Highly Motivated | Horse Racing Free Tips

The TDN Derby Top 20 For April 13

The long prep season is over, but some jostling for a starting spot remains among the horses on the cusp of the qualifying points cutoff. Please note the rankings below are independent from the “Road to the GI Kentucky Derby” points leaderboard Churchill Downs uses to determine starting berths. That list can be accessed here.

1) ESSENTIAL QUALITY (c, Tapit–Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality)
O/B-Godolphin (KY). T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt & MGISW, 5-5-0-0, $2,265,144.
Last Start: 1st GII Toyota Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 3
Accomplishments: 'TDN Rising Star', 1st GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile, KEE, Nov. 6, 1st GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, KEE, Oct. 3, 1st GIII Southwest S., OP, Feb. 27
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 140

With all the prep stakes now in the books, it's safe to say the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. stands out as this year's only true slugfest between two A-list colts who asserted themselves on the front end and kept fighting right through to the finish. While earlier in the season you could have legitimately postulated that 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality enjoyed a couple of gift-trip wins without facing stern stretch battles during his five-for-five run, we now know this Tapit-sired Godolphin homebred has both a relentless, high-pressure cruising gear and enough extra torque in deep stretch to determinedly seal the deal. But given the arduous nature of that Keeneland effort–for both Essential Quality and Highly Motivated (Into Mischief)–it's also within reason to ask whether it was almost too taxing a race four weeks out from the Derby (and within the context of both colts only getting two pre-Derby starts at age three). However, should either one (or both) end up thriving off of such a demanding performance to springboard forward in terms of development and confidence, the rest of the division is in serious trouble. This is an aggressive, athletic gray who meshes well with rider Luis Saez to make his own breaks happen within races, and his overall body of work firmly entrenches him as the horse to beat (although maybe not to bet at underlaid odds) in Louisville.

2) KNOWN AGENDA (c, Curlin–Byrama {GB}, by Byron {GB})
O/B-St Elias Stable (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $135,000 RNA Ylg '19 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-1, $541,700.
Last Start: 1st GI Curlin Florida Derby, GP, Mar. 27
Accomplishments: 3rd GII Remsen S., AQU, Dec. 5
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 102

In recent seasons, trainer Todd Pletcher has generally not been flooded with early-winter Top 12 candidates. But come April every year, he reliably has several Derby threats primed to pounce. Known Agenda is the best of this year's group for Pletcher, and he told the TDN Writers' Room last week that this $135,000 RNA at FTSAUG surprised by running well first time out when finishing second sprinting at Saratoga. Known Agenda then ran to his distance-centric pedigree by beating well-regarded Greatest Honour (Tapit) going nine furlongs in start number two (with the rest of the field 21 lengths behind). Yet this colt was green and left himself too much work to do in both the GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct and the GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa. Blinkers helped to focus him for a breakout allowance romp and then a sharp, rail-running victory in the GI Florida Derby (94 Beyer Speed Figure). “A lot of it's just physical maturity, mental maturity,” Pletcher said. “He's a Curlin. He's bred to be better a little later.”

3) HOT ROD CHARLIE (c, Oxbow–Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie)
O-Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing LLC & William Strauss; B-Edward A Cox (KY); T-Doug O'Neill. Sales history: $17,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $110,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 7-2-1-2, $1,005,700.
Last Start: 1st GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 20
Accomplishments: 2nd GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, KEE, Nov. 6; 3rd GIII Robert B. Lewis S., SA, Jan. 30. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 110

Flavien Prat will ride Hot Rod Charlie in the Derby, and the standings-topping Santa Anita rider is picking up a live, versatile mount who has impressed with steady advancement ever since he ran a close second at 94-1 odds behind Essential Quality in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Even though this two-time Fasig-Tipton sales grad ($17,000 FTKFEB; $110,000 FTKOCT) is a half-brother to 2019 sprint champ Mitole, trainer Doug O'Neill was on record as far back as last autumn saying Hot Rod Charlie has the makings of a two-turn horse. This Oxbow colt most recently scored on the front end in the GII Louisiana Derby, but he's a fairly relaxed goer who doesn't appear to be a need-the-lead type of speedster. Hot Rod Charlie also got a good deal of schooling out of his Jan. 30 GIII Robert B. Lewis S. third, in which he was beaten a neck in a three-way photo after stumbling at the break and bumping in deep stretch, and he is beginning to resonate as a seasoned competitor who can handle varying levels of pace pressure and in-race chaos.

4) HIGHLY MOTIVATED (c, Into Mischief–Strong Incentive, by Warrior's Reward)
O/B-Klaravich Stables, Inc (KY). T-Chad Brown. Sales History: $240,000 wlg '18 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP, 5-2-2-1, $320,050.
Last Start: 2nd GII Toyota Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 3
Accomplishments: 1st Nyquist S., KEE, Nov. 6, 3rd GIII Gotham S., AQU, Mar. 6
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 50

For this $240,000 KEENOV Into Mischief colt to finish second and only a neck behind the undefeated juvenile champ in his first two-turn attempt says a lot for both Highly Motivated and trainer Chad Brown. This colt was two-for-three in progressively better sprints at age two, culminating with an eventual key-race stakes victory on the Breeders' Cup undercard. Brown gave Highly Motivated some extra time after that November win to recover from stiffness; he resurfaced belatedly in the one-turn-mile GIII Gotham S., yet failed to impress with a no-impact third as the favorite. Brown does not usually press horses along on the Derby trail under those circumstances, so it would not have been shocking to see Highly Motivated get rerouted on a different path. But Brown gave him one more chance to prove he belonged in the Blue Grass S., and it was ultra-impressive how he took heat from the top soph in the nation and kept turning back Essential Quality until the final few jumps to the wire (both earned 97 Beyers).

