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Derby Notes: Defection Of Caddo River Makes Room For Brooklyn Strong; Lanerie Picks Up Mount On Sainthood

Shortleaf Stable's homebred Caddo River was taken out of Kentucky Derby consideration Sunday morning by trainer Brad Cox because of an elevated temperature.

The defection of Caddo River moves Mark Schwartz's Brooklyn Strong into No. 20 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Trained by Daniel Velazquez, Brooklyn Strong is scheduled to work Monday morning at 6 o'clock (all times Eastern) at Parx near Philadelphia, Pa. If all goes well, Brooklyn Strong would leave at 6 p.m. with an early Tuesday morning arrival at Churchill Downs anticipated.

Updated Kentucky Derby leaderboard

Trainer Todd Pletcher announced that Corey Lanerie would have the Derby mount on WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s Sainthood. Lanerie has ridden in the Derby four times previously with his best finish being a second on Lookin At Lee in the 2017 running.

Two prominent Kentucky Derby hopefuls from California, Hronis Racing and David Talla's Rock Your World and Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and Strauss Bros Racing's Hot Rod Charlie arrived at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., shortly after noon following a flight from Southern California.

BURBONIC, DYNAMIC ONE, KNOWN AGENDA, SAINTHOOD – With just one little wrinkle in the mix, trainer Todd Pletcher's quartet of Kentucky Derby 147 horses went back to the racetrack Sunday morning following a walk day Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Leading the crew was the dark colt Sainthood who had Amelia Green attached for a one-mile jog at 6:50 a.m. on a “good” track following a rainy Saturday.

The chestnut 3-year-old Bourbonic was scheduled to join Sainthood for his exercise, but that plan was put on hold when it was determined the Wood Memorial winner needed a new left rear shoe. A farrier handled the procedure in good order and Bourbonic instead went out an hour later at 7:50 with Hector Ramos in the boot for his one-mile jog.

The two other Pletcher colts – Florida Derby (GI) winner Known Agenda and Wood Memorial runner-up Dynamic One – took advantage of the 7:30 to 7:45 Derby/Oaks training period on the big oval with the smooth chestnut “Agenda” going through an easy mile and one-quarter gallop with Ramos doing the steering and white-faced “Dynamic” merely jogging a mile for exercise rider Carlos Perez Quevedo.

Pletcher gave a thumbs up to the whole business, then filled in a blank concerning Sainthood when he announced that Corey Lanerie, a 10-time riding champion at Churchill Downs, would have the call on Sainthood for Saturday's Run for the Roses.

“We know how well Corey rides Churchill,” the seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer said. “That was the key element in giving him the mount. We're thinking along the lines that we did with Super Saver (in the 2010 Kentucky Derby) and Calvin Borel. He rode this track so well and that earned him the mount then.”

Pletcher and the Sainthood connections will surely be hoping for a similar outcome for their son of the Medaglia d'Oro stallion Mshawish. In 2010 – on May 1, just as this year's race will be – Borel rode the rail (as he was famous for doing) on a sloppy track and got Super Saver home by 2 ½ lengths to give the trainer his first victory in America's most famous race.

BROOKLYN STRONG – Mark Schwartz's Brooklyn Strong is scheduled to work Monday morning at 6 o'clock at Parx for trainer Daniel Velazquez. If all goes well, Brooklyn Strong would leave at 6 p.m. with an early Tuesday morning arrival at Churchill Downs anticipated.

Winner of the Remsen (G2) to close his 2020 campaign, Brooklyn Strong finished fifth in the Wood Memorial (G2) on April 3 in his 2021 debut.

CADDO RIVER, ESSENTIAL QUALITY, MANDALOUN – Trainer Brad Cox reported Sunday morning that Shortleaf Stable's Caddo River would be removed from Kentucky Derby contention.

“We noticed he was off his feed and took his temperature yesterday afternoon. It was slightly elevated,” Cox said. “It's just really bad timing being this close to the Derby. We drew blood on him (Sunday) morning and his white cell counts were a little high. We just can't run him on Saturday with being a little off his game.”

