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‘They Like To Win’: Casse Quietly Confident In Pair Of Lightly-Raced Kentucky Derby Starters

The Hall of Fame trainer will be wearing his game face on the first Saturday in May, but on this day, Mark Casse was happy to be sporting a playful smile.

Just under a week before the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby, Casse, who'll be represented by the talented duo of Helium, and Soup and Sandwich, was his typical busy self, but not too busy to take a few minutes out of his hectic schedule to talk about a pair of skilled 3-year-olds, one of whom could deliver him a cherished first.

Having already won two-thirds of the U.S. Triple Crown, the 2019 Preakness with War of Will, and the 2019 Belmont with Sir Winston, the conditioner with over 3,050 career victories, a record 13 Sovereign Awards (as Canada's champion trainer), and dual Hall of Fame credentials, will look to add a Kentucky Derby triumph to his vast list of accomplishments.

“I guess the one thing that comes to mind first is that they like to win,” said Casse of his Derby twosome. “Combined, they've started six times and have five wins and a second. I look at them both and shake my head in amazement in what they've been able to accomplish in such short racing careers. I'm very, very happy with them.”

The Indianapolis native has plenty of reason to be.

Helium, a bay son of Ironicus, is a perfect three-for-three in his career. The Kentucky-bred, owned by D.J. Stable LLC, made his first two starts over the Woodbine Tapeta, including a win second time out in the Display Stakes last October.

“He kind of surprised me when he ran first time and won,” recalled Casse of the maiden special weight score on September 27 at the Toronto oval. “He ran better than expected. I thought his next race was very good at Woodbine too. We were looking forward to running him in the Grey Stakes, but obviously because of weather and then COVID, that wasn't possible.”

The original 2021 plan for Helium, a $55,000 purchase at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, called for him to make his sophomore debut in the Grade 3 Lecomte on January 16 at Fair Grounds, but a wrenched ankle sidelined the colt temporarily. He was brought to Ocala and given about 10 days off before resuming training.

“He had a few hiccups along the way, but he trained well leading up to his first race of this year.”

That first race was the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 6.

Casse considers the performance one of the most impressive he's seen over his 40-plus years in racing.

“I would say in all my time training, I've never seen a horse overcome so many different variables that said he shouldn't have won. From not running in four-and-a-half months, to first time on dirt, to first time around two turns, and his wide trip… I just never thought in a million years he could win running so wide.”

Those are just some of the reasons why he's confident of his charge's chances in the Derby.

While Helium isn't being billed as a top contender, Casse is happy to float above the radar leading up to the big race.

“A lot of people are underestimating him because they look at his Beyer from the Tampa Bay Derby. If you look at his Thoro-Graph numbers, which to me is my bible, what I go by, his number is extremely good. It's a 3. It usually takes a 1 or a ½ to win the Derby, so it's definitely within his range, especially if he improves off his last race. He's come back and trained well. He has this habit and it's that he likes to win.”

Soup and Sandwich has been as equally impressive in the lead-up to the biggest race of his career to-date.

Bred and owned by Live Oak Plantation, the Florida-bred son of Into Mischief didn't race as a 2-year-old but turned plenty of heads with a stellar runner-up showing in the Florida Derby on March 27.

The second-place performance was the third start for Soup and Sandwich, who won his debut at Gulfstream Park on January 28, and followed it up with another winner's circle trip, this time at Tampa Bay Downs on February 24.

“He was a horse that we thought a lot of as a 2-year-old,” offered Casse. “He still hasn't grown up completely. He's kind of a teenage kid. He doesn't always pay attention and has a short attention span. But he's gotten better. His first race was good, I thought his second race was excellent, and I thought his Florida Derby race was very good. In keeping with Thoro-Graph numbers, he ran a 1 ¾, which is huge. Looking at that, I think he has 65 per cent chance to run as good a race or better. It's big. It's really big. Both of these horses just have to move up a little bit to be right there in the Derby. I couldn't be happier really.”

