Summary:
Derby week kicked off
Monday with a flurry of defections, additions, and workouts. Bob Baffert
announced his Derby hand is empty after deciding Govenor Charlie is not ready
and Code West will point for the Peter Pan (G2). Todd Pletcher quickly stated
Lexington Stakes (G2) winner Winning Cause will bypass the Run for the Roses
and the connections of Tiz a Minister also concluded it was too much to ask of
their colt. Those decisions allowed Dallas Stewart’s Golden Soul and Mike
Maker’s Fear the Kitten to take over the open spots #19 and #20 respectively.
Alan Garcia was named to ride Fear the Kitten, while Stewart was still mum on
the jockey for Golden Soul. Both colts will go off as big price long shots, but
cases can be made for both to be part of the superfecta mix. Golden Soul should
like the added distance and has closed well in most of his races. Fear the
Kitten is undoubtedly bred for the grass, but has won at Churchill on the dirt
and also closed strong in a majority of his contests// It’s no secret Daily
Racing Form’s Mike Welsch favors Orb for the Kentucky Derby. After his official
four-furlong breeze Monday he said it was “reminiscent of Barbaro and Street
Sense” before they won the roses. Welsch wasn’t the only one heaping praise on the
workout as the backside was abuzz over the potential favorite lighting up the
track with ease// Oxbow’s bullet move in five-furlongs was overshadowed by
Orb’s work, but the final time doesn’t tell his whole story. Apparently Oxbow
bore out five or six wide when going through the turn, which was a cause for
concern for Welsch. His stablemate Will Take Charge had an even more troubling
breeze as he labored towards the end and was essentially “shut down” with no
gallop out. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas didn’t seem too upset and was pleased the
time was slow as opposed to fast so close to the Derby. For reports and video
see below// Several handicappers are choosing Vyjack as their sleeper. If you
can comfortably cross out his dull Wood Memorial (G1) effort, then a case can
be made. However, I believe the Wood exposed him as a notch below Verrazano and
Normandy Invasion// If you want to get excited about the potential of striking
it rich Saturday, check out SB Nation’s chart on Derby payouts from the past
twelve years// much more…
Articles:
Trainer Baffert to sit out Kentucky Derby 139 (Bloodhorse)
Bob Baffert on not having any Derby horses [video] (Bloodhorse)
Pletcher not pointing Winning Cause to Derby (Bloodhorse)
Orb sizzles four furlongs in final Derby prep (Bloodhorse)
Orb workout video 4/29 (Churchill Downs)
In
Orb, McGaughey brings real deal and perspective to Kentucky Derby (Courier
Journal)
New
Derby favorite Orb might score elusive win for an old favorite (Insider
Louisville)
Lukas contenders turn in final preparations (Bloodhorse)
Oxbow workouts video 4/29 (Churchill Downs)
Oxbow and Will Take Charge [video] (Bloodhorse)
Itsmyluckyday gallop video 4/29 (Churchill Downs)
Frac
Daddy thriving at Churchill (Brisnet)
Frac Daddy gallop video 4/29 (Churchill Downs)
Derby Update 4/29 (Churchill Downs)
Kentucky Derby news minute 4/29 (Bloodhorse)
Rick Pitino’s putting his lucky streak on the line
with Goldencents (Courier Journal)
Rudy Rodriguez on Vyjack [video] (Bloodhorse)
Vyjack and a case of the flats (Pull The Pocket)
Vyjack
is a riddle wrapped in an enigma (Zipse at the Track)
Derby works do the talking (ESPN)
Haskin: A mud-dled Derby (Bloodhorse Blog)
The quest for winning your first (Horse Racing Nation)
Derby Dartboard Race Preview [video] (NY Times)
How to handicap the big race (Horse Racing Nation)
Most
interesting contenders in this year’s field (SB Nation)
Behind the scenes with Rosie Napravnik (ABR Live)
The bullet train Derby platform 4/29 [video] (Brisnet via YouTube)
Works:
Orb- CD- 4F- 47:80- B-
5/43 (Splits 12, 23.80, 35.80. Out 5F in 1:00.80 & 6F 1:14.60)
Oxbow- CD- 5F- 59:80- B-
1/34 (Splits 11.80, 23.40, 35.20, 47.40. Out 6F 1:14.80)
Will Take Charge- CD- 5F-
1.01:00- B- 12/34 (Splits 11.60, 23.20, 35.20. 6F in 1:17.40)