Cox's remaining two Kentucky Derby starters, Juddmonte Farm's Mandaloun and Godolphin's Essential Quality, walked the shedrow following their Saturday breezes.

Both horses are scheduled to train early Monday.

HELIUM, SOUP AND SANDWICH – D J Stable's Helium and Live Oak Plantation's homebred Soup and Sandwich both returned to the track Sunday morning for the first time since competing their final Derby works Friday. The pair jogged two miles over a “good” main track then went to the paddock to school, according to trainer Mark Casse's assistant David Carroll.

“They'll school in the paddock in the morning every day and on Tuesday in the afternoon,” Carroll said. “Obviously Derby Day horses can get a bit more pumped up with the big crowd, and in this year, a lot of these horses haven't seen that many people. It's practice to get them used to their surroundings and you don't want to go into this race not checking off all the boxes.”

HIDDEN STASH – BBN Racing's Hidden Stash had a scheduled walk day at trainer Vicki Oliver's barn at Keeneland.

Hidden Stash, who will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano in Saturday's Kentucky Derby, is scheduled to gallop early Monday and Tuesday morning at Keeneland and then van to Churchill Downs following training on Tuesday.

HIGHLY MOTIVATED – Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated exited Saturday's final Derby breeze in good order, according to trainer Chad Brown. The son of Into Mischief went five furlongs in 1:00.40 under exercise rider Peter Roman and simply walked the shedrow Sunday morning.

“Normally I do a walk day and then a jog day, so I'll probably jog him tomorrow,” Brown said. “There's so many things to get through to run in this race and one of them is the final work. Are they OK the next day? And then coming up on the post position draw. We're getting through each hurdle successfully.”

HOT ROD CHARLIE – The Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Hot Rod Charlie arrived shortly after noon at Churchill Downs Sunday following a flight from Southern California that he shared with several other Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks runners.

The colt's conditioner, Doug O'Neill, will be boarding another plane Sunday in L.A. and heading to Louisville also.

O'Neill has already won two Kentucky Derbys. He was first with I'll Have Another in 2012, then he clicked again with Nyquist in 2016.

KEEPMEINMIND – Keepmeinmind, winner of last fall's Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs, returned to the main track Sunday morning to jog two miles shortly after 6 o'clock under exercise rider Walter Davila.

Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Keepmeinmind had worked a bullet half-mile in :46.20 Friday morning followed by a walk day.

Keepmeinmind is owned by the partnership of Spendthrift Farm, Cypress Creek and Arnold Bennewith.

KING FURY – After a Saturday morning work, Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm's King Fury was scheduled by trainer Kenny McPeek to only walk the shedrow Sunday. According to assistant trainer Greg Geier, the colt exited the work in fine shape in his final preparations for the Kentucky Derby.

On Saturday, King Fury worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard. The splits were :12.80, :25.20, :36.80, and :48.40. He was ridden out to six furlongs in 1:12.80 and seven furlongs in 1:26.60.

LIKE THE KING – M Racing Group's Like the King “jogged great on the main track” at Keeneland for trainer Wesley Ward a day after working five furlongs in 1:01 at the Lexington, Kentucky, track.

Winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park on March 27 in his most recent start, Like the King is scheduled to gallop the next two mornings at Keeneland before vanning to Churchill Downs after training Tuesday.

MEDINA SPIRIT – Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit galloped 1 3/8 miles under Humberto Gomez for trainer Bob Baffert.

Gomez, who arrived in Louisville Saturday night, is back on familiar ground beneath the Twin Spires. He served as the exercise rider last year for Derby winner Authentic as well as for Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018.

Baffert is scheduled to arrive in Louisville tonight.

MIDNIGHT BOURBON, SUPER STOCK – Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon galloped about 1 ¾ miles over the track, which was listed as “good,” Sunday morning and will have his final Derby breeze Monday morning, though trainer Steve Asmussen has yet to commit to a time.

“I'm going to look at the race track this afternoon,” Asmussen said. “I thought it was a little heavy (this morning) after the first drag, so if it's still that moist I'll probably go first thing.”

