Tag: Kentucky Derby

King Fury to Scratch from Derby

Fern Circle Stables, Three Chimneys Farm and Magdalena Racing's King Fury (Curlin) will be forced to scratch from Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby after spiking a fever Friday, his trainer Ken McPeek announced via a video on twitter. The $950,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling and last-out GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. winner was drawn in post 16 and was 20-1 on the morning line.

“King Fury spiked a 104 fever this afternoon after he galloped this morning. He went off his feed. We obviously have to do the right thing–I feel gutted for [owners] Paul Fireman and Goncalo Torrealba and [jockey] Brian Hernandez and all the people who have worked so hard to get him to this race, but unfortunately, he is not 100%,” McPeek said. “This is a horse who has been doing well all week–anyone who watched him train had to be impressed, I know I was. We felt pretty confident going into this race. We had a big chance. We're obviously going to scratch him, on veterinarian advice–which is an easy one. We'll take him out, regroup and point to another race. I think you'll probably see this horse pointed for the [Aug. 28 GI] Travers, which I think is a great spot.”

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Churchill Employees Union Threatening Derby Day Strike

Local 541, the racetrack employees union that includes Churchill Downs valets, has threatened this week to strike over a wage and contract dispute.

A press release sent on behalf of the group Friday said that, “With less than 24 hours until the 147th Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs Incorporated failed to attend a meeting early this morning to, once and for all, finalize a contract with its valets and avoid major disruptions at the Derby. The governor and mediator were notified of the meeting last night; even still, the valets were once [again] met with radio silence by their employer.”

The Greater Louisville Central Labor Council was expected to take part in a leafleting action Friday afternoon to “preview a potential Derby with valets and parimutuels on strike.”

A statement attributed to valet Ron Shelton was issued later in the day Friday: “Churchill Downs' offer to meet next week is unacceptable and insulting, especially when they canceled our last meeting abruptly and refused to acknowledge our offer to finalize a deal. The biggest day of the year is tomorrow, and Churchill Downs is suggesting we work under a substandard contract so they can drive up their profits.

Churchill Downs made over a billion dollars last year and paid its CEO over $10 million–it is the poster child for corporate greed. Since November, we have been waiting patiently for Churchill Downs to meet our request for a fair contract that allows us to take care of ourselves and our families. Our patience for excuses is wearing thin because we know Churchill Downs could pay us fairly in a second without feeling even the slightest pinch.

There is no need to delay or threaten the Derby, and it's on Churchill Downs to stop the insulting delay tactics and agree to a fair contract.”

The post Churchill Employees Union Threatening Derby Day Strike appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Churchill Fails To Show Up At Contract Meeting With Valets; Strike On Derby Day A Possibility

With less than 24 hours until the 147th Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs Incorporated failed to attend a meeting early this morning to, once and for all, finalize a contract with its valets and avoid major disruptions at the Derby. The governor and mediator were notified of the meeting last night; even still, the valets were once met with radio silence by their employer.

Today's informational leafleting action by the Greater Louisville Central Labour Council — which represents 50 unions and 50,000 workers in the area — will preview a potential Derby with valets and parimutuels on strike. The action will take place TODAY until 3pm ET at Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs valets' efforts to secure a fair contract with living wages and benefits has gotten the attention of national media:

“We put out a lot of hard work here and we risk our physical bodies. We make this product that they sell to people for millions of dollars all over the world,” Ron Shelton, a Churchill Downs valet, told New York Magazine.

Shelton told Huffington Post, “The valets just want a damn slice of the pie. We're not asking for anything out of the ordinary, or an inordinate amount.”

A key priority for valets is ensuring that Churchill Downs maintains current staffing levels, which the company has refused. For valets like Josh Foster, who's been at the racetrack for less than five years and lacks the seniority that would protect him from staffing cuts, a contract would help win job security.

He told New York Magazine: “If they call and tell two of us to stay home, I have no job.”