5) KING FURY (c, Curlin–Taris, by Flatter)
O-Fern Circle Stables & Three Chimneys Farm LLC; B-Heider Family Stables (KY); T-Ken McPeek. Sales history: $950,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-3-0-0, $262,739. Last Start: 1st GIII Stonestreet Lexington S., KEE, Apr. 10.
Accomplishments: 1st Street Sense S., CD, Oct. 25. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 20.

King Fury's lofty placement this high up on the list might seem audacious considering he's parked way out at 28th on the qualifying list. But I had him ranked within the Top 12 way back in December and remain bullish on his chances should multiple defections allow him to enter the Derby. This $950,000 FTSAUG yearling is a smooth-striding son of Curlin who had an ample foundation of two-turn experience at age two (five races at 1 1/16 miles) before making his delayed sophomore debut Saturday, splashing home with a 95-Beyer GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. score. King Fury is two-for-two at Churchill, winning the Street Sense S. there last October before wheeling back 12 days later in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile only to get trapped behind a tiring speed horse. The experiment of blinkers and an attempt at setting the pace in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. yielded only a fifth-place effort, but trainer Ken McPeek had this colt finely tuned for an 18-1 upset off the bench in the Lexington. “If he doesn't get in the Derby, he will run in the [GI] Preakness S.,” McPeek said. “He seems like a horse that is ready to do all that.”

6) MIDNIGHT BOURBON (c, Tiznow–Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon)
O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Sales History: $525,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 7-2-2-3, $461,420.
Last Start: 2nd GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 20.
Accomplishments: 1st GIII Lecomte S., FG, Jan. 16, 2nd GIII Iroquois S., CD, Sept. 25, 3rd GII Risen Star S., FG, Feb. 13, 3rd GI Champagne S., BEL, Oct. 10
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 66

Midnight Bourbon's wire-to-wire win in the GIII Lecomte S. back in January represents his only win this year, yet it wasn't his best effort because he controlled a paceless race and coasted home unopposed. But when this $525,000 KEESEP colt by Tiznow stretched out to nine furlongs in the GII Risen Star S., it was a deceptively stronger try considering Midnight Bourbon twice led between calls (on the far turn and at the eighth pole), then galloped out longer and stronger than the top two finishers while finishing third, beaten only 1 3/4 lengths. He tried hard, but was outrun in the Louisiana Derby when chasing the very game Hot Rod Charlie every step of the 1 3/16-mile trip, and you can't quibble with the Beyers this Steve Asmussen trainee has earned as a sophomore (93, 96, 96). Asmussen may be 0-for-21 in the Derby, but two of his four Derby starters who hit the board later ended up getting voted Horse of the Year (Curlin and Gun Runner).

7) DYNAMIC ONE (c, 3, Union Rags–Beat the Drums, by Smart Strike)
O-Repole Stable, Phipps Stable & St Elias Stable; B-Phipps Stable (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $725,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 5-1-2-0, $194,120.
Last Start: 2nd GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 3
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 40.

This colt might end up as the late-blooming Derby overlay whose potential could exceed long odds over 10 furlongs. Trainer Todd Pletcher told the TDN Writers' Room last week he was “a little disappointed” Dynamic One's first three races didn't match the level of ability he displayed in training. But this $725,000 KEESEP colt had some plausible post-position excuses, and really turned the corner when shipped to Aqueduct for a nine-furlong maiden special weight win followed by a near-miss second in the GII Wood Memorial S. “I think he's still learning how to run, learning how to finish off the race,” Pletcher said, adding that Dynamic One “got a little lost by himself” before being collared at the wire by a last-to-first rival. Last week's sidelining of highly ranked Greatest Honour might have incidentally freed up jockey Jose Ortiz for the Derby mount aboard Dynamic One (he had ridden both colts in their recent stakes starts).

8) SUPER STOCK (c, 3, Dialed In–Super Girlie, by Closing Argument)
O-Erv Woolsey & Keith Asmussen; B-Pedro & P J Gonzalez (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Sales history: $70,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 8-2-2-2, $804,762.
Last Start: 1st GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 10.
Accomplishments: 2nd Street Sense S., CD, Oct. 25; 3rd
GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, KEE, Oct. 3; 3rd GIII Iroquois S., CD, Sept. 5
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 109.

If jockey Ricardo Santana Jr.'s instructions for the GI Arkansas Derby were to save ground and make one run at the favored pacemakers, he executed that plan flawlessly. Always in touch behind the dueling duo while stalking in third, this $70,000 KEESEP colt by Dialed In briefly had to switch off the heels of the tiring favorite three-sixteenths from the wire before responding to a rousing stretch ride. His Beyer of 92 translates to a nine-point improvement over his career best. But when you parse the fractions and consider how much Super Stock benefitted from an ideal setup (his winning move was launched into a slow :26.49 fourth-quarter split and there was little resistance from the spent speedsters) the Arkansas Derby doesn't stand out as a particularly overpowering race. On the brighter side, if you look at Super Stock's company lines, he has already beaten two well-regarded 'TDN Rising Stars' ranked within the current Top 12, and he has run a credible third and second, respectively, behind the Nos. 1 and 5 horses on this list.

9) ROCK YOUR WORLD (c, Candy Ride {Arg}–Charm the Maker, by Empire Maker)
O-Hronis Racing LLC & Talla Racing LLC. B-Ron & Deborah McAnally (KY). T-John Sadler. Sales History: $650,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 3-3-0-0, $546,600.
Last Start: 1st GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 3
Accomplishments: 1st Pasadena S., SA, Feb. 27
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 100

If someone told you a few months ago that the winner of the 100-Beyer GI Santa Anita Derby would be a 3-for-3 colt who didn't make his first start until January, would you have guessed correctly that colt wasn't trained by Bob Baffert? Rock Your World, a $650,000 KEESEP colt by Candy Ride (Arg), is the product of a nice bit of turf-to-dirt conditioning by John Sadler, who now brings an intriguing wild card to Louisville with stout pedigree underpinnings (Empire Maker, Unbridled and Giant's Causeway all in the recent female family). But while the sky is always the proverbial limit with an undefeated colt, I'm skeptical that the Santa Anita Derby is a reliable measuring metric. Rock Your World didn't have to fight for the lead, got pressed chiefly by a 45-1 no-hoper who cracked without resistance, and every successive quarter-mile split that he set on the front end clocked in slower than the one that preceded it. Rock Your World's triple-digit Beyer represented an 18-point leap from two previous 82 ratings; besting a full field of 20 going 10 furlongs under considerably more strenuous pace pressure will require another tall-ask advancement.