Asmussen reported that Erv Woolsey's and his father Keith Asmussen's Super Stock came out of his final Derby breeze Saturday morning in fine form. The son of Dialed In went five furlongs in 1:01.20 and had some down time walking the shedrow Sunday.

“We're extremely happy,” Asmussen said. “He cleaned up all his feed last night and walked really good this morning with a high energy level.”

O BESOS – Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry L. Stephens' O Besos jogged one mile and galloped about one mile under exercise rider Margarito Fierro.

“Less than one week out we're doing pretty well,” trainer Greg Foley said. “He's a horse that will be ready to make his most serious run at the top of the lane.”

ROCK YOUR WORLD – Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Rock Your World arrived at Churchill Downs early Sunday afternoon, completing his journey from Los Angeles aboard a flight that held several Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses.

Trainer John Sadler, who has steered the Candy Ride colt to a perfect three-for-three record so far, was grabbing another flight Sunday that would also get him into Louisville and allow him to train his horse Monday morning.

Sadler sent Rock Your World through his final major prep for Kentucky Derby 147 Saturday morning at Santa Anita when he worked in company in :59.20 for five furlongs, which was the third best of 68 at the distance. Joel Rosario is slated to handle the speedy colt in the Run for the Roses.

Rock Your World has a racing Hall of Fame connection in his background via his breeder. He is out of the Empire Maker mare Charm the Maker, who is owned by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and his wife Deborah. McAnally, who trained many a stakes winner in his 60-plus years of conditioning, but most famously multiple Horse of the Year John Henry, still trains in California at age 88 and most assuredly will be rooting for “Rock” this Saturday.

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 Jr., 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 (Corey Lanerie, Todd Pletcher); Hidden Stash (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver); O Besos (Marcelino Pedroza, Greg Foley); King Fury (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro).

Possible starters within the Top 20: Brooklyn Strong (TBA, Danny Velazquez).

The post Derby Notes: Defection Of Caddo River Makes Room For Brooklyn Strong; Lanerie Picks Up Mount On Sainthood appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Derby Notes: Favorite Essential Quality Posts Final Breeze; Get Her Number Won’t Run

Godolphin's likely Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Essential Quality worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 early Saturday morning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., to headline a quintet of hopefuls for the 147^th Run for the Roses that put in their final works for the 1 ¼-mile classic.

Also working on a cloudy but pleasant morning beneath the Twin Spires were Juddmonte Farms' Mandaloun (five furlongs in 1:00), Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated (five furlongs in 1:00.80, Erv Woolsey and Keith Asmussen's Super Stock (five furlongs in 1:01.20) and Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm's King Fury (five furlongs in 1:00.20).

At Santa Anita, Hronis Racing and David Talla's Rock Your World worked five furlongs in :59.20. Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and Strauss Bros Racing's Hot Rod Charlie was scheduled to work before Santa Anita's first race Saturday at approximately 3 p.m. (Eastern).

At San Luis Rey, Gary Barber's Get Her Number worked five furlongs in 1:02. Miller said later that Get Her Number was being withdrawn from Derby consideration.

At Keeneland, M Racing Group's Like the King worked five furlongs in 1:01.

Updated Kentucky Derby leaderboard

BOURBONIC, DYNAMIC ONE, KNOWN AGENDA, SAINTHOOD – “We got done what we wanted to get done (yesterday) and they're all fine this morning. They're just going to walk the shedrow today and tomorrow – depending on the weather – they'll go back to the track in some fashion.”

That was the report from Barn 42 and trainer Todd Pletcher Saturday morning following the Friday drills by his four Kentucky Derby 147 candidates at Churchill Downs.

His quartet had turned in their final Derby exercises a day earlier than planned when weather reports indicated an all-day rain storm for the Louisville area Saturday, a prediction that was revised Saturday to put the likely start of the storm closer to noon time. A pair of the runners – Known Agenda and Sainthood – had worked five furlongs in company in 1:01; another colt – Dynamic One – had covered four furlongs in :47.80 (also in company), while the final colt – Bourbonic – did his half-mile business in :49.60.

