Derby Jockeys: With Several Big Names Staying Home, Kentucky Riders Get A Shot In The Big Dance

In a normal year, jockeys would be hard-pressed to miss their flights to Louisville for a chance to ride in the Kentucky Derby. Obviously, 2020 has been anything but a normal year, with the coronavirus pandemic pushing the Run for the Roses back to Sept. 5 and drawing up jockey travel restrictions all around the United States.

Last week, Churchill Downs announced that riders wanting to participate in the Derby will have to arrive in the state of Kentucky by Aug. 31, and participate in several additional coronavirus precautions.

As such, a number of prominent U.S. jockeys won't be making the trip to Kentucky. Jose and Irad Ortiz will both stay in New York, as will Joel Rosario, reports the Daily Racing Form, and last year's Derby winner Flavien Prat will stay in Southern California.

Those choices have opened the doors for Kentucky-based riders to have a chance to pick up a mount in the Derby.

Here's a look at the current 3-year-olds pointing to the Kentucky Derby, and their jockeys (plus state in which they are based), in order of points earned.

  1. Tiz the Law – Manny Franco (New York) – 372
  2. Authentic – John Velazquez (New York) – 200
  3. Art Collector – Brian Hernandez, Jr. (Kentucky) – 150
  4. Honor A. P. – Mike Smith (California) – 140
  5. Ny Traffic – TBD (last ridden by Paco Lopez) – 110
  6. King Guillermo – Samy Camacho (Florida) – 90
  7. Thousand Words – Florent Geroux (Kentucky) – 83
  8. Dr Post – TBD (last ridden by Joe Bravo) – 80
  9. Max Player – Ricardo Santana, Jr. (Kentucky) – 60
  10. Caracaro – TBD (last ridden by Javier Castellano) – 60
  11. Enforceable – Adam Beschizza (Kentucky) – 43
  12. Rushie – TBD (last ridden by Javier Castellano) – 40
  13. Major Fed – James Graham (Kentucky) – 38
  14. Storm the Court – Julien Leparoux (Kentucky) – 36
  15. Attachment Rate – Joe Talamo (Kentucky) – 35
  16. Sole Volante – Luca Panici (Florida) – 30
  17. Finnick the Fierce – TBD (last ridden by Jose Ortiz) – 25
  18. Winning Impression – Joe Rocco, Jr. (Kentucky) – 20
  19. Necker Island – Mitchell Murrill (Kentucky) – 14
  20. Shirl's Speight – Rafael Hernandez (Canada) – 0
  21. Money Moves – TBD (last ridden by Luis Saez) – 0

The post Derby Jockeys: With Several Big Names Staying Home, Kentucky Riders Get A Shot In The Big Dance appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Ellis Park Derby’s Attachment Rate, Necker Island Hope To Run For Roses

Second and third in Sunday's Ellis Park Derby, connections of Attachment Rate and Necker Island are hoping to run the 3-year-old colts in this year's rescheduled edition of the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5.

Attachment Rate was defeated 3 1/4 lengths by Art Collector at Ellis, and his top four finishes in the G3 Matt Winn and G3 Gotham have earned the son of Hard Spun a total of 35 points toward the Run for the Roses. That places the Dale Romans trainee 18th on the leaderboard, ensuring him a spot in the starting gate.

“(The Ellis Park Derby,) that's the best race he's run for us so far, I think,” Romans told Horse Racing Nation. “With that being said, we should probably try the Derby.”

A further 5 1/4 lengths back at the wire, Necker Island has earned just 14 points toward the Kentucky Derby. That places him 28th on the points leaderboard, but with a number of defections expected this son of Hard Spun should make the main body of the field. Necker Island was a $100,000 claim in June at Churchill Downs, and is owned by Wayne Scherr and Raymond Daniels.

“If there's any way that there would be an open spot, he will be there for sure,” trainer Chris Hartman told Horse Racing Nation. “I think he'll probably be able to run a mile and a quarter. Class would be the other thing. I don't know. I know Wayne would love to run him in the race and it's going to have to have a lot of things unfold for him to get in there. You never can tell, I guess.”

The post Ellis Park Derby’s Attachment Rate, Necker Island Hope To Run For Roses appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Tiz The Law 9-5 Morning Line Favorite In Final Kentucky Derby Future Wager

Sackatoga Stable's $1 million Belmont Stakes (Grade I) winner Tiz the Law continues to be top of mind with many horseplayers and was made the 9-5 morning line favorite for the final pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”), which spans Friday to Sunday.