The CEO of Churchill Downs, Willian Castanjen, made over $10.5 million dollars, over 400 times the salary of the median worker at the racetrack.

The post Churchill Fails To Show Up At Contract Meeting With Valets; Strike On Derby Day A Possibility appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Weekend Lineup: Talk Derby To Me!

The eyes of the sporting world will be on Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., this weekend for the Grade 1 147th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. The Kentucky Derby, “America's greatest race” is back in its traditional position on the first Saturday in May, with fans in attendance, after being held last Sept. 5 without spectators due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Grade 1 Preakness Stakes on May 15 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., and the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 5 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., complete this year's Triple Crown schedule.

A field of 20 horses is scheduled to go to the post for the 1 ¼-mile “Run for the Roses,” with post time slated for 6:57 p.m. ET. Godolphin's undefeated Essential Quality, last year's 2-year-old male champion, is the 2-1 morning line favorite. Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert will seek a record-breaking seventh Kentucky Derby win with Medina Spirit.

NBC Sports, marking the 20th year of its first Kentucky Derby coverage, will broadcast live from Churchill Downs beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET. NBC Sports kicks off more than 13 hours of Kentucky Derby Week action today with live coverage of the Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks beginning at noon ET on NBCSN. Saturday's live Derby coverage begins at noon ET on NBCSN. In total, NBC Sports will televise 17 live races.

TVG will be broadcasting racing throughout the weekend. In addition to racing from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, TVG will feature racing from Oaklawn Park, Belmont Park and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app, which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will also be live Friday, April 30 on FS2 from noon-5:30 p.m., ET, and will also air a Kentucky Derby Preview from 8:30-9 p.m. ET. On Saturday, May 1, America's Day at the Races will air from noon-3 pm on FS1 and from 4-6:30 p.m. ET on FS2. On Sunday, May 2, “America's Day at the Races” will air on FS2 from 1-3 p.m. ET and from 4-5:30 p.m. ET.

Horse Racing Radio Network's Kentucky Derby week programming culminates with exclusive coverage of the 147th Kentucky Derby from 5:00-7:30 p.m. ET, produced in partnership with NBC Sports Audio Network. Coverage, presented by TwinSpires, is available on terrestrial affiliates across the United States along with the NBC Sports Audio channels SiriusXM 211, and simulcast on Sirius 219/XM 201. Digital listeners can tune in to the Kentucky Derby on the HRRN website, www.horseracingradio.net.

Friday, April 30

1:26 p.m. ― $400,000 Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes presented by Sentient Jet at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

Godolphin's Maxfield, the 4-5 morning line favorite, will look to get back on track following the first defeat of his six-race career when he tops a field of six older runners for the 18th running of the Grade 2 $400,000 Alysheba presented by Sentient Jet at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Maxfield notched victories in his first five starts that included triumphs in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland, the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill and the Tenacious and Grade 3 Mineshaft at the Fair Grounds. He finished third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in his most recent start. Jose Ortiz has the mount Friday exiting post six. The Dallas Stewart-trained Chess Chief won the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic Stakes in his last start.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD043021USA6-EQB.html

2:09 p.m. ―$300,000 Grade 2 Edgewood Stakes presented by Newport Gaming and Racing at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Peter Deutsch, Michael Kisber, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables' Aunt Pearl (IRE), dominating winner of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland last fall, is slated to face six rivals on turf when she makes her 3-year-old debut in the 37th running of the Grade 2 $300,000 Edgewood presented by Newport Racing & Gaming. Trained by Brad Cox, Aunt Pearl followed up her 5-length maiden victory Sept. 1 at Churchill Downs with another front-running triumph in the Grade 2 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine at Keeneland that set her up for her Breeders' Cup victory. Regular rider Florent Geroux has the mount from post six. Amerman Racing's Gift List (GB), trained by Brian Lynch, was second in Keeneland's Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes on April 3.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD043021USA7-EQB.html