10) CONCERT TOUR (c, Street Sense–Purse Strings, by Tapit)
O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 4-3-0-1, $556,600.
Last Start: 3rd GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 10.
Accomplishments: 'TDN Rising Star', 1st GII Rebel S., OP, Mar. 13; 1st GII San Vicente S., SA, Feb. 6.
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 70

One bad race won't totally derail 'TDN Rising Star' Concert Tour from being an A-list competitor, but his Derby status is in doubt and there was no mistaking the disappointment in trainer Bob Baffert's assessment the day after Concert Tour came up empty in the Arkansas Derby. “We'll see how he works back,” Baffert said. “Churchill, I don't like to run there unless they're going to be really live. We'll see how he comes out of this race and see how he trains forward. I didn't really want a hard race out of it, but we still wanted to win. I've won Derbies off of losses. You learn about your horse and see if there is improvement to be made.” This Street Sense homebred for Gary and Mary West forced the issue as the 3-10 fave at Oaklawn, and although he won the pace battle by the time the field hit the quarter pole, Concert Tour had nothing left to swat away the stretch bid by Super Stock, and he even allowed the front-runner he had already put away to re-rally for second.

11) MEDINA SPIRIT (c, Protonico–Mongolian Changa, by Briliant Speed)
O-Zedan Racing Stables. B-Gail Rice (FL). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $1,000 ylg '19 OBSWIN; $35,000 2yo '20 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 5-2-3-0, $315,200.
Last Start: 2nd GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 3
Accomplishments: 1st Robert B. Lewis S., SA, Jan. 30, 2nd GII San Felipe S., SA, Mar. 6, 2nd GIII Sham S., SA, Jan. 2
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 74

Medina Spirit started the season ranked quite a bit lower on trainer Bob Baffert's deep sophomore roster, but he'll now head to the Derby as the stable's most reliable contender. This Protonico colt hammered for relatively short money ($1,000 at OBSWIN and $35,000 OBSOPN), and earlier in the season Baffert likened Medina Spirit to his 1997 Derby winner Silver Charm, who was also not an overly expensive OBS-sold colt ($16,500 OBSAUG yearling, $100,000 OBSAPR). Medina Spirit owns two wins and three seconds from five starts, he's run Beyers within the 94-99 range on four occasions, and he's already beaten No 3-ranked Hot Rod Charlie in a head-to-head matchup. He's a no-nonsense hard trier whose grittiness can't be overlooked if the Derby develops into a free-for-all down the stretch.

12) CADDO RIVER (c, Hard Spun–Pangburn, by Congrats)
O/B-Shortleaf Stable (KY). T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: SW & GISP, 6-2-3-0, $396,092.
Last Start: 2nd GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 10.
Accomplishments: 'TDN Rising Star', 1st Smarty Jones S., OP, Jan. 22
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 50

'TDN Rising Star' Caddo River was hounded until the top of the stretch by 3-10 favorite Concert Tour in the Arkansas Derby, and although this Hard Spun homebred for Shortleaf Stable managed to claw back second late in the lane, that re-rally was largely the product of Concert Tour throwing in the towel rather than Caddo River being exceptionally resurgent. Perhaps a return to Churchill Downs–where Caddo River first sparked to life with a 9 1/2-length MSW clock-cleaning last November–will yield a turnaround in time for the first Saturday in May. Caddo River has now been given two top-tier chances to prove he's more than a one-dimensional speed threat, and while he hasn't advanced to that level yet, his first four races showed enough promise that I'm reluctant to abandon him entirely.

Potentially rounding out the starting gate…

13) Mandaloun (Into Mischief): This 'TDN Rising Star' bulleted five-eighths in :58.80 (1/28) at Churchill on Saturday as he seeks to shrug off a no-excuse, beaten-fave sixth in the Louisiana Derby. A Juddmonte homebred, Mandaloun already owns an allowance win over the Kentucky Derby surface (sprinting last autumn) and trainer Brad Cox is banking on the colt being able to rebound to the full potential of his speed-over-stamina pedigree (by Into Mischief out of an Empire Maker mare) over 10 furlongs.

14) Soup and Sandwich (Into Mischief): There is value-oriented upside in the two-for-thrree Soup and Sandwich, a Live Oak homebred out of a Tapit mare. This Mark Casse-trained gray is a pace presence, and the race that stands out for him was his Florida Derby second, in which he forced the issue and was only one to give Known Agenda a tussle down the stretch despite being on his left lead. “He has a big stride on him and really got over the track well,” assistant trainer David Carroll said Sunday after Soup and Sandwich breezed a half mile in :48.80 (8/17) at Churchill.

15) Helium (Ironicus): The three-for-three winner of the GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby shipped from Florida to Louisville last week and on Saturday breezed five-eighths in :59.20 (4/28), besting in-company maiden mate Ghost of the Mambo (Ghostzapper) by two fifths of a second before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 under jockey Julien Leparoux. This $55,000 FTKOCT colt out of a mare by 1995 Derby winner Thunder Gulch is attempting the Derby off an eight-week break. Only two horses have won the Derby off at least that long a layoff; both were more than 100 years ago.