Pletcher, who to this point has started a record 55 horses in the Run for the Roses, was asked if he saw a horse in the current Derby lineup that he might be afraid of.

“It looks like a fairly wide-open year,” he said. “I don't see anybody I'm really afraid of. But on the other hand, I don't see anybody I'd leave out.”

BROOKLYN STRONG – Owner Mark Schwartz notified Churchill Downs racing officials that Parx-based Brooklyn Strong is now under consideration to run in the Kentucky Derby should there be any further defections between now and entry time Tuesday at 11 a.m. (all times Eastern).

Brooklyn Strong sits at No. 21 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 10 points, following the defection of Get Her Number on Saturday afternoon.

CADDO RIVER, ESSENTIAL QUALITY, MANDALOUN – It was a busy morning at trainer Brad Cox's Barn 22 where the Louisville-native trainer worked Kentucky Derby favorite Essential Quality and graded stakes winner Mandaloun for the final time prior to the “Run for the Roses.”

Essential Quality, with exercise rider Edvin Vargas aboard, worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 outside of fellow Godolphin-owned Spa City. The duo began their work at the half-mile pole through splits of :12.80, :24.80 and :48.20. Essential Quality completed a six-furlong gallop out in 1:14.60, according to Churchill Downs clockerJohn Nichols.

(All videos courtesy of Kentucky HBPA and Jennie Rees)

“We keep radios on all of our riders so that way we can stay in contact throughout the work,” Cox said. “Galloping out around the turn, I got on the radio to Edvin and told him not to let him go too strongly. Spa City is a horse we used as a workmate for Essential Quality the last three or four works. He's a good matchup for him because he's a good work horse.”

Shortly after Essential Quality completed his work, Juddmonte Farm's Mandaloun, with Florent Geroux in the saddle, worked five furlongs in 1:00 outside of recent Keeneland allowance winner Joe Frazier. Mandaloun started about six lengths behind his stablemate and completed swift opening fractions of :23.20, :35.60 and :47.60. Mandaloun galloped out strongly around the first turn through a six-furlong time of 1:12.60 and completed seven furlongs in 1:27.20.

“Going into the pole, Joe Frazier was a little bit strong and I didn't want to ask Mandaloun to catch up to him too much,” Geroux said. “I didn't want to get him in the bit too early so we started six or seven lengths behind but going around the turn he really picked up the pace. He has a big stride to him and was full of himself getting over this track.”

Cox's third Kentucky Derby contender Caddo River had a scheduled walk day following his five-furlong move in 1:00.60 Friday morning.

Saturday was the last major work day for the Cox barn prior to the start of Kentucky Derby Week.

“Glad that's over,” Cox said with a sigh of relief. “Now, let's hope the Racing Gods have a little luck they pass down to us.”

The Racing Gods won't be the only thing Cox will be relying on to help him in the Derby. Cox first started going to Churchill Downs at a young age with his father,Jerry. In 2016, his father passed away at 74 years old.

“I'm sure he'll be looking down on us on Derby Day,” Cox said. “I'm sure he'd be very proud of our entire family. He would always ask me how our horses were doing and be very interested in every aspect of the barn. I'm sure he'd be very proud of his grandsons (Blake and Bryson) who work with me now at the barn and have become great horsemen in their own right. I'm sure (Cox's youngest son) Brodie, will follow in their footsteps as well.”

GET HER NUMBER – Gary Barber's Get Her Number went five furlongs in 1:02 Saturday morning at San Luis Rey Training Center with trainer Peter Miller looking on.

“He went out in 1:14 and it was a nice move,” Miller said via text from the facility, which is about 30 miles northeast of Del Mar racetrack. Miller trains all his horses at the site and ships to Southern California racetracks from there to do most of his running.

Initially, the trainer had indicated that he'd have a decision on starting the Grade 1-winning son of Dialed In in this year's Kentucky Derby after the work, but instead indicated that he'd need more time to come to that decision. Later in the day, Miller said Get Her Number would not go. That puts Keepmeinmind into the field and Brooklyn Strong at No. 21.