Casse isn't the only one.

His jockeys for the big race seem to like their Derby chances as well.

“It's a funny little story. Tyler [jockey, Gaffalione], the first time he was on Soup and Sandwich – he worked him the other day – it happened that Julien [jockey, Leparoux] was helping us out, working another horse, not Helium. Pulling up, Tyler said, 'We're going to win the Kentucky Derby.' He was so excited after working the horse. Julien told him, 'Wait a second… you can be a good second.' So there's already a little smack talk going on. I think both riders are extremely excited and happy with their horses, just as I am.”

What would it mean for Casse to notch his first Derby victory?

“I may retire,” he said with a grin.

For now, it's all smiles with Casse.

It won't be long, however, until he's dialed-in on Derby day, game face and all.

The post ‘They Like To Win’: Casse Quietly Confident In Pair Of Lightly-Raced Kentucky Derby Starters appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Derby Notes: Hidden Stash, Like The King Take First Gallops At Churchill Downs

Two of the three final Kentucky Derby entrants to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday got their first feel for the main track beneath the Twin Spires on a humid, overcast Wednesday morning.

Trainer Vicki Oliver had Hidden Stash out for a 1 ½-mile gallop at 7:30 with Like the King galloping a bit more than a mile with exercise rider Jose Hernandez aboard for trainer Wesley Ward.

Brooklyn Strong had a walk day for trainer Danny Velazquez.

BOURBONIC, DYNAMIC ONE, KNOWN AGENDA, SAINTHOOD – The Derby Quartet, a friendly foursome that hopes to play a winning tune Saturday in Kentucky Derby 147, was busy getting in their practice Wednesday morning under the watchful eye of bandleader Todd Pletcher, who doubles as one of America's leading horse trainers.

Three of the colts formed a trio for the 7:30-7:45 special Kentucky Derby/Kentucky Oaks training session in order to get in their licks, each going for a mile and a quarter gallop around the big Churchill Downs oval. Known Agenda played his tunes for rider Hector Ramos, Dynamic One harmonized with Carlos Perez Quevedo and Sainthood and Amelia Green were right in rhythm. At 7:50 their other member, Bourbonic with Ramos crooning, went solo for a similar 10-furlong session.

After training, the Derby quartet had a paddock schooling session.

Pletcher was asked if an impending rain storm in Louisville might cause their sweet notes to be canceled Thursday morning.

“The only way we won't train Thursday is if it's unsafe (lightning) outside,” he said.

So the show will go on.

BROOKLYN STRONG – Mark Schwartz's Brooklyn Strong, who posted his final work Monday morning at Parx before vanning overnight to Churchill Downs, walked the shedrow of barn 41 and is expected to make his first trip to the track Thursday morning Trainer Danny Velazquez arrived in Louisville at 11 a.m. Wednesday to saddle his first Kentucky Derby starter from his Philadelphia base.

ESSENTIAL QUALITY, MANDALOUN – Godolphin's Essential Quality and Juddmonte Farm's Mandaloun galloped 1 ½ miles at 5:15 a.m. for trainer Brad Cox.

The duo were scheduled to school in Race 4 Wednesday.

Cox is counting down the hours until he saddles his first horses in the Kentucky Derby.

“I'm not too nervous yet, just getting excited,” Cox said. “This week is a lot of fun and I'm really excited to be a part of it in this role.”

For Cox, the Derby was a dream growing up in South Louisville. Now, it's turned into a reality which he gets to celebrate with his family. His sons, Blake and Bryson, hold a pivotal role around the barn assisting in training. Cox's youngest son, Brodie, will be at Churchill Downs for the Oaks and Derby.

“It's really special running in these big races and sharing these moments with my sons,” Cox said.

Along with his family, Cox often has a group of his friends who spend time with him at the races. Led by former Campbellsville University Football legends Joe Don Looney and Billy Troutman, Cox's group of friends have been known around the backside as the “Brad Cox Mafia.” Looney and Troutman have been friends with Cox for more than 15 years.

