlessly completed his final quarter-mile in 24 seconds while giving the impression there was plenty left in the tank as he cruised past the wire and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.14.
Tuesday's workout was arguably just a notch better than his previous drill, which came in company with stablemate Gato Go Win, and completed a very good week for I Want Revenge, who has also looked sharp during his daily regimen of pre-dawn gallops. Nothing, perhaps, that would separate him from the other top contenders in the Derby field, but solid enough to keep him at or near the top of that list.
As expected, Mr. Hot Stuff did little more than jog once around the track alongside a pony following his long trip from California, although he did get a little frisky along the way, giving every indication he was ready and willing to do more. All will watch with interest as Mr. Hot Stuff begins his final string of pre-Derby gallops on Wednesday.
The improvement General Quarters has shown over the past week continues to impress. The Blue Grass winner had another in a series of energetic gallops since his final Derby prep five days earlier
Regal Ransom was the first of the Derby contenders to hit the track, as usual, at 6 a.m. and was tugging along in earnest while equipped in draw reins for his daily gallop. His stablemate Desert Party followed suit about 30 minutes later with another strong gallop of his own.
It was taken as a very positive sign that Hold Me Back has not needed a day off to recuperate following Sunday's work. Another who goes in draw reins to temper his enthusiasm, he looked a picture of health galloping through the stretch under exercise rider Ken McCarthy.
Papa Clem was given a couple of days off following Saturday's disappointing seven-furlong work, and looked none the worse for wear from the ordeal during an easy gallop.
Musket Man continues to look a little uncomfortable over the Churchill surface. He did not change leads through the stretch during Tuesday's routine gallop. Summer Bird was also not traveling as smoothly as some of the other Derby hopefuls while completing his morning exercise just as heavy rains began to fall over the Twin Spires.
ACTIVITY REPORT
ADVICE - Jogged one mile
ATOMIC RAIN - Worked half-mile at Monmouth, scheduled to van to Churchill Downs
CHOCOLATE CANDY - Walked the shed row
DESERT PARTY - Galloped 1 1/4 miles
DUNKIRK - Galloped 1 1/4 miles at Palm Meadows, flew to Churchill
FLYING PRIVATE - Walked the shed row
FRIESAN FIRE - Walked the shed row
GENERAL QUARTERS - Galloped 1 1/2 miles
HOLD ME BACK - Galloped one mile
JOIN IN THE DANCE - Jogged one mile
I WANT REVENGE - Worked four furlongs in 47.34 seconds
MINE THAT BIRD - Walked the shed row
MR. HOT STUFF - Jogged one mile with pony
MUSKET MAN - Visited gate, galloped 1 5/8 miles
PAPA CLEM - Galloped 1 1/2 miles
PIONEEROF THE NILE - Walked the shed row
REGAL RANSOM - Galloped 1 1/4 miles
SUMMER BIRD - Galloped 1 1/2 miles
WEST SIDE BERNIE - Galloped 1 1/2 miles
WIN WILLY - Walked the shed row
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Square Eddie Out of Kentucky Derby
By Ron Mitchell
J. Paul Reddam’s Square Eddie will not run in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) trainer Doug O’Neill told The Blood-Horse early April 28.
The son of Smart Strike, who has been plagued with sore shins while on the Derby trail, worked a half-mile at Churchill Downs April 26 under exercise rider Tony Romero in :50 1/5.
“There was a little heat in his left shin,” O’Neill said outside Barn 17 Tuesday morning. “He’s walking sound and looks fine, but we decided to err on the side of caution. It’s extremely disappointing. If the race were a month from now it would be a different story.
“I had a lengthy conversation with Paul Reddam yesterday and he decided it was best,” O’Neill said.
Square Eddie began is racing career in England and was purchased by Reddam in mid-season. In the U.S., the pint-sized colt was one of the top 2-year-olds of 2008, winning the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland and running second to champion Midshipman in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I). This season, Square Eddie ran second in the San Rafael (gr. II) at Santa Anita, and in his final Derby prep, ran third in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) over the Polytrack at Keeneland.
Copyright © 2009 Blood-Horse Publications. All rights reserved internationally.
J. Paul Reddam’s Square Eddie will not run in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) trainer Doug O’Neill told The Blood-Horse early April 28.