HELIUM, SOUP AND SANDWICH – D J Stable's Helium and Live Oak Plantation's homebred Soup and Sandwich both came out of their final Derby works Friday in fine order and had a very light Saturday morning, according to trainer Mark Casse's assistant David Carroll.

“We were very happy with both of them in their works,” Carroll said. “They had a walk day today and a light jog up the road to make sure everything is OK and they'll go back to the track tomorrow to gallop. They'll school in the paddock Tuesday, and possibly once more, depending on their behavior. We got the works behind us, with the weather and all, so we'll just hope for some luck at the draw (Tuesday) and go from there.”

HIDDEN STASH – BBN Racing's Hidden Stash jogged Saturday morning at Keeneland and stood in the starting gate a day after working five furlongs in 1:00.60 for trainer Vicki Oliver.

“He jogged to the gate and stood, then jogged back home,” Oliver said.

Fourth in the Blue Grass (G2) in his most recent start, Hidden Stash is scheduled to walk Sunday and gallop Monday and Tuesday before vanning to Churchill Downs after training Tuesday morning.

HIGHLY MOTIVATED – Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated completed his last major work for the Derby for trainer Chad Brown, going five furlongs in 1:00.40 under exercise rider Peter Roman during the 7:30-7:45 allotted training time for Derby and Oaks horses. The son of Into Mischief, second to champion and Derby favorite Essential Quality in Keeneland's April 3 Blue Grass (G2), hit the track immediately after the break and eagerly pulled away from stablemate Southern District, while galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.20 and seven furlongs in 1:28.40.

“I thought he breezed really well and it went exactly how I wanted,” Brown said. “I wasn't afraid to give him a good solid breeze and he did it and he did it well, with some in reserve too. He got over the track well, which I really wanted to see. He had been galloping well over it, but really, when you get to see a breeze, you can see more, obviously.”

HOT ROD CHARLIE – Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and Strauss Bros Racing's Hot Rod Charlie was scheduled to work before Santa Anita's first race Saturday at approximately 3 p.m. (Eastern).

He's scheduled to fly to Louisville Sunday, according to trainer Doug O'Neill.

KEEPMEINMIND – Spendthrift Farm, Cypress Creek and Arnold Bennewith's Keepmeinmind walked the shedrow at trainer Robertino Diodoro's barn a day after working a half-mile in :46.20.

According to Diodoro assistant Sean Williams, Keepmeinmind is scheduled to jog two miles Sunday. Keepmeinmind moved into the No. 20 position, putting him in the Kentucky Derby field, after trainer Peter Miller said Get Her Number would not go.

KING FURY – Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm's King Fury put in his final workout for the Kentucky Derby, with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard during the period reserved for training horses pointed to the Derby and Oaks.

Under the watchful eye of trainer Kenny McPeek, King Fury worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 without a workmate, with splits of :12.80, :25.20, :36.80, and :48.40. Hernandez guided him out to 1:12.80 for six furlongs and 1:26.60 for seven furlongs.

“Everything was good,” Hernandez said. “He did it with his ears up and he seems like he's a happy horse. He's got a little confidence in himself coming out of the Lexington. He's coming into the Derby with some confidence.”

The colt, winner of the Lexington at Keeneland in his most recent start, was on the Derby bubble. However, he moved up to No. 20 on the points leaderboard on Friday, following the defections of Hozier and Dream Shake.

“We weren't fretting about it too much,” McPeek said of the possibility that King Fury might miss the Derby and head instead to the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico. “It was all up to a higher power, if we didn't get in, then it was to go on to the Preakness. Those things are out of our control. What other people do with their horses, it's not something we spend a lot of energy on. We would have worked him the same today, if he was going to Baltimore or if he was staying here.”

King Fury was a $950,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton sale in August 2019, and McPeek said that the colt just might provide him with “the biggest shot that I've ever had” at winning the Derby.

“He's a steady horse, and he knows what to do,” McPeek said. “He grinds away and does it quickly. Two weeks and a day ago, I had no notion that we'd be thinking about him running in the Derby. But he ran such a powerful race in the Lexington, that he really deserves a chance. And he's 2-for-3 here at Churchill, two really good first starts, so we know that he really likes the ground.”

