With all major prep races out of the way, the focus from mid-April to
Derby focuses on workouts, defections, rumors of defections, jockey
assignments, and arrivals of horses to Churchill Downs. Sunday and Monday following the
Arkansas Derby and Blue Grass brought all five of those things. Wrote and Drill were both ruled out
officially when they failed to join their stablemates on flights to Kentucky. That
opens spots in the gate for Rousing Sermon and Mark Valeski. It seems the chances of Trinniberg
entering the Derby shrink with each passing day. That’s good news for Todd Pletcher’s El Padrino who is next
in line to join the field. Just
behind him in the standings is Reveron, who was scheduled to race in Saturday’s
Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland solely for the purpose of accruing more
earnings. His connections opted to not force the issue and take the chance more
will drop out// Still no decision on whether to run Prospective in the Derby, and
it’s hard to guess when Mark Casse puts the chances at 50-50// Alpha, 2nd
last out to Gemologist in the Wood Memorial (G1), did not ship as planned to Churchill
Downs Monday due to an infection from cuts incurred in the race. Although trainer Kiaran McLaughlin says
the son of Bernardini is still on target for the Kentucky Derby, you don’t like
to hear of any hiccups this close to May 5th. Instead of two
workouts at Churchill ahead of the Derby, Alpha may only have one at Belmont// As
for jockey assignments, everyone is waiting to hear from Ramon Dominguez who
faces the tough choice between riding Hansen or Alpha. Considering the recent
news on Alpha, you would have to think he’s leaning towards the 2-year-old
champion// Sunday it was confirmed that Mike Smith will stay on Bodemeister and
Garret Gomez will ride Smith’s previous engagement Daddy Nose Best// Speaking
of Daddy Nose Best, the colt blazed 5-furlongs on the Churchill surface Monday
morning in 1.00:20. That was the
fastest time of 20 workers and pleased trainer Steve Asmussen, who has penciled
in subsequent workouts for the next two Mondays before the Derby// The top 3
finishers from the Arkansas Derby arrived safely at Churchill Downs Monday
afternoon// Bodemeister’s Beyer speed figure from the Arkansas Derby was
increased from 105 to 108, which not only makes him the fastest 3-year-old to
run in 2012, but also the second fastest North American horse of 2012, period. Steven Crist from DRF proclaims
Bodemeister is “head and shoulders above his contemporaries”// more…
Kentucky Derby News and Opinion
Daddy
Nose Best works; Arkansas Derby stars set to arrive (Churchill Downs)
Saturday
winners back in Louisville (The Sports Network)
Bodemeister:
Start of something special? (DRF Blog)
Can
Bodemeister snap a 130-year-old Kentucky Derby jinx? (Miami Herald)
Graded
Earnings updated list; who still has a chance? (The Bleacher Report)
Needhams
enjoying the Dullahan experience (Bloodhorse)
Behind
the scenes with Dullahan [video] (Behind The Scenes Blog)
Photos
Sabercat
walks shedrow at Churchill Downs barn (Churchill Downs)
Daddy
Nose Best grazing at Churchill Downs (Churchill Downs)
Boedmeister
in stall at Churchill Downs (Churchill Downs)
Rankings
Steve
Haskin’s Derby Dozen 4/16 [with video] (Bloodhorse)
AP
Top 10 4/16 (AP)
Works
Daddy Nose Best CD- 5F- 1.00:20- B- 1/20
News
and Quotes from Twitter
“Trinniberg doubtful for Derby. Hero of
Order must be supplemented; can't knock out a nominee. Looks good for El Padrino
to get in”- Jay Privman via Twitter
Bob Baffert says Liaison to ship to CD
"sometime next week" & Baffert will travel then, too. Drill back
in CA, not in #KyDerby picture”- Derby Media via Twitter
“Alpha did not ship to Ky this morning. Had
infection as a result of cuts suffered in Wood. Connections still targeting
Derby; ship on 4-30”- David Grening via Twitter
“Hamilton Smith reports Done Talking will
work twice at Laurel (21 & 28) & van to CD on 29th. Sheldon Russell
rides in #KyDerby”- Derby Media via Twitter