“We like to keep him relaxed and ready for game day,” Looney said.

Cox grew up just blocks from Churchill Downs on Euclid Avenue in the south end of Louisville. If Essential Quality or Mandaloun win Saturday, Cox would be the first Louisville-born trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.

HELIUM, SOUP AND SANDWICH – D J Stable's Helium and Live Oak Plantation's homebred Soup and Sandwich both galloped again Wednesday morning, according to trainer Mark Casse's assistant David Carroll, who said their Tuesday schooling session in the paddock went well also, while indicating his boss will be on the backstretch Thursday morning.

HIDDEN STASH – BBN Racing's Hidden Stash made his first appearance at Churchill Downs since winning an allowance race last Nov. 28 galloping a mile and a half under trainer Vicki Oliver at 7:30 Wednesday morning.

Fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) in his most recent start, Hidden Stash had been training at his home base at Keeneland since that race and arrived at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning.

With her first Kentucky Derby entrant, the time at Churchill Downs is almost like a vacation for Oliver.

“I usually gallop seven or eight a morning at Keeneland,” said Oliver, who is commuting back and forth to Lexington for the rest of the week. “The 7:30 training window is perfect for us.”

Following training, Hidden Stash had a paddock schooling session at 10 o'clock with plenty of other runners and passed with flying colors.

“I was going to do it on a race day, but with the rain in the forecast, I didn't want to do it then,” Oliver said. “He was good and we don't have to do that again.”

HIGHLY MOTIVATED – Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated galloped 1 3/8 miles again Wednesday morning during the 7:30-7:45 allotted training time for Derby and Oaks horses and will school in the paddock prior to Wednesday's second race. Trainer Chad Brown said the son of Into Mischief has progressed each day since his final Derby workout this past Saturday, and definitely showed more today in his gallop than Tuesday.

“I like the way he's going, I thought he was moving a little better today,” Brown said. “He had a strong work and now, the second day back galloping out of the breeze, he's loosening up again and looks super. I'm really happy with him.”

Brown, a four-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer (2016-2019), has been on the precipice of a Derby win before, as Normandy Invasion took the lead off the far turn before running fourth in 2013, and Good Magic was second to Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018. Highly Motivated has some similarities, but some differences as well.

“He's also making his third start off the layoff, like both those horses were,” Brown said. “But this horse is a little faster positionally than Normandy Invasion. He broke then split the field when he settled in and moved early. Highly Motivated, I can see getting a better spot than that, but both horses have a quick acceleration.”

HOT ROD CHARLIE – TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Hot Rod Charlie was back at it Wednesday morning, smartly galloping a mile and a quarter under exercise rider Jonny Garcia during the special Derby/Oaks training session at 7:30. The well-made son of the 2013 Preakness winner Oxbow had his usual substantial rooting crew looking on, led by horse trainer/impresario Doug O'Neill.

The California-based conditioner has a crew of five right-hand men who oversee his latest Derby threat, including key assistant Leandro Mora as well as equine therapist Tyler Cerin.

Cerin, the 33-year-old son of Vladimir Cerin, a training mainstay on the Southern California circuit, has been practicing his “hands on” horse work for more than a decade and has become a regular around the O'Neill barn. He was there for all of their previous Kentucky Derby capers – I'll Have Another's score in the 2012 Run for the Roses; Goldencents going unplaced in the 2013 edition, and Nyquist proving the hero of the 2016 renewal.

He was asked about Hot Rod Charlie. Has he had to do anything special with the millionaire colt who has run short and long, dirt and turf and there or thereabout every time?

“Not really,” Cerin said. “Nothing special with him. I just make sure all's good with his general well being. He's a pretty straightforward horse.”

Trainer O'Neill was queried about the ever-growing gathering that surrounds “Charlie,” which includes three separate ownership groups, families, friends, newfound friends and folks who want to be their friends, most of them from California.