3:03 p.m. ―$500,000 Grade 1 La Troienne presented by TwinSpires.com at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing Stables and Big Aut Farms' Shedaresthedevil, upset winner of last September's Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks leads seven fillies and mares in the 36th running of the Grade 1 $500,000 La Troienne presented by TwinSpires.com. Trained by Brad Cox, Shedaresthedevil began the year with a victory by a head over Letruska in the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 13. Regular rider Florent Geroux will be aboard from post two. Two other Grade I winners will line up to challenge Shedaresthedevil: Peter Brant's Dunbar Road and WinStar Stablemates Racing's Paris Lights.

Trained by Chad Brown, Dunbar Road will be making her 2021 debut after closing out 2020 with a third-place finish behind champion Monomoy Girl in the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland. In 2019, Dunbar Road won the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. She will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. The Bill Mott-trained Paris Lights, who won last year's Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, opened 2021 with a victory in the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct on April 2. Paris Lights has also won two races at Churchill Downs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD043021USA8-EQB.html

4:04 p.m. ―$300,000 Grade 2 Eight Belles Stakes presented by Smithfield at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

Trainer Tim Hamm and Siena Farms' Dayoutoftheoffice, runner-up in last November's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland, leads a field of 12 in a wide open 66th running of the Grade 2 $300,000 Eight Belles presented by Smithfield for 3-year-old fillies at 7 furlongs. Dayoutoftheoffice is three of four, which includes victories in the Grade 3 Schuylerville at Saratoga and the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park. The Bob Baffert-trained Kalypso won the Grade 3 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita in January.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD043021USA9-EQB.html

4:55 p.m. ― $250,000 Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, D P Racing and Patrick Biancone Racing's defending champion Diamond Oops takes on 10 runners in the 5 ½-furlong Grade 2 $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco at Churchill Downs. Trained by Patrick Biancone, Diamond Oops will be attempting to become the first repeat winner of the Twin Spires Turf Sprint. He won last year's race by a neck at 4-1 under Florent Geroux, who is back aboard for Friday's renewal. The Peter Miller-trained 5-year-old Sombeyey comes in off a second-place finish in the Grade 3 San Simeon at Santa Anita on March 13.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD043021USA10-EQB.html

5:51 p.m. ―$1.25 million Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

Shadwell Stable's undefeated Malathaat headlines a field of 13 3-year-old fillies for the Grade 1 147th running of the $1,250,000 Longines Kentucky Oaks, the centerpiece of the Friday program at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, a three-time Kentucky Oaks winner, Malathaat comes into Friday's 1 1/8-mile race off a victory in the Grade 1 Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on April 3, which was her first start this year. She will be ridden by John Velazquez, who won the 2004 Oaks for Pletcher on Ashado. Klaravich Stables' Search Results and OXO Equine's Travel Column are both listed as 3-1 second choices. Trained by Chad Brown, Search Results has won all three of her starts this year, including the Grade 3 Gazelle on April 3 at Aqueduct.

Trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux teamed up to win the Oaks in 2018 with Monomoy Girl and in 2020 with Shedaresthedevil. They will try for a third score with Travel Column, who won the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks on March 20 and captured last year's Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill. Stronestreet Stables' Clairiere, trained by Steve Asmussen, defeated Travel Column in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 13.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD043021USA11-EQB.html#

Saturday, May 1

1:14 p.m. ―$500,000 Grade 2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

My Racehorse CA and Spendthrift Farm's 6-year-old Got Stormy, installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite, and the Heider Family Stables' Zofelle (IRE), lead seven fillies and mares in the Grade 2 $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile.