“We were always really high on him,” Hernandez said. “For him to finally show the talent we knew he always had in the Lexington, it was really nice.

“We're fortunate that now we've gotten in the back door for the Derby with our 20 points,” Hernandez added. “Now we just have to give him a good, clean trip and let him show his stuff.”

LIKE THE KING – M Racing Group's Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Like the King wrapped up his major work for Kentucky Derby 147 by working five furlongs in 1:01 over a fast track Saturday morning at Keeneland. The move was the ninth fastest of 28 at the distance.

Working in company with the 4-year-old Artie's Princess, the 2020 Sovereign Award winner as Canada's champion female sprinter, Like the King started two lengths in back and edged clear at the wire, galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.40 with Julio Garcia aboard.

Wesley Ward, who put the finishing touches on the Keeneland Spring Meet training title with four victories on Friday's closing-day card, plans to have Like the King jog Sunday morning and then gallop Monday and Tuesday morning before vanning to Churchill Downs after training Tuesday.

“He was nice and smooth down the lane,” said Ward, who now has 1,996 career victories. “He had that filly measured, as he did last week. He looked a lot smoother this week than last week. Last week he was kind of on the bridle. Today he was a lot more fluid.

“He's a very difficult horse to gallop. He had a really, really strong last part of his gallop yesterday when a couple of workers came inside of him. So I wasn't looking to go :59 or anything today.”

MEDINA SPIRIT – Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit made his initial trip over the main track at Churchill Downs Saturday morning, jogging a mile alongside a pony.

Runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his most recent start, Medina Spirit arrived at Churchill Downs on Friday afternoon coming a day after working six furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:12.20.

Trainer Bob Baffert is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Sunday night and be trackside Monday morning.

MIDNIGHT BOURBON, SUPER STOCK – Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon galloped over the track once again around 6:05 Saturday morning as he builds to his final Derby work, which is scheduled to come Monday morning for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Meanwhile, Erv Woolsey's and Keith Asmussen's Super Stock, fresh off an upset win in the April 10 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park, signaled his readiness for the Derby earlier in the morning, going five furlongs in 1:01.20 in what was his final work for Asmussen. The son of Dialed In worked in company with 4-year-old stablemate Max Player and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.60, and seven furlongs in 1:28. Super Stock has eight career starts, making him the most experienced member of the prospective Derby field, but looked like a fresh horse when he hit the track at 5:32.

“He went perfect and he gave us exactly what we were looking for,” Asmussen said. “I think that the horse's confidence level is at an all-time high, he goes really well over this racetrack, and I couldn't feel any better about him going into the Derby.”

O BESOS – Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry L. Stephens' O Besos had a light one-mile jog early Saturday morning with exercise rider Margarito Fierro in the saddle for trainer Greg Foley.

“He was feeling pretty good this morning,” Foley said. “That was always good to see after a work. We just have to keep him happy until Saturday.”

ROCK YOUR WORLD – Hronis Racing and David Talla's Rock Your World worked in company at 6:30 a.m. (Pacific) at Santa Anita Saturday morning and registered a :59.20 drill on a fast racing strip.

The unbeaten Santa Anita Derby winner went together with winner Best Chance and outfinished him by a couple of lengths, according to “Rock's” trainer, John Sadler

“It was just what we were after,” the conditioner said by phone from his Southern California headquarters. “He went very well, was well within himself throughout and galloped out strongly.”

The Candy Ride colt, three for three lifetime and one of the favorites for Kentucky Derby 147 on May 1, will board a plane Sunday and ship to Louisville. His conditioner also will ship Sunday, though on a different aircraft. They'll operate out of Barn 43 on the Churchill Downs' backside starting Monday morning.

STARRININMYDREAMS – Stewart Racing and WinStar Farm's third-place Lexington Stakes (G3) finisher Starrininmydreams walked trainer Dallas Stewart's Barn 34 shedrow following his five-furlong move in 1:00.40 Friday. He's currently No. 23 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby preference list.