“They're quite a group,” he offered. “They'll be good for business here in town. By Friday night I expect them to be up around 150 people.”

KEEPMEINMIND – Kentucky Jockey Club winner Keepmeinmind continues to make a favorable impression as he once again galloped strongly over the Churchill track at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. The Laoban colt, who races for the partnership of Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith and Spendthrift Farms LLC, is trying to overcome poor starts in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and Blue Grass Stakes (G2) in the Kentucky Derby.

“He's been working really good,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said. “In his first race this year at Oaklawn (Rebel), it was a speed biased track. It wasn't (jockey) David's (Cohen) fault, but he got hung four or five wide and when it looked like he was about to make a move, he just hung. In the Blue Grass, we knew there wasn't much speed so we tried to put him closer to the front. We did, but he didn't do it on his own. David had to force him to lay closer and when it came time to run, he was empty. He's had excuses.

“I think he'll show up to be the real horse on Saturday. It's hard to say I'm confident with a 50-1 shot, but I do think he'll show up. He'll come running.”

KING FURY – Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm's King Fury repeated the usual routine established by trainer Kenny McPeek on Wednesday morning. During the period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses, the winner of the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland was sent for a maintenance gallop with exercise rider Lalo Jose Quiroz aboard.

“It was a mile-and-a-half, uncomplicated,” said McPeek.

LIKE THE KING – M Racing Group's Like the King galloped a little more than a mile after 9 o'clock with exercise rider Jose Hernandez aboard for trainer Wesley Ward.

Wednesday morning's exercise marked the first time Like the King had been on the track at Churchill Downs. He had arrived Tuesday morning from Ward's main base at Keeneland.

Overseeing Like the King's preparation at Churchill Downs is California trainer Blake Heap who has served as Ward's man on the scene when the trainer doesn't travel.

“His father Dennis had a horse named Do Right by Dudley in 1987 at Turf Paradise,” Heap said of when the working relationship started. “A few years later we started being stabled next to each other and starting helping each other out.”

Ward, who will be starting his first Kentucky Derby runner, has won four Breeders' Cup races with three coming at Santa Anita where Heap oversaw the preparation of the likes of Judy the Beauty and Hootenanny in 2014 as well as other runners Ward has sent to the West Coast over the past 17 years.

MEDINA SPIRIT – Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit went to the track at 7:30 a.m. with Humberto Gomez and galloped about 1 ½ miles while his six-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert looked on from the main gap.

Baffert is seeking a record seventh Kentucky Derby following Authentic last year, Justify in 2018, America Pharoah in 2015, War Emblem in 2002, and back to back wins with Silver Charm in 1997 and Real Quiet in 1998.

“When I got beat with Cavonnier in 1996, I thought I'd never win a Kentucky Derby,” Baffert said. “Then, I won with Silver Charm and Real Quiet and started thinking this was easy, but then it got lean for a number of years. You just never know when these Derby wins are going to come. I'm just glad to be back here.”

Baffert said Medina Spirit, who has never been worse than second in five career starts, is probably among the top 10 runners in this year's field, but that he wouldn't be surprised to see him put in a top effort.

“The thing about Medina Spirit is he's an overachiever,” Baffert said. “He's a real fighter and if there's a battle, he'll be right there. I wouldn't be surprised if he got a piece of it.”

MIDNIGHT BOURBON, SUPER STOCK – Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon and Erv Woolsey's and trainer Steve Asmussen's father Keith's Super Stock both hit the track Wednesday morning during the Derby-Oaks training session at 7:30. Midnight Bourbon stretched his legs for the first time since his final Derby breeze Monday morning and continues to thrive, while looking like a bigger, stronger version of the colt who ran in all three of Fair Grounds' Derby preps this winter. Super Stock was allowed to do a bit more, as he worked Saturday, and galloped 1 ¼ miles.

O BESOS – Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry L. Stephens' O Besos galloped about one mile and schooled in the paddock Wednesday morning.

“We're ready to roll,” trainer Greg Foley said.