Trained by Mark Casse, Got Stormy, with earnings of more than $2 million and six graded stakes wins, will be making her second start in this race having finished second in 2019. A Grade I winner against males and females, Got Stormy opened her 2021 campaign with a nose victory over Zofelle in the Grade 3 Honey Fox on Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park. The 5-year-old Zofelle, trained by Brendan Walsh, won the Grade 3 Marshua's River Stakes at Gulfstream in January.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD050121USA-EQB.html#RACE6

1:32 p.m. ― $200,000 Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at Belmont Park on FS1

St. Elias Stable's Dr. Post, who was second to Tiz the Law in last year's Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, leads a six-horse field in the 1-mile $200,000 Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at Belmont Park. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Dr. Post will be making his first start since finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga last August. Chester and Mare Broman's 7-year-old New York-bred gelding Mr. Buff has 17 wins, including two this winter in the Jazill Stakes and the Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct for trainer John Kimmel.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL050121USA3-EQB.html

1:57 p.m. ― $500,000 Grade 1 Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery at Churchill Downs on NBCSN

Michael Lund Petersen's reigning champion female sprinter Gamine tops a field of six fillies and mares in the 35th running of the Grade 1 $500,000 Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery at seven furlongs. Trained by Bob Baffert, Gamine has won six of her seven starts and capped off her Eclipse Award-winning campaign with a track record-setting triumph in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland in November. Gamine, a 4-year-old by Into Mischief, opened 2021 with a 5-length victory in the Grade 3 Las Flores on April 4 at Santa Anita. John Velazquez has the mount from post four.

Lothenbach Stables' 5-year-old Bell's the One captured last year's Derby City Distaff in dramatic fashion, closing with a rush to nip Serengeti Empress by a nose at the wire. Trained by Neil Pessin, Bell's the One, third behind Gamine the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, opened this year with a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland. She will be ridden by Corey Lanerie from post three.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD050121USA-EQB.html#RACE7

2:30 p.m. – $75,000 Grade 2 Temple Gwathmey Stakes at Glenwood Park on NSA's website.

Saturday's $75,000 Temple Gwathmey Stakes (G2) at Glenwood Park could turn out to be an epic matchup between two hurdlers destined for year-end championship honors. For the first major Steeplechase of the season, a field of seven is led by the Jack Fisher-trained Snap Decision, who boasts seven straight hurdle wins dating back two years, and Footpad, a Cheltenham Festival winner and European juggernaut with 11 victories in 26 starts and earnings of more than $900,000, to the 2 ½-mile Gwathmey, the first open hurdle stakes of 2021.

Footpad runs in the silks of Virginia horseman Sonny Via, who campaigned the great Good Night Shirt to a Hall of Fame career. The 9-year-old French-bred gelding is unraced since January 2020, though he had a tune-up to stretch his legs earlier this month at the Loudoun Point to Point in Virginia. His plans, like so many others, were derailed by Covid last season.

Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision, an Eclipse Awards finalist last year, has won five stakes restricted to novice jumpers in the early stages of their steeplechase careers, and faced open company in the David Semmes Memorial at Great Meadow last June. In that race, he dispatched a field that included Chief Justice, Redicean, and Iranistan by 4 ½ lengths under a vigorous hand ride from Sean McDermott.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/MID050121USA4-EQB.html

2:37 p.m. ― $200,000 Grade 2 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont Park on FS1

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will saddle a trio of contenders making their seasonal debuts in the Grade 2, $200,000 Fort Marcy, at 9 furlongs on Belmont Park's inner turf course for older horse. Brown sends out Rockemperor (IRE), Tribhuvan (FR) and Devamani (FR).

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, Michael E. Kisber and Bethlehem Stables' multiple Grade 1-placed Rockemperor, who was second in the Grade 2 Manhattan Stakes last July 4, will exit post 2 under Manny Franco in search of his first graded score. Tribhuvan won an optional claimer on the same July 4 Belmont card. Devamani won the Grade 2 Knickerbocker Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 18.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL050121USA5-EQB.html

2:48 p.m. ―$500,000 Grade 2 Pat Day Mile Stakes presented by LG & E and KU at Churchill Downs on NBC

Kirk and Judy Robison's two-time Grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior tops a field of a dozen 3-year-olds for Saturday's 97th running of the Grade 2 $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Jackie's Warrior won his first four starts, a streak that included daylight victories in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, the Grade 1 Hopeful, and the Grade 1 Champagne. He suffered his first defeat when finished fourth as the odds-on favorite in the Grade 1 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance last November. Jackie's Warrior opened 2021 with a third-place finish behind Essential Quality over a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes. Joel Rosario has the mount aboard Jackie's Warrior from post three.

