Tag: Churchill Downs

Derby Notes: Light Activity Under Snowy Twin Spires, Baffert Adds Hozier To Consideration

Six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert indicated via text that Hozier, sixth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) in his most recent start, is under consideration for Kentucky Derby 147.

Owned by the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm and Robert Masterson, Hozier is No. 21 on the Road to the Kentucky Leaderboard.

Hozier galloped a little bit more than a mile with Joel Osorio up over a sloppy track a little before 9:30 on a morning in which the news of the day was … wait for it … Snow!

Overnight Louisville picked up an April 21 record 1.8 inches of snow that left the Matt Winn Turf Course covered in a blanket of white inside the sloppy main track.

BOURBONIC, DYNAMIC ONE, KNOWN AGENDA, SAINTHOOD – Trainer Todd Pletcher sent his quartet of Derby 147 hopefuls out for 1 ¼-mile gallops Wednesday morning.

“We cut back a little bit today and sent them straight off (as opposed to backtracking to the front of the grandstand),” Pletcher said, “And got them back safe and sound.”

First to go out for Pletcher at 7:30 was Florida Derby (G1) winner Known Agenda with Hector Ramos aboard and Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Dynamic One with Carlos Perez Quevedo aboard.

At 7:50, Wood Memorial winner Bourbonic was on the track with Ramos aboard along with Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) runner-up Sainthood with Amelia Green aboard.

Pletcher is leaning toward working all four on Friday.

“There is potential for rain all day Saturday and I would prefer Friday to pushing back to Monday,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher, who won the Derby in 2010 with Super Saver and 2017 with Always Dreaming, has riders lined up for all but Sainthood.

“We will wait until after the final breezes and monitor who is available,” Pletcher said.

HELIUM, SOUP AND SANDWICH – Live Oak Plantation's Soup and Sandwich, along with D J Stable's Helium, jogged two miles over the sloppy surface Wednesday at Churchill Downs.

Helium, ridden by Paolo Levi and Soup and Sandwich, with Gilbert Hernandez in the saddle, were both accompanied by stable pony Jack with Isabella Leslie aboard.

Both horses are likely to gallop Thursday, according to trainer Mark Casse's assistant David Carroll.

HIGHLY MOTIVATED – Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated galloped a mile and a half under Peter Roman during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses.

Trainer Chad Brown plans to work the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) runner-up Saturday, a breeze that could be moved up a day because of weather.

HOZIER – Hozier, No. 21 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, galloped a little more than a mile before 9:30 under exercise rider Joel Osorio.

KEEPMEINMIND – Keepmeinmind had a spirited 1 ½-mile gallop over the sloppy track with Enrique Benitez aboard at 5:45.

Standing at No. 23 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, Keepmeinmind is scheduled to work Friday or Saturday for trainer Robertino Diodoro.

KING FURY – Lexington Stakes (G3) winner King Fury galloped 1 ½ miles under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. at 7:30.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, King Fury stands at No. 22 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with a work scheduled for Saturday.

MIDNIGHT BOURBON, SUPER STOCK – Winchell Thoroughbreds' multiple graded stakes-placed colt Midnight Bourbon jogged one mile at 5:30 a.m. with Wilson Fabian aboard alongside Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Erv Woolsey and Keith Asmussen's upset Arkansas Derby (G1) hero Super Stock galloped about 1 3/8 miles with Juan Vargas aboard at 6:30 a.m. Super Stock is scheduled to work Saturday while Midnight Bourbon is slated to work Monday.

O BESOS – Barrett Bernard, Tagg Team Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds' O Besos was tentatively scheduled to work Wednesday morning but trainer Greg Foley opted to move the work to Thursday because of track conditions.

The Orb colt jogged one mile under rider Margarito Fierro.

“Horses like this give me the motivation to keep going in life,” said Fierro, who's worked for Foley for nearly 20 years. “He's still a baby but what I've loved about his galloping is he does it with class. He gets on the track with the pony, checks out his surroundings and when he's ready to start his gallop he's all business.”

O Besos will work at 5:15 a.m., according to Foley.