ROCK YOUR WORLD – The tall, dark son of the stellar stallion Candy Ride continued his forward training toward Saturday's Run for the Roses with a solid gallop Wednesday morning during the special Derby/Oaks period at Churchill Downs that goes from 7:30-7:45 and limits those allowed on the track to runners headed to the two classic races scheduled this weekend.

Trainer John Sadler had rider Javier Meza up for the exercise and had him put his charge through a nine-furlong move that met with his approval.

Rock Your World is three-for-three so far in his brief career with two of the wins coming on turf, but the most recent – the prestigious Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 3 – coming on the dirt. His race before that was a score in the listed Pasadena Stakes and in both those black-type tallies he had the top California rider Umberto Rispoli in the irons. The plan was for the Italian-born Rispoli to be there for the Kentucky Derby, too, but – as happens often in the world of racing – things changed.

Joel Rosario, currently the second-leading rider in the country and a personal favorite of trainer Sadler, suddenly came open. He thought he was booked for a Derby spin on the horse Concert Tour, but when that colt came up short in the Arkansas Derby, Rosario and his agent, Ron Anderson, were back Derby mount hunting. They turned to an old friend.

The 36-year-old Rosario is a native of the Dominican Republic and was that country's leading rider four years in a row starting at the age of 15 before heading to California and taking on tougher competition. He first made waves in Northern California where he nearly unseated the king of the Bay Area, Russell Baze, a feat considered all but impossible. Then he shifted his tack to Southern California.

“I first rode him on a horse at Golden Gate and he got beat a whisker,” said Sadler. “But I said 'Wow' to myself, that kid rode the hair off my horse. When he came south I was on him right away. I put him up on his first winner at Hollywood Park – he came through a hole that I didn't think possible in order to do it — and we were off and running from there.”

Sadler and Rosario clicked and kept on clicking. They were riding and training champs together at Del Mar in 2009 and won races – and stakes races – in bunches at all three of the Southern California tracks. Thanks to the kind folks at Equibase, the record shows that – to date – Sadler has given Rosario a leg up on 1,007 horses, won 242 races with him and earned $20,886,898 in purses. They've won 47 stakes together and 34 of them have been graded. No other trainer in the country has ridden Rosario more times or won more races with him. It isn't even close.

So, yes indeed, Sadler and Rosario have history, which led to their connection in this year's Run for the Roses.

“Make no mistake,” Sadler notes, “Umberto Rispoli is a terrific rider. He's won Santa Anita's stakes the last two weekends for me and we've won a lot of races together. But the analytics with Joel are so strong I just couldn't pass up the opportunity. I'm hoping, of course, it all works out.”

Rosario will guide Rock Your World into post 15 Saturday in the 20-horse Derby field. Then he'll ride for all he's worth for Sadler – the man who was the key in making him a star – to try to give him some payback that would be beyond sweet — his first triumph in the Kentucky Derby.

THE FIELD FOR THE $3 MILLION KENTUCKY DERBY PRESENTED BY WOODFORD RESERVE (GI)

Known Agenda (Irad Ortiz Jr., 6-1)
Like the King (Drayden Van Dyke, 50-1)
Brooklyn Strong (Umberto Rispoli, 50-1)
Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, 50-1)
Sainthood (Corey Lanerie, 50-1)
O Besos (Marcelino Pedroza, 20-1)
Mandaloun (Florent Geroux, 15-1)
Medina Spirit (John Velazquez, 15-1)
Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat, 8-1)
Midnight Bourbon (Mike Smith, 20-1)
Dynamic One (Jose Ortiz, 20-1)
Helium (Julien Leparoux, 50-1)
Hidden Stash (Rafael Bejarano, 50-1)
Essential Quality (Luis Saez, 2-1)
Rock Your World (Joel Rosario, 5-1)
King Fury (Brian Hernandez Jr., 20-1)
Highly Motivated (Javier Castellano, 10-1)
Super Stock (Ricardo Santana Jr., 30-1)
Soup and Sandwich (Tyler Gaffalione, 30-1)
Bourbonic (Kendrick Carmouche, 30-1)

All starters will carry 126 pounds

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‘We Know He’s Talented Enough’: Cohen Ready For First Derby Shot With Keepmeinmind

For jockey David Cohen, winning last Saturday's second race at Oaklawn was a sign of things to come for the jockey.