This weekend's Pool 7 is the final opportunity to wager on the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby prior to the event.

Tiz the Law, a multiple Grade I-winning son of Constitution, stamped himself as the early Kentucky Derby favorite with his victory in 1 1/8-mile Belmont Stakes – the kickoff leg to this year's Triple Crown series. Trained by Barclay Tagg, Tiz the Law is the even-money morning line favorite for Saturday's $1 million Travers (GI) at Saratoga.

The co-headliner of the Travers is Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman's undefeated colt Uncle Chuck (6-1), who will enter Saturday's 1 ¼-mile event following a four-length score in last month's Los Alamitos Derby (GIII). Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Uncle Chuck is one of three entrants in Pool 7 of the KDFW for the five-time Derby-winning conditioner. Other entrants are Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing's $1 million Haskell winner Authentic (8-1) and Albaugh Family Stable and Spendthrift Farm's multiple Grade II winner Thousand Words (20-1).

Also likely to take interest is C R K Stable's $400,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Honor A.P. (6-1) and Bruce Lunsford's $600,000 Blue Grass (GII) hero and likely headliner in Sunday's $200,000 Ellis Park Derby Art Collector (6-1).

.

Here's the complete field for Pool 7 of the KDFW: #1 Anneau d'Or (50-1); #2 Art Collector (6-1); #3 Authentic (8-1); #4 Caracaro (50-1); #5 Country Grammer (20-1); #6 Dean Martini (50-1); #7 Dr Post (20-1): #8 Enforceable (30-1); #9 Finnick the Fierce (50-1); #10 Honor A.P. (6-1); #11 King Guillermo (30-1); #12 Major Fed (50-1); #13 Max Player (20-1); #14 Ny Traffic (20-1); #15 Pneumatic (50-1); #16 Rushie (50-1); #17 Shared Sense (50-1); #18 Shivaree (50-1); #19 Sole Volante (50-1); #20 South Bend (50-1); #21 Thousand Words (20-1); #22 Tiz the Law (9-5); #23 Uncle Chuck (6-1); and #24 “All Other 3-Year-Olds” (30-1).

There are 12 entrants in Pool 7 of the KDFW who are expected to run in Saturday's Travers or Sunday's Ellis Park Derby: Anneau d'Or (Ellis Park Derby); Art Collector (Ellis Park Derby); Caracaro (Travers); Country Grammer (Travers): Dean Martini (Ellis Park Derby); Finnick the Fierce (Ellis Park Derby); Max Player (Travers); Shared Sense (Ellis Park Derby); Shivaree (Travers); South Bend (Travers); Tiz the Law (Travers); and Uncle Chuck (Travers).

On March 17, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) would be rescheduled from May 2 to Sept. 5 amid public health concerns in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager features $2 Win and Exacta wagering, and provides fans of Thoroughbred racing with opportunities to place bets on possible entrants in the Kentucky Derby at odds that could be far greater than those available on the day of the race.

Bets for the KDFW can be placed on TwinSpires.com and other online wagering outlets across North America. There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Should Churchill Downs officials determine during the duration of the three-day pool that one of the wagering interests has experienced an injury, illness or other circumstance that would prevent the horse from participating in the Kentucky Derby, betting on the individual horse will be suspended immediately.

The post Tiz The Law 9-5 Morning Line Favorite In Final Kentucky Derby Future Wager appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Major Fed Team Decides To Skip Ellis Park Derby, Train Up To Kentucky Derby

Major Fed, runner-up in the Indiana Derby on July 8, had been under consideration for Sunday's Ellis Park Derby at the Henderson, Ky. track. Instead, Travis Foley, assistant and son to trainer Greg Foley, told the Daily Racing Form that the 3-year-old son of Ghostzapper will head straight to the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5.

Based at Churchill Downs, Major Fed worked a half-mile beneath the Twin Spires in :50.20 on Aug. 1.

“We're happy with where we are with him and comfortable with the points situation,” the younger Foley told drf.com. “Everything's good and we didn't feel like we needed the race in between.”

Major Fed also owns a second-place finish in the G2 Risen Star Stakes, and a fourth from the G2 Louisiana Derby, leaving him with a total of 38 points toward the Kentucky Derby. He currently sits 16th on the points leaderboard.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

The post Major Fed Team Decides To Skip Ellis Park Derby, Train Up To Kentucky Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights