Trainer Peter Miller isn't ready to commit to a Louisville trip with this Saturday's Arkansas Derby contender Get Her Number.
“I've been vaccinated for COVID-19 and for Derby fever,” Miller quipped on Tuesday's NTRA media conference call. “Unlike most trainers, it's not as high a priority for me. I'd love to have a horse take me there. If someone takes me there, we'll go, but if not, we'll find another race.”
The 3-year-old son of Dialed In won the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Sept. 26, just his third career start, but did not return to the races until the G2 Rebel Stakes on March 13 at Oaklawn Park. Miller said the colt had a few minor issues that caused him to miss the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall.
In the Rebel, Get Her Number was making a move around the far turn and endured a hard bump at the eighth pole, fading to finish seventh.
“He could have been third,” Miller suggested. “He had some scrapes and scars from the bump, all of which set us back maybe a week. He seems good now, though, and we're excited to give it another shot.”
This time, Miller would like to see Get Her Number closer to the front early.
“As long as he has a clean trip, we'll live with the results,” the trainer said.
The current Kentucky Derby point standings have Get Her Number, owned by Gary Barber, at 33rd on the leaderboard with the 10 points he earned in the American Pharoah. The Arkansas Derby offers points on a scale of 100-40-20-10 to the top four finishers, so a top two finish would likely secure the colt a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
“He's got a good mind; he's got a lot of class about him,” said Miller. “He's rateable, he doesn't want to run off or be silly. He's easy to handle in that respect. And he tries hard. I don't know if he's got the quality to run with the top 3-year-olds, but I know he's gonna try and he's doing well, and that's all you can ask.”
Get Her Number drew post four of six for the G1 Arkansas Derby.
The full field is as follows:
- Super Stock
- Caddo River
- Hozier
- Get Her Number
- Concert Tour
- Last Samurai
The post Miller Vaccinated Against Derby Fever: Arkansas Derby Contender Get Her Number Needs To Prove Himself appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