16) Bourbonic (Bernardini): Calumet races its homebreds relatively frequently and it's an outfit with some pricey upsets on the Triple Crown trail over the last decade, like Oxbow's 15-1 Preakness win in 2013, Bravazo's 21-1 Risen Star S. score in 2018, and Everfast's 29-1 near-miss second in the 2019 Preakness. Bourbonic's 72-1 last-to-first thriller in the Wood Memorial tops them all for bombastic odds, but he's a difficult horse to see repeating in the Derby. His final time was the slowest in the history of the Wood, and he won by a bob after closing into pedestrian quarters of :24.88, :25.30, :24.80, :25.78 and a final eighth of :13.73.

17) Rombauer (Twirling Candy): The last-to-first winner of the El Camino Real Derby is on the outside looking in, points-wise, but several higher-ranking horses no longer appear to be Derby-bound, so it looks as if he'll make the cut. This Fradkin homebred was not in the same league as Essential Quality and Highly Motivated in the Blue Grass S., yet was still 4 1/2 lengths clear of everyone else when third. Rombauer has won over both turf and Tapeta, but never on dirt.

18) Sainthood (Mshawish) This 1-for-3 Todd Pletcher trainee led early in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, then conceded the lead and rated from midpack. Sainthood ($100,000 KEEJAN, $90,000 KEESEP RNA, $62,000 OBSOCT) came off the inside for the stretch drive only to get pinballed in heavy traffic, but once clear he was the only one making up ground on the winner, finishing second. Sire Mshawish was a globe-trotting, multi-surface victor with a sweet spot between eight and nine furlongs; damsire Lemon Drop Kid won the 1999 GI Belmont S.

19) Panadol (Flatter): Only three races on this $180,000 OBSAPR colt's Meydan resume, which is not so unusual these days for a Derby aspirant. But what is out of the ordinary is that two of them were at 1 3/16 miles, perhaps giving this New York-bred a seasoning edge beyond those limited starts. He has been forwardly placed in all three tries and Panadol's only loss was a second in the UAE Derby when he was run down by open-lengths winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is bypassing Louisville and waiting for the GI Belmont S. instead.

20) Like the King (Palace Malice): This rangy chestnut ($28,000 KEENOV, $170,000 OBSOCT) set or forced the pace in four 2-year-old races after starting his career at Belterra Park. He transitioned effectively to stalking, then rating, in two Turfway stakes, and he's moving in the right direction. Yet Like the King was beaten a combined 19 3/4 lengths in his only two dirt tries and is soft in the numbers department, with a career-best Beyer of 86.

The post The TDN Derby Top 20 For April 13 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Taking ‘Flight’: Brown Barn Reloaded for Spring

Not to be lost off the heels of a very productive weekend of GI Kentucky Derby/Oaks preps for the Chad Brown barn–more on that in a bit–the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer recently unveiled a pair of ultra-impressive, stakes-quality Euro imports for allowance victories.

Juddmonte homebred Pocket Square (GB) (f, 4, Night of Thunder {Ire}), heroine of Deauville's G3 Prix des Reservoirs at two for trainer Roger Charlton, turned in an eye-catching, 2 1/4-length come-from-behind tally in her U.S. bow over the Keeneland lawn Wednesday, rocketing home in :28.21.

She was receiving first-time Lasix in the 1 1/16-mile affair while making her first attempt since an unplaced effort–her lone start at three–in last July's G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York. The lightly raced Pocket Square is a daughter of the multiple stakes-placed Dansili (GB) mare Shared Account (GB), a full-sister to French G1SW Zambezi Sun (GB).

“She ran terrific,” said Brown, who also won Friday's GI Maker's Mark Mile with Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}). “She got a good trip and a good ride from Irad [Ortiz, Jr.]. She had been training very well down at Payson Park all winter, so we were cautiously optimistic that she could get her campaign kicked off the right way.”

Pocket Square could potentially target Belmont's GI Longines Just a Game S. on the GI Belmont S. undercard June 5. Brown and Juddmonte followed a similar blueprint with Antonoe (First Defence), who also won a Keeneland allowance in her U.S. bow prior to adding the Just a Game in 2017.

“A race like the Just a Game is definitely in play,” Brown said. “She's already won at a mile, so I don't think cutting her back will hurt. We've had success before doing that with another Juddmonte horse Antonoe, who followed a similar track. It's something we'll nominate her to, but in no way is that firm yet. We'll get her back to New York and see how she's training first.”

Flighty Lady (Ire) (f, 4, Sir Percy {GB}), four times group-placed at two and three in France, also stamped herself as one to watch in her first attempt on these shores, punching on nicely with a smart, two-length score with first-time Lasix traveling 1 1/16 miles over the Aqueduct grass last Saturday (video).

She was purchased privately by Peter Brant's White Birch Farm following a third-place finish in the 2019 G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp. Her resume also includes a solid third-place finish behind subsequent GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. heroine Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Prix Vanteaux last May.

The 21,000gns TAOCT yearling is out of the unraced Dansili mare Airfield (GB), a full-sister to GSWs Early March (GB) and Aviate (GB). This is also the family of G1 Goffs Irish One Thousand Guineas heroine Al Bahathri (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and G1 Two Thousand Guineas winner Haafhd (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}).

“She trained down there at Payson, too, and also got her season kicked off the right way,” Brown said. “I'm looking at the [GIII] Gallorette [S. at Pimlico May 15] as probably the leading candidate for her next spot. But we'll nominate her to a bunch of different stuff. I like the timing of that race and keeping her at that distance [1 1/16 miles] for now, so we'll see.”

Like his former boss, the late, great Bobby Frankel, Brown is no stranger to top-level success with these types of imports, led by champion female turfers and Breeders' Cup winners Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}); Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) (like Pocket Square and Flighty Lady, also out of a Dansili mare); and Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune); as well as champion grass horse Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}); and South American champion turned MGISW in the U.S., Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy).