The son of Smart Strike, who has been plagued with sore shins while on the Derby trail, worked a half-mile at Churchill Downs April 26 under exercise rider Tony Romero in :50 1/5.
“There was a little heat in his left shin,” O’Neill said outside Barn 17 Tuesday morning. “He’s walking sound and looks fine, but we decided to err on the side of caution. It’s extremely disappointing. If the race were a month from now it would be a different story.
“I had a lengthy conversation with Paul Reddam yesterday and he decided it was best,” O’Neill said.
Square Eddie began is racing career in England and was purchased by Reddam in mid-season. In the U.S., the pint-sized colt was one of the top 2-year-olds of 2008, winning the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland and running second to champion Midshipman in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I). This season, Square Eddie ran second in the San Rafael (gr. II) at Santa Anita, and in his final Derby prep, ran third in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) over the Polytrack at Keeneland.
Copyright © 2009 Blood-Horse Publications. All rights reserved internationally.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Quality Road's Derby status up in the air
By Jay Privman
ELMONT, N.Y. -- It was a good news, bad news Sunday morning for Quality Road, whose status for Saturday's 135th Kentucky Derby remains an open question six days out from the race.
The good news was that trainer Jimmy Jerkens believes that Quality Road "looked like his old self" galloping 1 3/4 miles Sunday morning over the Belmont training track. The bad news was there was a tinge of blood emanating from the quarter crack on the colt's right front foot.
The presence of blood doesn't signify a soundness issue with Quality Road, who would be one of the favorites for the Derby based on victories in the Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth. It just means there is some tissue that is still a little weak, according to Ian McKinlay, the equine hoof specialist who has been working on Quality Road's feet. McKinlay said he wasn't concerned about the blood because he had seen some serum from the crack earlier in the morning when he put in a plastic drain and a quarter crack patch two hours before the gallop.
"During that process you're liable to aggravate that live tissue but that's why the drain's there," said McKinlay, who also put in a new set of wires. "You've seen the purpose of the drain today. Tomorrow there's a very good chance he won't have any blood at all. He's sound, that's the main thing we're looking for."
The presence of blood was a bit disconcerting to trainer Jerkens.
"I would have liked to have seen no blood, that's for sure, but it didn't surprise me because he was still sensitive on the top," Jerkens said. "He's still sound. Like Ian said we got another 24 hours for it to even get better - or worse - but Ian seems to think with the drain in there was no way it would get worse."
Jerkens still plans to breeze Quality Road five furlongs Monday morning at Belmont, a move that should ultimately decide if he can make the race.
"If he takes one bad step anywhere, forget it," said Jerkens, who for a second day in a row was visited by owner Ed Evans.
"Tomorrow will tell most of the tale," McKinlay said. "If we got rid of the soreness, even if we had a tinge of blood tomorrow, I wouldn't be concerned."
After overcoming a quarter crack in his right hind foot that was suffered in the Florida Derby, Quality Road developed this new quarter crack on Thursday morning. After having Friday off, he jogged Saturday and came off the track with no problems.
After starting off his Sunday gallop a little slow, Quality Road picked it up down the backside and was very strong pulling exercise rider Juan Moreno coming through the stretch the second time.
"He starts off pokey and started pulling down the backside like he always does, I'm glad to see that," Jerkens said. "I didn't notice anything walking afterward."
Quality Road's quarter crack was to be treated Sunday with Thrushbuster, a liquid product used for drying out and disinfecting quarter cracks. Overnight, Quality Road's foot was to be done up in animalintex, which contains a mild antiseptic plus a natural poultice agent designed to draw any heat or infection from the area.
ELMONT, N.Y. -- It was a good news, bad news Sunday morning for Quality Road, whose status for Saturday's 135th Kentucky Derby remains an open question six days out from the race.
The good news was that trainer Jimmy Jerkens believes that Quality Road "looked like his old self" galloping 1 3/4 miles Sunday morning over the Belmont training track. The bad news was there was a tinge of blood emanating from the quarter crack on the colt's right front foot.