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 Jr., 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); King Fury(Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek);

Next up in order of preference: Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro); Brooklyn Strong (TBA, Daniel Velazquez); Starrininmydreams (TBA, Dallas Stewart).

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Kentucky Derby Day To Feature Mandatory Payout Of Derby City 6

Large pools and a mandatory Kentucky Derby Day payout in the newly named Derby City 6 (formerly Single 6 Jackpot) highlight a spectacular wagering menu for the 38-day Spring Meet that begins Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The 20-cent Derby City 6, a jackpot wager where bettors must correctly tab the only winning combination to take down the entirety of the pool, handled more than $1.06 million in 2019. The 15-percent low takeout bet will begin Saturday and if multiple winning combinations correctly select six winners, 90 percent of the daily pool gets paid, while 10 percent will carryover to the next day. If no one correctly selects all six winners, the entirety of the day's pool will carryover to the next day.

Along with the Derby City 6, the return of the two-day Oaks/Derby Pick 6 will also be a top wager. The $2 minimum bet (2019 handle: $479,561) spans six Grade 1 events across Kentucky Oaks and Derby Days. The bet begins on Oaks Day with the $500,000 La Troienne (G1) and the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). It continues Kentucky Derby Day with the $500,000 Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1), $500,000 Churchill Downs presented by Ford (G1), $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) and the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

There will be four Pick 5 and Pick 4 wagers on Kentucky Derby Day. The third Pick 5 (2019 handle: $3,980,809) and third Pick 4 (2019 handle: $4,091,771) will feature an all-stakes sequence and culminate in the Kentucky Derby.

Superfecta wagers will once again return to a $1 minimum on Kentucky Derby and Oaks days but will be a 10-cent minimum on all other days.

For the full wagering menu and list of daily post times, visit https://www.churchilldowns.com/racing-wagering/toteboard/post-times.

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Churchill Downs Details Enhanced Security, Safety And Integrity Measures

Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Ky., re-emphasized its annual enhanced security measures for horses competing in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) and ongoing safety and integrity measures included in its “Safety from Start to Finish” program.

In addition to all other applicable state laws and track policies, Churchill Downs Racetrack and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (“KHRC”) have teamed to mandate the following protocols for horses competing in the Kentucky Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks:

EQUINE SAFETY & WELFARE

Churchill Downs and 14 KHRC veterinarians will closely monitor and observe Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks participants before, during and after training and in their stalls beginning on Monday, April 26;
A Churchill Downs and KHRC veterinarian will be present trackside at all times when horses have access to the track;
Prerace exams will be performed by KHRC veterinarians starting at 6 a.m. ET on race day. In-stall exams include a general health evaluation and palpation and flexion of the horse's legs. Veterinarians will also observe horses out of their stalls, at a trot, to further assess soundness and fitness to race;
A team of eight KHRC veterinarians will be positioned around the racetrack should there be a need for an immediate response. Additionally, three KHRC veterinarians will be in the paddock when horses are saddled for the Kentucky Derby (two for all other races);
Three state-of-the-art Kimzey Equine Ambulances will be at Churchill Downs on race day, positioned at the one-mile chute, quarter pole and the backstretch for immediate response; and
A board-certified veterinary surgeon and veterinary anesthesiologist will be present should there be a need for immediate critical care response. Additionally, the Equine Medical Center will serve as a triage facility, with x-ray equipment for patient evaluation.

JOCKEY SAFETY & WELFARE

Immediate online access to jockey medical histories for emergency medical personnel;
Injured jockeys that require external medical evaluation will be transported by ambulance to the designated hospital directly from the incident; there will be no ambulance transfers. Also, there will be Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians (“EMTs”), nurses and doctors dedicated to jockey care; and
Formalized concussion policies which includes more thorough jockey education, baseline concussion testing, onsite evaluation after a fall and additional return-to-ride requirements.