“Fortunately, I've had the combination of a great mentor with Bobby training me how to take these type of horses in,” Brown said. “Really no two are alike, right? They come from different areas of Europe or South America, what have you, so we adjust to what we receive. And the other part is getting the horses. The horses you mentioned were very highly regarded, and had a lot of ability to begin with. My team, I sort of trained them for what I know, and they then execute it with the horses that we're grateful to have. It's worked that way and it's nice to see that it's continuing to work. As long as we get these type of horses and my team continues to follow the boss's plan–which was really Bobby's–hopefully, we'll be able to add to that list.”

As the calendar quickly approaches the first Saturday in May, Brown–second in the 2018 Kentucky Derby with champion Good Magic (Curlin) and third in the 2016 Kentucky Oaks with Lewis Bay (Bernardini)-will be well-represented once again in those two Classics with a pair of Klaravich runners.

Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) punched his ticket to Louisville with an ultra-game runner-up finish to Essential Quality (Tapit) in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S., while the unbeaten Search Results (Flatter) now stands atop the Oaks standings following her stalk-and-pounce win in the GIII Gazelle S.

While still up for further discussion, Brown reported that Crowded Trade (More Than Ready), third in the GII Wood Memorial S., may await the GI Preakness S., a race won by the stable in 2017 with Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music).

“Very lucky to have a nice, diverse group of horses to complement those turf runners,” Brown said. “We've got some really nice dirt horses in the barn, too. It's exciting and we've been down this path before. We haven't won either race, the Derby or Oaks, but we've been close and knocking on the door a little bit with limited opportunities.

Brown concluded, “There's so many things to overcome, I've sort of become numb to it knowing everything that can happen. But we know more as a team now definitely, so you feel a little bit more comfortable going over there than the earlier days. Highly Motivated and Search Results seem to really fit with this group. We're really lucky to have these two horses.”

The post Taking ‘Flight’: Brown Barn Reloaded for Spring appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The TDN Derby Top 20 for April 6

The first Saturday in April's “power trio” of nine-furlong qualifying preps is in the books. We also learned last week that no Japan-based horse will be accepting the “Road to the GI Kentucky Derby” invitation this year, and that none of the qualifying European horses are nominated, meaning they'd have to supplement $200,000 to get in. So at this time it appears that all 20 starting spots will go to American horses. The rankings below are independent from the “Road to the Derby” points leaderboard Churchill Downs uses to determine starting berths. That list can be accessed here.

'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality's relentless GII Blue Grass S. win now rates as the divisional measuring stick for accomplishment under sustained intensity. The undefeated juvenile champ didn't have to uncork such a highly torqued display of force in his final Derby prep to sail into Louisville as the favorite. But the scary-good nature of his performance is underpinned by trainer Brad Cox's belief that this Tapit-sired Godolphin homebred is only going to build off such a demanding slugfest. “EQ” veered outward and bumped at the break but quickly righted himself to seize a brief early lead. Jockey Luis Saez then skillfully backed him out of a protracted speed duel with stretch-out pacemaker Highly Motivated (Into Mischief), although EQ was keen to re-engage on the backstretch run. Applying outside pressure about a neck back, Saez edged incrementally closer until EQ ranged up on even terms with his rival 2 1/2 furlongs out, and the cadence quickened with Highly Motivated continually repulsing the champ's threatening surges. They shifted and drifted in lockstep through the lane, and only in the final 50 yards did the determined gray finally edge away, earning a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. The final furlong of the Blue Grass was clocked in :12.53, the fastest in seven editions of that stakes since Keeneland's main track switched from synthetic back to dirt.

2) GREATEST HONOUR (c, Tapit–Tiffany's Honour, by Street Cry {Ire})
O/B-Courtlandt Farms (KY). T-Claude R. McGaughey III. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 7-3-1-3, $422,440.
Last Start: 3rd GI Curlin Florida Derby, GP, Mar. 27
Accomplishments: 1st GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S., GP, Feb. 27, 1st GIII Holy Bull S., GP. Jan. 30
Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 1
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 80

Long-striding Greatest Honour ran three visually impressive races at Gulfstream this winter and has always figured to be a “longer-the-better” type of colt who should excel over 10 furlongs. But he can't quite match the tactical toolbox of new No. 1 kingpin Essential Quality, who commands races with speed-oriented pressure instead of launching one prolonged bid from the back of the pack. This Tapit-sired Courtlandt Farms homebred tried to follow the rail-running winner in the Florida Derby, but holes that opened for Known Agenda (Curlin) closed before Greatest Honour could fly through them; that's the inherent risk of being a trip- and pace-dependent stayer. I'm not a “numbers guy,” yet I do have to admit it's concerning this colt has never cracked 89 (and even regressed to an 85 last time out) on the Beyer scale. But trainer Shug McGuaghey's main goal was never about getting Greatest Honour to peak on the final Saturday in March, and you can't quantify in any sort of numerical figuration the value that this patient Hall-of-Fame conditioner brings to the equation in terms of having this colt tighter for May 1.

3) CONCERT TOUR (c, Street Sense–Purse Strings, by Tapit)
O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 3-3-0-0, $756,600.
Last Start: 1st GII Rebel S., OP, Mar. 13.
Accomplishments: 'TDN Rising Star', 1st GII San Vicente S., SA, Feb. 6
Next Start: GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 10
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 50

The more I look at Concert Tour's past performances, the more I think he's capable of punching through in a big way in Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby, which could stamp him as a horse to beat on the first Saturday in May. This undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' looms large off a frontrunning GII Rebel S. score that was accomplished professionally and all under his own power. The ultra-confident, can-do-no-wrong way that Joel Rosario has been riding through the first quarter of 2021 adds immeasurably to the overall package, and he is a nice fit for a horse like Concert Tour, who likes to be close to the pace but doesn't absolutely need to be on the lead to fire his best shot. Will history also be on Concert Tour's side? The only horses to pull off the Arkansas/Kentucky Derby double since 1980 have been American Pharoah (2015), Smarty Jones (2004) and Sunny's Halo (1983). But keep an eye on whoever finishes second at Oaklawn: Horses who have been the runner-up in the Arkansas Derby during that same time frame have also won three Kentucky Derbies–Super Saver (2010), Grindstone (1996) and Lil E. Tee (1992).