Cohen said after Canadian Ginger crossed the finish line first in the starter-allowance sprint for females, her trainer, Robertino Diodoro, received a call from Churchill Downs officials, informing him that Get Her Number had been removed from consideration for the Kentucky Derby. The defection moved Keepmeinmind into the projected 20-horse field, meaning Cohen and Diodoro, both Oaklawn meet champions, will be making their Kentucky Derby debuts Saturday at Churchill Downs.

“For us, it was a nice surprise,” Cohen said Sunday afternoon at Oaklawn. “We had somewhat of an idea it was going to happen, early on, through the grapevine. For me, it was the start of a great day, obviously, to ride six and win four of them.”

The four-bagger was a career high at Oaklawn for Cohen, 36, who was Oaklawn's leading jockey in 2019. He had previously won three races on an Oaklawn card 12 times, according to Equibase, racing's official data gathering organization. In addition to Canadian Ginger ($6.20), Cohen won the fifth race aboard Greeley and Ben ($8.40) for trainer Karl Broberg, ninth race aboard American Dubai ($31.20) for Diodoro and the 11th race aboard Livingmybestlife ($5.60) for trainer John Sadler.

Cohen is Diodoro's go-to rider and the regular pilot of the yo-yo-like Keepmeinmind, who was among the country's top 2-year-olds of 2020 after finishing second in the $400,000 Breeders' Futurity (G1) Oct. 3 at Keeneland, third in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 6 at Keeneland and breaking his maiden in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs.

It's been a deflating 2021, for the most part, however.

Keepmeinmind had been set to make his 3-year-old debut Feb. 15 at Oaklawn – the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) – before severe winter weather led to multiple postponements of the race and interrupted the late-running colt's training schedule. Oaklawn lost eight live racing dates and 11 days of training (Feb. 12-22) because of heavy snow and arctic temperatures. Keepmeinmind also was entered in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds, but Diodoro opted to remain at Oaklawn, where the colt had been based since late December.

Keepmeinmind, in his 3-year-old debut, finished sixth in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 13 at Oaklawn, then fifth in the $800,000 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) April 3 at Keeneland in his last start.

Following the final round of Kentucky Derby points races April 10, including Oaklawn's $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1), Keepmeinmind was 30th on the leaderboard with 18 points – all collected as a 2-year-old – and needed 10 defections to be guaranteed a spot in the Run for the Roses, which is limited to 20 starters. Using a musical analogy, Keepmeinmind was number one with a bullet, climbing to No. 28 (April 12), No. 27 (April 15), No. 24 (April 17), No. 22 (April 19), No. 21 (April 23) and No. 20 (April 24) in official rankings compiled by Churchill Downs. Points earned in designated races like the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Rebel and Blue Grass are used to determine starting preference.

“It's been such an emotional ride with him because he was a horse that started the year with 18 points,” Cohen said. “Then we miss out because of the weather and he missed both races. He missed the Fair Grounds race and he missed the Southwest, so that hurt us. He obviously didn't perform to the way we felt he was training, even though we know he's better than that. He's really developed over his 3-year-old year, even though he hasn't shown it on paper. On paper, it doesn't look like he deserves to be in there. We know he's talented enough. We're happy for the horse, that he gets the chance that he does deserve, in our eyes.”

Following Oaklawn's April 22 card, Cohen flew privately to Kentucky to work Keepmeinmind and stablemates Ava's Grace and Dreamer's Disease the next morning at Churchill Downs. Keepmeinmind, in company, recorded a half-mile bullet (:46.20). Keepmeinmind breezed without blinkers last week and will remove the equipment Saturday At that time, Keepmeinmind was 21st on the points list.