The presence of blood doesn't signify a soundness issue with Quality Road, who would be one of the favorites for the Derby based on victories in the Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth. It just means there is some tissue that is still a little weak, according to Ian McKinlay, the equine hoof specialist who has been working on Quality Road's feet. McKinlay said he wasn't concerned about the blood because he had seen some serum from the crack earlier in the morning when he put in a plastic drain and a quarter crack patch two hours before the gallop.
"During that process you're liable to aggravate that live tissue but that's why the drain's there," said McKinlay, who also put in a new set of wires. "You've seen the purpose of the drain today. Tomorrow there's a very good chance he won't have any blood at all. He's sound, that's the main thing we're looking for."
The presence of blood was a bit disconcerting to trainer Jerkens.
"I would have liked to have seen no blood, that's for sure, but it didn't surprise me because he was still sensitive on the top," Jerkens said. "He's still sound. Like Ian said we got another 24 hours for it to even get better - or worse - but Ian seems to think with the drain in there was no way it would get worse."
Jerkens still plans to breeze Quality Road five furlongs Monday morning at Belmont, a move that should ultimately decide if he can make the race.
"If he takes one bad step anywhere, forget it," said Jerkens, who for a second day in a row was visited by owner Ed Evans.
"Tomorrow will tell most of the tale," McKinlay said. "If we got rid of the soreness, even if we had a tinge of blood tomorrow, I wouldn't be concerned."
After overcoming a quarter crack in his right hind foot that was suffered in the Florida Derby, Quality Road developed this new quarter crack on Thursday morning. After having Friday off, he jogged Saturday and came off the track with no problems.
After starting off his Sunday gallop a little slow, Quality Road picked it up down the backside and was very strong pulling exercise rider Juan Moreno coming through the stretch the second time.
"He starts off pokey and started pulling down the backside like he always does, I'm glad to see that," Jerkens said. "I didn't notice anything walking afterward."
Quality Road's quarter crack was to be treated Sunday with Thrushbuster, a liquid product used for drying out and disinfecting quarter cracks. Overnight, Quality Road's foot was to be done up in animalintex, which contains a mild antiseptic plus a natural poultice agent designed to draw any heat or infection from the area.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Hull stays perfect in Derby Trial
The Derby Trial may yet again live up to its recent reputation as a springboard to the Preakness, because Hull, who remained unbeaten with a stylish victory Saturday afternoon, could very well head to the second leg of the Triple Crown on May 16, trainer Dale Romans said after the race.
"I think it's possible," said Romans, who said he would confer with co-owners Bill Heiligbrodt and Barry Irwin. "I think he's as good as anything out there. He could be very special."
Hull ($8.80), a colt by Holy Bull, was making his stakes debut after defeating maidens at Fair Grounds and allowance runners at Turfway Park, both times by daylight margins, in sprints earlier this year. Despite the jump in class, he romped again, prevailing by four lengths over second-place Kensei. Checklist battled on bravely to be third, another 1 3/4 lengths behind Kensei. Hull, ridden by Miguel Mena, completed the odd distance of 7 1/2 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:30.21.
Hull, breaking from post 7 in the eight-horse field, sat a close third on the outside while Checklist and Silver City set swift fractions of 21.78 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.29 for a half-mile. After creeping forward to challenge for the lead, Hull kicked clear at the top of the stretch and was never threatened.
"He sat off the pace, and when he asked him to run, he really exploded," Romans said.
"I think it's possible," said Romans, who said he would confer with co-owners Bill Heiligbrodt and Barry Irwin. "I think he's as good as anything out there. He could be very special."
Hull ($8.80), a colt by Holy Bull, was making his stakes debut after defeating maidens at Fair Grounds and allowance runners at Turfway Park, both times by daylight margins, in sprints earlier this year. Despite the jump in class, he romped again, prevailing by four lengths over second-place Kensei. Checklist battled on bravely to be third, another 1 3/4 lengths behind Kensei. Hull, ridden by Miguel Mena, completed the odd distance of 7 1/2 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:30.21.
Hull, breaking from post 7 in the eight-horse field, sat a close third on the outside while Checklist and Silver City set swift fractions of 21.78 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.29 for a half-mile. After creeping forward to challenge for the lead, Hull kicked clear at the top of the stretch and was never threatened.
"He sat off the pace, and when he asked him to run, he really exploded," Romans said.
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