4) KNOWN AGENDA (c, Curlin–Byrama {GB}, by Byron {GB})
O/B-St Elias Stable (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $135,000 RNA Ylg '19 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-1, $541,700.
Last Start: 1st GI Curlin Florida Derby, GP, Mar. 27
Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 1
Accomplishments: 3rd GII Remsen S., AQU, Dec. 5
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 102

Known Agenda now has three wins at nine furlongs and has beaten No. 2-ranked Greatest Honour twice, but what was most impressive about his 94-Beyer Florida Derby victory was how he settled at the rail and came through inside of horses to launch into contention off the final turn. The addition of blinkers two starts back has noticeably increased this Curlin colt's comfort level with racing in tight quarters, and he generally seems to be focused in his stretch runs (beyond some excusable drifting under left-handed stick work in his final prep at Gulfstream). But in no races at age three has this $135,000 RNA at FTSAUG faced a really stern challenge through the final two furlongs of his races. His Feb. 26 allowance win by 11 lengths at 1-2 odds more or less equated to a public workout, and in the Florida Derby the only rival he had to nail in deep stretch was a 12-1 shot who had been softened up by forcing the pace. Having said that, momentum is definitely on Known Agenda's side, which is always a plus heading to Louisville.

5) HIGHLY MOTIVATED (c, Into Mischief–Strong Incentive, by Warrior's Reward)
O/B-Klaravich Stables, Inc (KY). T-Chad Brown. Sales History: $240,000 wlg '18 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP, 5-2-2-1, $320,050.
Last Start: 2nd GII Toyota Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 3
Accomplishments: 1st Nyquist S., KEE, Nov. 6, 3rd GIII Gotham S., AQU, Mar. 6
Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 1
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 50

This $240,000 KEENOV Into Mischief colt could very well end up heading to the Derby with the best runner-up performance in any 2021 prep race. Losing only by a neck in the Blue Grass S., his admirable tenacity on the lead while attempting two turns for the first time and being ceaselessly hounded by undefeated juvenile champ Essential Quality cannot be understated. Only time will tell if such a taxing effort toughens or saps both colts for the Derby; if either one manages to springboard forward off that demanding race, look out. Highly Motivated led through an opening quarter of :23.83, then Javier Castellano toned down the second quarter to :24.58. The third and fourth quarters were nearly identical in :23.87 and :23.89, and as noted above in Essential Quality's write-up, the final eighth was the fastest for this stakes in seven runnings on dirt over Keeneland's current nine-furlong configuration. Highly Motivated beat No. 4-ranked Known Agenda in their lone MSW matchup last season in New York, and his track-record, key-race stakes core on the Breeders' Cup undercard last November reinforces the idea that he is more than capable against upper-crust company.

6) HOT ROD CHARLIE (c, Oxbow–Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie)
O-Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing LLC & William Strauss; B-Edward A Cox (KY); T-Doug O'Neill. Sales history: $17,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $110,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 7-2-1-2, $1,005,700.
Last Start: 1st GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 20
Accomplishments: 2nd GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, KEE, Nov. 6; 3rd GIII Robert B. Lewis S., SA, Jan. 30
Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 1
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 110

The one-two horses from last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile are now the one-two horses on the Derby points qualifying list after both Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie have completed their final preps. This half-brother to 2019 sprint champ Mitole (Eskendereya) is demonstrating improvement both visually and by the numbers (every lifetime Beyer faster than previous through seven lifetime starts), and jockey Joel Rosario has previously noted how this colt's ability to relax during morning training translates to him being responsive in the afternoons under varying pace scenarios and levels of pressure. Only two horses have won the Louisiana Derby and then the Kentucky Derby–Grindstone in 1996 and Black Gold in 1924. This two-time Fasig-Tipton sales grad ($17,000 FTKFEB; $110,000 FTKOCT) celebrates his third birthday Apr. 11.

7) CADDO RIVER (c, Hard Spun–Pangburn, by Congrats)
O/B-Shortleaf Stable (KY). T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: SW, 5-2-2-0, $196,092.
Last Start: 5th GII Rebel S., OP, Mar. 13.
Accomplishments: 'TDN Rising Star', 1st Smarty Jones S., OP, Jan. 22
Next Start: GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 10
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 10

Trainer Brad Cox said last week to expect a “more aggressive” Caddo River in Saturday's Arkansas Derby. “We're not going to sit on him quite as much as we did last time,” he added, referencing the refusal-to-rate meltdown that this 'TDN Rising Star' imposed upon himself when he conceded the lead to Concert Tour then fought the rider in the Rebel S. last time out. This Hard Spun homebred for Shortleaf Stable acted much more poised and professional in two New York MSW placings last autumn, then commanded the pace and won allowance and stakes starts at Churchill and Oaklawn by a combined 19 1/2 lengths. Cox said last month that Caddo River is the fastest (based on breezing) among his three Derby candidates. But it remains to be seen if that speed can be harnessed into a multi-dimensional tactical weapon that will allow Caddo River to control the flow of a race over 10 furlongs.