STARRININMYDREAMS – Stewart Racing and WinStar Farm's third-place Lexington Stakes (G3) finisher Starrininmydreams galloped about 1 ½ miles at 6:30 a.m. under exercise rider Emerson Chavez.

“We're still waiting to see what shakes down,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “He looks unbelievable out there training but you never know what can happen with the horses in front of us. We'll be ready.”

Starrininmydreams sits No. 24 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, May 1 in order of preference (with possible jockey and trainer): Essential Quality (Luis Saez, Brad Cox); Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat, Doug O'Neill); Super Stock (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Like the King (Drayden Van Dyke, Wesley Ward); Known Agenda (Irad Ortiz, Todd Pletcher); Rock Your World (Joel Rosario, John Sadler); Bourbonic (Kendrick Carmouche, Todd Pletcher); Medina Spirit (John Velazquez, Bob Baffert); Midnight Bourbon (Mike Smith, Steve Asmussen); Mandaloun (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Caddo River (TBA, Brad Cox); Highly Motivated (Javier Castellano, Chad Brown); Helium (Julien Leparoux, Mark Casse); Soup and Sandwich (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Casse); Dynamic One (Jose Ortiz, Todd Pletcher); Sainthood (TBA, Todd Pletcher); Hidden Stash (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver); O Besos (Marcelino Pedroza, Greg Foley); Get Her Number (TBA, Peter Miller).

Possible starters within the Top 20 on the preference list: Dream Shake (TBA, Peter Eurton).

Next up in order of preference: Hozier (TBA, Bob Baffert); King Fury (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro); Starrininmydreams (TBA, Dallas Stewart).

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Watch: Team O Besos Grateful For Second Chances And Help From Above

Exercise rider Margarito Fierro and jockey Marcelino Pedroza have trainer Greg Foley's Kentucky Derby contender O Besos in common, of course, but there is more than that drawing the pair of riders together. In a video produced by Twinspires' Andrew Brown, both men reveal their personal struggles with cancer and how the relationship with horses helped them to overcome.

Fierro, a long-time employee for Foley, was diagnosed with Stage 2 colon cancer in 2016, and underwent surgery and several long months of recovery before returning to the racetrack. Eventually Fierro returned to galloping horses as well.

“That was a good therapy for me, to be around horses,” Fierro said. “After that, I never think I'd be able to gallop again, and I did. I still do it. I'm lucky to be alive. I'm very grateful, you know. I said, 'Thanks God, for giving me this second chance in life, because some people, they don't get it.”

Pedroza lost his mother to brain cancer two years ago, at the young age of 44.

“I'm glad that she doesn't suffer any more, and that she's in a better place,” said the jockey. “She told me, 'Papi, life continues, you gotta keep going, you got kids and a wife that depends on you.”

He took those words to heart. The same day his mother passed away, Pedroza won a race at Indiana Grand. He believes she'll be riding with him in the Kentucky Derby, celebrating his success.

Now, both Fierro and Pedroza will head to the first Saturday in May with big dreams. Both believe their big chestnut colt has a solid chance to wear the roses.

“My plan is to be in the Derby, and win it,” Pedroza summarized.

Check out the full video below:

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Derby Notes: Highly Motivated Impresses First Day At Churchill, Caddo River Confirmed To Race

Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated, runner-up to likely Kentucky Derby favorite Essential Quality in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) in his most recent start, made his first appearance on the main track at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning galloping under exercise rider Peter Roman.

Highly Motivated arrived Monday morning from Keeneland where he had been training since the Blue Grass. Trainer Chad Brown plans to work Highly Motivated on Saturday, weather permitting. Rain is in the forecast for Saturday.

Trainer Brad Cox reported Tuesday morning that Shortleaf Stable's Arkansas Derby (GI) runner-up Caddo River would run in the Kentucky Derby. He's scheduled to work Saturday.

Unseasonably cool temperatures are expected to arrive in the Louisville area overnight Tuesday with snow showers early Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

BOURBONIC, DYNAMIC ONE, KNOWN AGENDA, SAINTHOOD – Trainer Todd Pletcher sent his quartet of Kentucky Derby hopefuls out in groups of two for 1 3/8-mile gallops Tuesday morning.