“The owners and us, we made a big decision to send me out there,” Cohen said. “It's not cheap. For them to still have faith in the horse and not give up on him and keep him in Kentucky after the Blue Grass, they could have easily said, 'No. Send him back here and run in the Oaklawn Stakes the same day.' ”

Instead, Cohen will be at Churchill Downs Saturday. His Kentucky Derby debut comes a little more than seven years after a severe leg injury (he was kicked by a horse in the paddock before a Feb. 1, 2014, race at Aqueduct) and the subsequent deaths of deaths of his father (cancer) and sister (head injury) threatened to derail the jockey's once-promising career.

Cohen rode his first winner in 2004 and five years later ranked sixth nationally in victories (288) and 24th in purse earnings ($7,357,326) – both career highs – competing in New York and the Mid-Atlantic. In 2012, Cohen won Saratoga's prestigious $1 million Travers Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds aboard 33-1 long shot Golden Ticket, who dead-heated with favored Alpha.

After not riding in 2015 and 2016, Cohen returned to the saddle in late 2017 and rode 37 winners in his Oaklawn debut in 2018 to finish third in the standings. Cohen rode 75 winners the following year at Oaklawn to end Ricardo Santana Jr.'s six-year hold on the title.

In addition to Keepmeinmind (50-1 on the morning line), Cohen also is scheduled Dreamer's Disease in the $500,000 Pat Day Mile (G2) for 3-year-olds Saturday at Churchill Downs. Dreamer's Disease had several published workouts this year at Oaklawn, but didn't run at the meeting after falling behind in his training because of winter weather. He was also supposed to be riding in the Kentucky Oaks, the country's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies, for the first time aboard Ava's Grace, but the filly was scratched Wednesday morning with an injury. She had finished second in the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) April 3 at Oaklawn.

“Honestly, I never felt like I wouldn't have the opportunity again,” Cohen said. “For me, it's special to get it with a team that's been so essential in my return from an injury. To have it with Robertino, not only with the Derby, but with the Pat Day Mile, for me that's definitely a special touch and the cherry on top. It means a lot. The guy's very loyal. For it to be the home team really means a lot.”

Cohen, named 2018 Comeback Jockey of the Year by JockeyTalk.360.com, a web site dedicated to promoting jockeys around the world, has 186 career victories at Oaklawn, according to Equibase. Almost two-thirds (111) have come for Diodoro.

Keepmeinmind and Dreamer's Disease, who ran sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, were all at Trophy Club Training Center in Royal (roughly 20 minutes west of Oaklawn) last spring completing the breaking process under Ike Green, who has strong ties to Diodoro. Ike Green was Diodoro's assistant at Oaklawn in 2019 and 2020 when he captured his first local training title. Green and his wife, Aidan, have run Diodoro's divisions at Saratoga and Churchill Downs in recent years. Aidan Green went out on her own last year and recorded her first career training victory and stakes victory at the 2021 Oaklawn meeting.

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Early Impressions: Kentucky Derby 147–Part II

LOUISVILLE, KY – With the first Saturday in May just days away, TDN Senior Editor Steve Sherack caught up with the connections of leading GI Kentucky Derby contenders to get some of their 'Early Impressions.' In this edition, we check in with Hermitage Farm General Manager Bill Landes and Ocala, Florida, horseman Eddie Woods.

Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) found another gear in the stretch to punch his ticket to Louisville in the GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. Last year's 94-1 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up, a $17,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February yearling turned $110,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling pinhook by Bob and Sean Feld, is a product of the late Edward A. Cox, Jr.'s breeding program. The half-brother to champion sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya) was bred and raised on Cox's behalf by Hermitage Farm. Cox purchased Hot Rod Charlie's second dam, the unbeaten SW Glacken's Gal (Smoke Glacken), for $250,000 at the 2008 KEEJAN sale. After bringing $240,000 from WinStar at the 2018 KEENOV Sale, Hot Rod Charlie's dam Indian Miss (Indian Charlie) brought $1.9 million from OXO Equine, in foal to leading sire Into Mischief, at the 2020 KEENOV sale. Two-time Kentucky Derby winning-trainer Doug O'Neill trains Hot Rod Charlie for Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and William Strauss.