8) MIDNIGHT BOURBON (c, Tiznow–Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon)
O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Sales History: $525,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 7-2-2-3, $461,420.
Last Start: 2nd GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 20.
Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 1
Accomplishments: 1st GIII Lecomte S., FG, Jan. 16, 2nd GIII Iroquois S., CD, Sept. 25, 3rd GII Risen Star S., FG, Feb. 13, 3rd GI Champagne S., BEL, Oct. 10
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 66

There is some upside to Midnight Bourbon when you look at his entire body of work, but the caveat is you'd be backing him in the Derby coming off of two so-so performances and no wins since mid-January. This $525,000 KEESEP colt by Tiznow boasts a seven-race foundation of races at a mile or longer, five appearances in graded stakes, no off-the-board finishes, and Beyers of 93, 96 and 96 in three sophomore starts. It will be tough to leave this Steve Asmussen trainee out of Derby exotics, but building your entire betting strategy around him seems iffy. He hasn't yet learned how to seal the deal, and when he hooked up with Hot Rod Charlie for the final 2 1/2 furlongs of the Louisiana Derby, Midnight Bourbon was trying hard but clearly got outkicked after enjoying a sweet stalking trip that should have set him up nicely for a powerful finish. He closed at 26-1 in the Derby future pool right after his GIII Lecomte win three months ago and was 27-1 in the most recent version of that bet at the end of March.

9) ROCK YOUR WORLD (c, Candy Ride {Arg}–Charm the Maker, by Empire Maker)
O-Hronis Racing LLC & Talla Racing LLC. B-Ron & Deborah McAnally (KY). T-John Sadler. Sales History: $650,000 ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 3-3-0-0, $546,600.
Last Start: 1st GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 3
Accomplishments: 1st Pasadena S., SA, Feb. 27
Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 1
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 100

This two-time grass winner (at six furlongs and a mile) stretched out to nine furlongs on dirt and really caught the eye with a 100-Beyer wire job in the GI Santa Anita Derby. That breakout performance earned this unbeaten $650,000 KEESEP colt by Candy Ride (Arg) a berth in the gate in Louisville, but the shallow-on-paper nature of this year's Santa Anita Derby–no other stakes winners besides this colt and beaten fave Medina Spirit (Protonico)–leaves Rock Your World's standing among Kentucky Derby peers kind of hazy. He was prominently placed from the outset and took control seven-eighths out when no one else seemed eager to do so. Tracked by a 45-1 presser, Rock Your World clicked off consecutive quarters of :22.42, :23.69, :24.53 and :25.63, progressively slowing the splits yet opening up on the far turn because no rivals were seriously firing. He finished up 4 1/4 lengths the best through a capable final eighth of :12.90, but he still strikes me as a wild card who's difficult to place in the pecking order. On the plus side, there is some 10-furlong pedigree promise with Empire Maker as his damsire, and Rock Your World doesn't figure strictly as a needs-the-lead threat based on two previous stalking wins on the turf.

10) MEDINA SPIRIT (c, Protonico–Mongolian Changa, by Briliant Speed)
O-Zedan Racing Stables. B-Gail Rice (FL). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $1,000 ylg '19 OBSWIN; $35,000 2yo '20 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 5-2-3-0, $315,200.
Last Start: 2nd GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 3
Accomplishments: 1st Robert B. Lewis S., SA, Jan. 30, 2nd GII San Felipe S., SA, Mar. 6, 2nd GIII Sham S., SA, Jan. 2
Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 1
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 74

Medina Spirit is bound for Louisville off a best-of-the-rest second against a soft crew in the Santa Anita Derby as the 9-10 fave. His upside has always been that he's a hard trier who was a bargain buy ($1,000 OBSWIN and $35,000 OBSOPN), and this Protonico colt also stacks up numbers-wise as a Kentucky Derby candidate (four separate Beyers at 94+ as a 3-year-old). “He ran a game race like he always does,” trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday. “The winner was very impressive, but our horse showed up, he ran his race, he came out of it well and we've got four weeks to sharpen him up.”

11) REBEL'S ROMANCE (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}–Minidress {GB}, by Street Cry {Ire})
O/B-Godolphin (IRE). T-Charles Appleby. Lifetime Record: GSW-UAE, 5-4-0-0, $549,879.
Last Starts: 1st G2 UAE Derby, MEY, Mar. 27
Next Start: Possible for GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 1
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 100

This Godolphin homebred by Dubawi (Ire) is a slow breaker, but once this large-framed gelding ramps up to cruising speed, his appeal is evident. He circled the field to paste an okay group in the UAE Derby by open lengths, has won under both 131 and 135 pounds as a 2-year-old, and he does have dirt experience. Since 2000, 11 winners of the UAE Derby have gone on to compete in the Kentucky Derby, and the best finish among them was sixth (along with two DNF's and a 20th-place try).

12) HELIUM (c, 3, Ironicus–Thundering Emilia, by Thunder Gulch)
O-D J Stable LLC; B-Teneri Farm Inc & Bernardo Alvarez Calderon (KY); T-Mark Casse. Sales History: $55,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $287,763.
Last Start: 1st GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, TAM, Mar. 6
Accomplishments: 1st Display S., WO, Oct. 18
Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 1
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 50

The 3-for-3 winner of the Tampa Bay Derby will attempt to go 56 days between starts to win the Kentucky Derby. How unconventional is that? Regret won the 1915 Derby off a 259-day break. Sir Barton won the 1919 Derby off a 238-day rest. Since 1929 (the advent of more complete records), the longest winning layoff for a regularly scheduled Derby was 42 days, equaled by Needles in 1956 and Animal Kingdom in 2011. And last year, when the pandemic forced the Derby to September, Authentic won it off a 49-day break. Trainer Mark Casse is generally known as a savvy layoff conditioner, and over the last five years he's won with layoffs of 31-60 days at a 17% clip. But when you drill down that stat to look at Casse's layoffs during that same time-away frame for starters at 10 furlongs or greater, the strike rate plummets to 1-for-56. Although this $55,000 FTKOCT colt by Ironicus is up against the grain of historical convention, the fact that he is tactically versatile and not locked into a certain running style (he's won on the lead, stalking, and closing) should stand him in good stead in a 20-horse race. Julien Leparoux will ride in the Derby.