Going first during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Oaks hopefuls were St. Elias Stable's Known Agenda with Hector Ramos aboard and Repole Stable, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable's Dynamic One with Carlos Perez Quevedo aboard.

Coming out just before 8 o'clock were Calumet Farm's Bourbonic with Ramos aboard and WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s Sainthood with Amelia Green aboard.

Pletcher has penciled in Saturday as the work day for his Derby runners but noted, “There could be some weather coming in and we will watch that and could move the works to Friday.”

CADDO RIVER, ESSENTIAL QUALITY, MANDALOUN – Trainer Brad Cox confirmed Tuesday morning that Shortleaf Stable's Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Caddo River would run in the Kentucky Derby.

“If all goes well after his work on Saturday, we'll run in the Derby,” Cox said. “He came out of the Arkansas Derby in great shape. He's a sound horse who is training well.”

All three of his Derby contenders galloped about 1 ½ miles Tuesday morning. Kentucky Derby favorite Essential Quality trained at 5:15 a.m. with Edvin Vargas in the saddle. About 45 minutes later, Caddo River trained with Gustavo Abrego in the saddle. At 7:30, during the exclusive training session for Derby and Oaks contenders, Juddmonte Farm's Mandaloun trained with Fernando Espinoza in the boot.

All three horses are scheduled to work Saturday morning, according to Cox.

HELIUM, SOUP AND SANDWICH – Live Oak Plantation's Soup and Sandwich, along with D J Stable's Helium, galloped 1 ½ miles early Tuesday beneath the Twin Spires.

Trainer Mark Casse's assistant David Carroll reported both horses would work this weekend. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione rides Soup and Sandwich in the Derby while Helium will be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

HIGHLY MOTIVATED – With exercise rider Peter Roman aboard, Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated galloped during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.

Highly Motivated arrived at Churchill Downs on Monday and following shortly thereafter was trainer Chad Brown.

“He got around there good this morning and I am pleased with the way he shipped in,” said Brown, who has started five horses in the Kentucky Derby with his best finish coming in 2018 when Good Magic was runner-up to eventual Triple Crown winner Justify.

Highly Motivated closed his 2020 campaign with a track record-setting performance in the Nyquist Stakes at Keeneland. A third-place finish in the Gotham (G3) opened 2021 followed by the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass that marked his first start around two turns.

“I thought the Blue Grass was a really good race and that was the first time he had been on the lead,” Brown said. “I am confident he can handle the two turns and I think he will move forward in this race.

“We shut him down on purpose (after the Nyquist) and worked backward from the Derby. He has hit all the marks getting here.”

KEEPMEINMIND – Spendthrift Farm, Cypress Creek and Arnold Bennewith's Keepmeinmind galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Enrique Benitez at 5:45.

Sitting at No. 22 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, the Robertino Diodoro trainee's next work date is to be determined.

KING FURY – Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm's King Fury galloped a mile and a half shortly after 5:30 with Danny Ramsey aboard for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Winner of the Lexington at Keeneland in his most recent start, King Fury sits at No. 21 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. He is scheduled to work Saturday.

MIDNIGHT BOURBON, SUPER STOCK – Winchell Thoroughbreds' multiple graded stakes-placed colt Midnight Bourbon had a scheduled walk day following his five-furlong move in :59.80 Monday morning at Churchill Downs.

Erv Woolsey and Keith Asmussen's upset Arkansas Derby (G1) hero Super Stock galloped about 1 3/8 miles with Juan Vargas aboard. He's scheduled to work Saturday.

O BESOS – Barrett Bernard, Tagg Team Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds' O Besos will have his final work prior to the Kentucky Derby Wednesday or Thursday morning at Churchill Downs.

Jockey Marcelino Pedroza will be aboard for the work and also ride O Besos in the Kentucky Derby.

“He's maturing even more as every day goes by,” Pedroza said. “The first time I worked this horse I couldn't believe he won going six furlongs. He loved the extra distance in the Louisiana Derby.”

O Besos had a light gallop Tuesday morning with exercise rider Margarito Fierro.

Pedroza and Fierro share a common bond entering the Kentucky Derby as both riders are overcoming life changing events. Pedroza lost his mother last year at 44-years-old to brain cancer while Fierro was once told he'd never gallop again because of colon cancer. TwinSpires.com's Andrew Brown reported the remarkable story here: https://bit.ly/3dwZBlx.