Known Agenda (Curlin) has really taken his game to the next level since adding blinkers for Todd Pletcher in two starts this term, headed by a powerful performance in the GI Curlin Florida Derby. The St. Elias homebred, out of GI Vanity H. heroine Byrama (GB) (Byron {GB}), RNA'd for $135,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. Byrama was acquired privately by St. Elias after RNA'ing for $725,000 at the 2013 KEENOV sale. With the COVID-19 pandemic throwing a wrench into the 2-year-old sales schedule last spring, the chestnut, originally ticketed for the canceled Gulfstream Sale with consignor Eddie Woods, was instead held on to by his breeder Vinnie Viola and taken to the races. Last year's GI Kentucky Derby/GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Authentic was a graduate of Woods's training program. Woods also trained and pinhooked 2008 Derby winner Big Brown ($60,000 FTKOCT yearling turned $190,000 KEEAPR 2yo).

HOT ROD CHARLIE:

“This guy early on was beset with gastrointestinal issues–maybe three days of age–and then again in the summer of his foal year, and had to go to the clinic two times for treatment, and therefore he was setback, physically. When we got him straight, Mr. Cox had already decided to disperse at Keeneland November, but was gonna take the worst of it with this guy pushing him there. We were all in agreement, and I said, 'Let's just pass and I'll get him sold.' I tried to sell him privately and then eventually the Fasig February deadline came and we had to find a home for him and that's where we were.

I can tell you this, from that October of his weanling year, however, he was not going backwards, he was progressing, but he was just behind. But every step he was making was forward. And that's what I told the Felds when they bought him [at Fasig February] and that's what I told everybody that I tried to sell him to, that he was heading the right way that his gastrointestinal issues were taken care of.

His record speaks for itself, he really hasn't looked back from that fall. Everything has been positive and forward. I told the Felds after they bought him, 'You guys stole another one.' He was always a solid colt.”

Looking back now, did Hot Rod Charlie remind you of his now-famous half-brother Mitole at all?

“It was too early to tell. Mitole was pretty straightforward. We didn't have this horse long enough for me to make that impression. To the people that I tried to sell Hot Rod privately to, I did say that he had a half brother that looks well above average.

The sad part of it all is Ed Cox would've absolutely been thrilled following Mitole and Hot Rod Charlie. Oh my God. He wouldn't have bragged. He wouldn't have patted himself on the back to the point he needed Tommy John Surgery. He wouldn't have done that. He would've taken quiet delight that he was the breeder of two really nice horses.

I'm sorry he missed it. We sold Hot Rod in February and Ed died in March. I'm sad about that.” –Bill Landes

KNOWN AGENDA:

“He was a really laid-back horse–a very quiet, good-moving horse. He was pointing to the [Gulfstream] sale, but it was questionable whether he had enough speed to be a proper 2-year-old sale horse. I don't know if the 2-year-old sales would've been the ideal environment for him. But he always moved good and trained good. He just lacked the little bit of sharp toe. When the sale was canceled, he went into a different program and just went along nicely.

I think in this year's Derby, every one has a chance to be a Derby horse. It's that kind of race. He'll run a good race. He'll be closing and he'll get the trip, which I suspect a lot of them won't. The faster they go, the better off he'll be.

It's great for our program and our team. The one consistency we've seen with the Derby horses and the horses that run well in the Derby is that they're really classy acting. They have great composure and they handle all the turmoil that comes with it– prepping for the Derby and the whole day in itself.

He's incredibly laid back–I spoke with Todd [Pletcher] at one of the 2-year-old sales about him and he said he's the same now as he was then.” –Eddie Woods

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