Godolphin's Prevalence, trained by Brendan Walsh, started his career with two impressive victories before finishing sixth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial in his most recent start. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post five. The Peter Eurton-trained Dream Shake comes in from California following third-place finishes in the Grade 2 San Felipe and the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD050121USA8-EQB.html

3:40 p.m. ― $500,000 Grade 2 American Turf Stakes presented by Derby City Gaming at Churchill Downs on NBC

LNJ Foxwoods' undefeated 7-2 morning line favorite Annex along with Stuart Janney III's Scarlett Sky and John Oxley's Palazzi, the one-two finishers in the recent Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland, top a field of 14 3-year-olds for Saturday's 30th running of the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 $500,000 American Turf presented by Derby City Gaming.

Trained by Bill Mott, Annex comes into Saturday's race off victories in the Palm Beach and Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount from post four. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Scarlett Sky rallied from far back to win the Grade 3 Transylvania by a half-length after being beaten by a head in the Palm Beach by Annex. Joel Rosario rides Annex from post 13. Palazzi, who took the Texas Turf Mile to start his 2021 campaign, is trained by Mark Casse and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 14.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD050121USA-EQB.html#RACE9

4:31 p.m. – $500,000 Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes presented by Ford on NBC

Robert LaPenta, trainer Ron Moquett and Head of Plains Partners' Eclipse Award sprint champion Whitmore looms large in a field of 13 in the 86th running of the seven-furlong Grade 1 $500,000 Churchill Downs presented by Ford.

Whitmore, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint last fall at Keeneland, will be making his third start in the Churchill Downs. He was fourth in 2018 and fifth in 2019 that marked his most recent start at Churchill. This year, Whitmore has been defeated twice by C Z Rocket at Oaklawn, first in the March 13 Hot Springs and again in the Grade 3 Count Fleet on April 10. Whitmore will break from post nine and be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr.

Among the challengers to Whitmore is two-time Grade 1 winner Mind Control. Trained by Gregg Sacco, Mind Control returned from a 3 ½-month layoff with a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap on April 3 to begin his 2021 campaign. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount and will leave post two. The Todd Pletcher-trained Basin won the Sir Shackleton at Gulfstream Park on March 27.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD050121USA10-EQB.html

5:27 p.m. ―$1 million Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs on NBC

Klaravich Stables' defending champion Digital Age (IRE) and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) winner Colonel Liam headline a field of nine older runners entered the 35th running of the 1 1/8-mile Grade 1 $1million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic.

Trained by Chad Brown, Digital Age will be attempting to join Divisidero (2016-2017), Wise Dan (2013-2014) and Einstein (BRZ) (2008-2009) as the only back-to-back winners of the Turf Classic.

Digital Age, who also won the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill in 2019 in his only other start over the course, will be ridden by Javier Castellano and from post six. Brown will saddle another Klaravich runner in Domestic Spending (GB). A winner of four of five career starts, Domestic Spending will be making his first start since taking the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby last fall at Del Mar. Flavien Prat has the mount breaking from post five.

Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam has won his past three starts on turf, following his victory in the Pegasus with a score in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Classic at the Fair Grounds. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Colonel Liam will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post three.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD050121USA-EQB.html#RACE11

5:37 p.m. $200,000 Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Lael Stables' Magic Attitude (GB) headlines a field of six graded-stakes winners in the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay for older fillies and mares going 1 3/8 miles over the inner turf course at Belmont Park. Trained by Arnaud Delacour, Magic Attitude, a 4-year-old bay daughter of Galileo, won last year's Grade 1 Belmont Oaks after racing six times in France. She finished third in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland last October. Magic Attitude will try to improve upon her seventh-place finish in her 2021 debut on March 6 in the Grade 2 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs.