STARRININMYDREAMS – Stewart Racing and WinStar Farm's third-place Lexington Stakes (G3) finisher Starrininmydreams galloped about 1 ½ miles at 6:30 a.m. under exercise rider Emerson Chavez.

Starrininmydreams sits No. 23 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, May 1 in order of preference (with possible jockey and trainer): Essential Quality (Luis Saez, Brad Cox); Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat, Doug O'Neill); Super Stock (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Like the King (Drayden Van Dyke, Wesley Ward); Known Agenda (Irad Ortiz, Todd Pletcher); Rock Your World (Joel Rosario, John Sadler); Bourbonic (Kendrick Carmouche, Todd Pletcher); Medina Spirit (John Velazquez, Bob Baffert); Midnight Bourbon (Mike Smith, Steve Asmussen); Mandaloun (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Highly Motivated (Javier Castellano, Chad Brown); Helium (Julien Leparoux, Mark Casse); Soup and Sandwich (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Casse); Dynamic One (Jose Ortiz, Todd Pletcher); Sainthood (TBA, Todd Pletcher); Hidden Stash (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver); O Besos (Marcelino Pedroza, Greg Foley); Get Her Number (TBA, Peter Miller).

Possible starters within the Top 20 on the preference list: Dream Shake (TBA, Peter Eurton).

Next up in order of preference: King Fury (Brian Hernandez Jr.); Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro); Starrininmydreams (TBA, Dallas Stewart).

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Jockey Gaffalione, Entire Casse Team Has Been High On Soup And Sandwich Since The Beginning

Though he'll be riding Live Oak Plantation's Soup and Sandwich for the first time in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, jockey Tyler Gaffalione has been following the 3-year-old's races since the very beginning.

“I've been following this horse since his first race,” Gaffalione said in an interview with Jennie Rees for the Kentucky HBPA. “He just, his stride looks effortless. He covers a lot of ground, he was still green that day, he swapped leads a couple times, but he kind of reminded me of a Gun Runner early in his 3-year-old year. He had a lot of raw talent but hadn't really figured it out yet.”

The son of Into Mischief won on debut Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park, dominating by 7 1/4 lengths for trainer Mark Casse.

“I texted Mark after the race that day, and said, 'If it ever comes up, I'd love the chance to ride this horse,'” said Gaffalione. “We weren't able to hook up until now, but I mean, this is the one you want! Everything's just kind of falling into place.”

In his second career start, on Feb. 24 at Tampa Bay Downs, Soup and Sandwich bested a three-horse field in his first start around two turns. From there, Casse was confident enough to send the colt into the Grade 1 Florida Derby, where he ran a big second behind Known Agenda despite not switching leads in the stretch.

“I've got to give a lot of credit to Nick Tomlinson at Palm Meadows,” said Casse's assistant, David Carroll. “Nick loved this horse before he ever ran, even though he said he was very immature. He showed that in his first race and even his second race, so he's learning on the job, so to speak… You have to think that having run just three races, there's a lot more upside to him. His race in the Florida Derby was very, very good, but he didn't switch leads, showed true greenness, and had every chance to give it up, but he didn't.”

Gaffalione got a chance to ride Soup and Sandwich in the morning for the first time on Saturday, breezing five furlongs at Churchill in :59 4/5.

“I loved every bit of it,” the jockey said. “He's got a beautiful stride, he just covers a lot of ground and just keeps finding more.

“There's just an aura about him. (Nice horses) have a different, I guess you would say 'class,' about them. They know they're a nice horse and they have a lot of confidence in themselves, and you can really feel that.”

Out of the winning Tapit mare Souper Scoop, Soup and Sandwich is a second-generation homebred for Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Stud. His name is a play on her heritage, since her grandfather is the Campbell Soup founder John T. Dorrance and she serves as a board trustee of Campbell Soup Company.

Soup and Sandwich is one of two likely Kentucky Derby starters for Mark Casse in 2021. The second is Helium, undefeated winner of the G2 Tampa Bay Derby, who will be partnered by Julien Leparoux.

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