Potentially rounding out the starting gate…

13) Mandaloun (Into Mischief): After starting his career with some spark at 3-for-4, this 'TDN Rising Star' was a punchless sixth as the beaten favorite in his final prep race. “We're going to press forward straight to the Kentucky Derby,” trainer Brad Cox said last week. “He's a good colt, and I really don't know what to make of his Louisiana Derby.” Cox added that Mandaloun came out of the race in good order, and he has confidence this Juddmonte homebred's stout pedigree will rise to the occasion going 10 furlongs.

14) Soup and Sandwich (Into Mischief): Live Oak homebred took heat on the lead in the Florida Derby then stuck around late in the lane, running second behind Known Agenda. “I was very pleased, especially if he ever learns what he's doing,” trainer Mark Casse said post-race. “[Jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] said he had to fight with him a little. He stayed on his left lead all the way down the stretch. He's like that in the morning, too.”

15) Dynamic One (Into Mischief): His runner-up try in the GII Wood Memorial S. might have represented a better run than the winner's considering it was just the first start outside the maiden ranks for this $725,000 KEESEP colt. He was wide on both turns and just got pipped at the wire, earning the same 89 Beyer as the horse who beat him by a head.

16) Bourbonic (Bernardini): This Calumet homebred lobbed a 72-1 bomb into the Derby mix with a perfectly timed last-to-first move to steal the Wood Memorial in the final jump. But the final clocking of 1:54.49 was the slowest in the race's history and also the slowest of three consecutive nine-furlong races run Saturday at Aqueduct.

17) Hidden Stash (Constitution): This $50,000 KEESEP colt is currently on the outside looking in points-wise (No. 23 on the qualifying list), and his connections were non-committal about a Derby start after his Blue Grass fourth. I do like the fact that he was the only one gaining in the stretch of his two Tampa stakes; he's also won and has run third in two starts at Churchill. Hidden Stash is weak in the numbers category though, with an 83 Beyer twice being his lifetime best.

18) Rombauer (Twirling Candy): Fradkin homebred is currently 21st in qualifying points, so he's right on the cusp. Got bumped by the winner out of the gate in the Blue Grass, but it didn't really hamper his trip. He's run a faster Beyer in every consecutive start over six races, but would enter the Derby never having won on dirt (turf and Tapeta victories only).

19) Hosier (Pioneerof the Nile): Baffert-trained $625,000 FTSAUG colt goes in this weekend's Arkansas Derby. He owns a 1-for-3 lifetime record, with both losses at the hands of No. 3-ranked Concert Tour. Will face his stablemate again on Saturday in search of points and momentum to punch his ticket to Louisville.

20) Like the King (Palace Malice): Big, rangy colt ($28,000 KEENOV, $170,000 OBSOCT) has never been off the board in six lifetime tries but has been beaten by large margins in only two dirt attempts.

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Cox Pleased With Essential Quality’s Blue Grass Performance: ‘I Liked That He Got A Test’

Trainer Brad Cox was a happy camper Sunday morning, pleased with all aspects of the gutty victory by Godolphin's undefeated champion Essential Quality in Saturday's $800,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

“He looks good this morning and I am happy with the way he came out of the race,” Cox said of Essential Quality, a son of Tapit who extended his unbeaten streak to five with his neck victory over Highly Motivated. “I liked that he got a test yesterday. It was not like he just galloped up to the leader and went on by.”

Cox said Essential Quality would go to Churchill Downs Monday morning after training hours to join his string there and continue preparations for the $3-million Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 1.

Essential Quality might be joined soon at Churchill by the Into Mischief colt Highly Motivated, according to Whit Beckman, assistant to trainer Chad Brown.

“He is good this morning,” Beckman said of Highly Motivated. “He put in a valiant effort yesterday going two turns for the first time. He took all the heat and kept battling.

“I am not sure (how long he will stay here), but knowing Chad I would not be surprised to see him go to Churchill for a couple of works.”

John and Diane Fradkin's Rombauer, who picked up 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with his third-place finish in the Toyota Blue Grass, might wait for the Preakness (G1) on May 15, trainer Michael McCarthy said via text.

The Kentucky Derby is limited to the top 20 point earners that pass the entry box and Rombauer has 34 points, which is good for 21st on the leaderboard with two more points races to go on Saturday: the Arkansas Derby (G1), which awards 170 points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the top four finishers, and Keeneland's Stonestreet Lexington (G3), which offers 34 points on a 20-8-4-2 scale.

Prior to the Toyota Blue Grass, Rombauer won the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields and earned an automatic berth into the Preakness.

BBN Racing's Hidden Stash picked up 10 Derby points for his fourth-place finish to boost his total to 32, good for 23^rd on the leaderboard.

“He is good this morning,” trainer Vicki Oliver said. “We will see what the owners want to do – either the Derby or, if he looks tired, wait for the Preakness or Belmont.”

The Kentucky Derby dream ended for Cypress Creek, Arnold Bennewith and Spendthrift Farm's Keepmeinmind with his fifth-place finish in the Toyota Blue Grass, a position that earned him no points toward the Run for the Roses. Keepmeinmind, runner-up to Essential Quality in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) and third to him in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance here last fall, has 18 points and stands 28th on the leaderboard.

“I don't know what to tell you (about the Toyota Blue Grass performance),” trainer Robertino Diodoro said before heading back to his main string at Oaklawn Park. “Obviously we don't have enough points and what's next, that's the million-dollar question.”

The day was not a total loss for Diodoro as Cypress Creek's Ava's Grace finished second in the Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn and picked up 40 points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and a likely spot in the 14-horse starting gate.

“We are pretty excited about her,” Diodoro said. “I don't know if she will come here first and then go to Louisville but either way we have to get her up here ASAP from Oaklawn.”

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