Trainer Ron Moquett is in a waiting game with King Russell after the 3-year-old colt moved into the Kentucky Derby (G1) picture by collecting 40 qualifying points for his second-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (G1) April 1 at Oaklawn.
King Russell's 40-point total, however, only ranked 25th entering Saturday on the latest Kentucky Derby Leaderboard released by Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby is limited to 20 starters, meaning King Russell will need several defections in the next 2½ weeks to make the 1¼-mile race May 6 at Churchill Downs.
“Just waiting to see if we make it,” Moquett said during training hours Friday morning at Oaklawn. “We want to run.”
A gray son of Creative Cause, King Russell entered the Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn's fourth and final Kentucky Derby points race, with only a maiden victory on his resume. King Russell made his first two starts last fall in Kentucky and finished second in his first two races this season at Oaklawn before his breakthrough victory at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25. King Russell, under Rafael Bejarano, closed strongly in the Arkansas Derby to finish 4¼ lengths behind Angel of Empire and ahead of Grade 3 winners Reincarnate (third) and Rocket Can (fourth).
“We knew that when the distance stretched out, we were going to be better and better,” Moquett said. “He's one of those horses that was very talented, but we knew it was going to take some races to mentally mature and he's putting it together, step by step. Kind of come into his own at the right time. The last race, not everything went perfect for him in the Arkansas Derby, but he showed that he definitely prefers more ground and definitely has the class and ability to run with those type of horses.”
Moquett said King Russell is already at Churchill Downs with assistant trainer Greta Kuntzweiler, adding Bejarano would retain the mount for the Kentucky Derby. Bejarano, in his debut as an Oaklawn regular, rode first call for Moquett at the 2022-2023 meeting.
Asked about a Plan B, Moquett said King Russell could be wheeled back in the $200,000 Bath House Row Stakes at 1 1/8 miles April 22 at Oaklawn or go in an allowance race on the Kentucky Derby undercard. The Bath House Row winner, providing it's Triple Crown eligible, will receive automatic entry into the Preakness (G1) May 20 at Pimlico. The Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown.
“We know he's a good, quality horse, so, it doesn't have to be all right now,” Moquett said. “If we get to the Derby fine, it not we'll regroup and work our way to the next big one.”
Moquett has had two Kentucky Derby starters, finishing 15th with Far Right in 2015 and 19th with Whitmore in 2016. Moquett trains King Russell for Roger Naber and former Kentucky Governor Brereton C. Jones, the colt's breeder.
Angel of Empire, in his first work since the Arkansas Derby, covered a half-mile in :48.20 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox. Angel of Empire (154 points) ranks third on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard.
Other Oaklawn-raced horses safely in the Kentucky Derby field, according to Churchill Downs, are Rocket Can (60 points to rank 10th through Friday), Hit Show (60/11th), Confidence Game (57/12th), Verifying (54/13th), Sun Thunder (54/14th) and Reincarnate (45/18th).
Another Oaklawn-raced horse, Jace's Road (45 points), entered Saturday No. 19, but he could be bounced by Oaklawn-raced Disarm. Disarm (40/26th) was entered in the $400,000 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) Saturday at Keeneland, a 1 1/16-mile race that offered 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, eight to the runner-up and six to the third-place finisher. Continuar, a Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby invitee, holds the 20th spot in the rankings.
Angel of Empire also finished second in the Smarty Jones Stakes at 1 mile Jan. 1, which was Oaklawn's first Kentucky Derby points race. Confidence Game won Oaklawn's third Kentucky Derby points race, the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25.
The post ‘We Want To Run’: Moquett Playing Derby Waiting Game With King Russell appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