Repole Stable's Always Shopping, trained by Todd Pletcher, won both the Via Borghese and the Grade 3 La Prevoyante at Gulfstream during the winter, and then finished second in the Grade 3 Orchid on March 27. Godolphin's Antoinette, second in last year's Belmont Oaks, captured the Grade 3 The Very One at Gulfstream on Feb. 27 for trainer Bill Mott.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL050121USA10-EQB.html

6:57 p.m. ―$3 million Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve at Churchill Downs on NBC

Godolphin's undefeated homebred Essential Quality leads the field of 20 3-year-olds for Saturday's 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) at Churchill Downs with his trainer, Brad Cox, trying to become the first Louisville native to saddle a winner for the coveted Run for the Roses.

A winner of all five of his career starts, Essential Quality clinched the 2-year-old male championship last year when he won the Grade 1 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The gray son of Tapit captured both his starts this year, taking the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park and the Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland. Luis Saez will ride Essential Quality, the 2-1 morning line favorite, from post 14.

Hronis Racing and David Talla's Rock Your World is also undefeated, winning two turf races to start the year and then unleashing a powerful performance in taking the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3. Installed at the 5-1 second choice, Rock Your World is trained by John Sadler and ridden by Joel Rosario, who won the 2013 Kentucky Derby on Orb.

Trainer Todd Pletcher won the Derby in 2010 with Super Saver and in 2017 with Always Dreaming. On Saturday, he will start four horses, led by St. Elias Stable's Known Agenda (6-1). Winner of the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby, Known Agenda will ridden by the reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Pletcher's three other starters are: Calumet Farm's Bourbonic (30-1), Repole Stable, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable's Dynamic One (20-1), the 1-2 finishers in the Wood Memorial (GII), respectively, and WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s Sainthood (50-1).

Doug O'Neill is a two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer, with victories in 2012 with I'll Have Another and in 2016 with Nyquist. This year, he has Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and Strauss Bros Racing's Hot Rod Charlie, the fourth choice at 8-1. Hot Rod Charlie dominated the Grade 2 TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby on March 20 with a two-length score. Flavien Prat, winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby on Country House, has the mount and will break from post nine.

Bob Baffert will try to become the first trainer ever to win the Kentucky Derby for a seventh time when he sends out Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit (15-1). Runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby in his most recent start, Medina Spirit will be ridden by three-time Kentucky Derby winner John Velazquez and break from post eight.

The field for the 147th Kentucky Derby, with riders and morning line odds from the rail out, is: 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.

9:10 p.m. ― $100,000 Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Eleven 3-year-old fillies will go to the post in Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at 1 mile on turf at Santa Anita. Harris Farms' California-bred Closing Remarks is the 5-2 morning line favorite off her second place effort by a nose the Grade 3 Providencia on April 3 for trainer Carla Gaines. Making her 2021 debut is Kaleem Shah's Madone, who won three grass races in California last year before an eighth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA050121USA10-EQB.html

Sunday, May 2

4:40 p.m. ―$200,000 Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2
Godolphin's Lake Avenue leads a field of six older fillies and mares in the 1-mile $200,000 Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park. Trained by Bill Mott, the 4-year-old daughter of Tapit has won both her starts this year, taking an optional claiming race at Gulfstream in January and then capturing the listed Heavenly Prize at Aqueduct on March 6 by 6 ¾ lengths. LBD Stable and David Ingordo's 5-year-old Our Super Freak is making her first start since a solid second-place finish behind champion Monomoy Girl in the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn on Feb. 28 for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL050221USA8-EQB.html

The post Weekend Lineup: Talk Derby To Me! appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

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