RACING INTEGRITY

Horses participating in the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby shall be on the grounds no later than 11 a.m. ET on Monday, April 26, and Tuesday, April 27, respectively – more than 100 hours before each race – and shall remain on the grounds until after the running of the race, pending an unforeseeable emergency;
Kentucky Derby participants will have 24-hour barn security by Jefferson County Sheriffs starting at 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday, April 27, through 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 1;
Horses shall stay in their assigned barns and stalls on the grounds, which will be monitored at all times by Jefferson Country Sheriffs and additional security personnel;
Entry-exit logs will be maintained by security personnel starting at 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday, April 27, for all Kentucky Derby horses. All persons – including grooms, veterinarians, trainers, assistant trainers, farriers, owners or other connections – must have a valid KHRC license before permission is granted to enter a stall, engage in contact with the horse or perform any service for the horse. Such persons will be logged in by security personnel with the reason for their visit;
All equipment, feed, hay bales, etc., are subject to search and seizure, as provided by law, by both Churchill Downs Racetrack and the KHRC;
Horses participating in the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks will be escorted by security personnel to the paddock. When schooling, they will receive priority for paddock schooling;
Horse identification will be performed by two Churchill Downs Racetrack horse identifiers at the barn on Thursday, April 29, and again on race day in the saddling paddock; and
All jockeys will be subjected to magnetic wand scans prior to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and other random races.

MEDICATION

The KHRC has conducted out-of-competition blood samples of horses competing in the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, as well as undercard graded stakes, before entries are taken and will send them to Industrial Laboratories in Wheat Ridge, Colo., for immediate testing. Other jurisdictions, including Arkansas, California, Florida, Maryland and New York, obtained out of competition samples on behalf of the KHRC from horses that are not stabled in Kentucky;
Daily veterinarian's record of all medications and treatments given to any horse on the grounds must be submitted to the KHRC Chief Veterinarian within 24 hours of administration;
All practicing veterinarians of Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses will be identified by KHRC no later than 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 25;
Security personnel will monitor all treatments performed by veterinarians. Materials used for medication administrations may be retained by the KHRC for possible testing;
Veterinarians will not be permitted in the stalls of Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks participants within 24 hours of the race unless accompanied by a KHRC investigator;
No medications are permitted within 24 hours of the race. In the event of a medical emergency, the Stewards will authorize treatment and the horse will be scratched; and
Five teams of KHRC veterinarians will collect blood samples for TCO2 (a.k.a. “milkshake”) and testing 30 minutes prior to the horses' scheduled departure for the paddock.

PATRON SAFETY

A total of 33 Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (“EMTs”), 11 nurses and four doctors will be onsite;
There will be five First Aid Stations located around the facility: Executive Gate, first-floor Clubhouse, Jockey Club Suites, Finish Line Suites and Infield;
A minimum of 14 ambulances (an EMT and paramedic in each ambulance) will be onsite. Several others will be on standby within the area for immediate response if necessary; and
More than 30 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and public safety partners will be onsite to further the level of security for all patrons in attendance.

The aforementioned measures coincide with Churchill Downs Racetrack's “Safety from Start to Finish” program that was launched by Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI”) in March 2009 to formalize its comprehensive approach to continually improve the safety of the horses and human beings who work, train and compete at all CDI racing venues.

Key features of the “Safety from Start to Finish” program at Churchill Downs Racetrack include:

Independent, standardized third-party engineering analysis, testing and monitoring of track surfaces;
Postrace drug testing performed by a Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (“RMTC”) accredited laboratory; each sample is analyzed for more than 1,500 substances;
The banning of anabolic steroids;
The prohibition of “milkshaking,” which results in excessive levels of total carbon dioxide in Thoroughbred racehorses;
Prohibiting the transport of horses from CDI facilities for slaughter;
Permanent revocation of stall and competition privileges for any owner or trainer who sells a horse for slaughter stabled at a CDI track;
Revocation of stall and competition privileges for any owner or trainer convicted of animal abuse;
The banning of unsafe horseshoes, including front shoe toe grabs longer than two millimeters;
The use of low-impact riding crop with restricted usage rules;
The presence of on-site medical personnel, equipment, and state-of-the-art equine ambulances;
Immediate online access to jockey medical histories for emergency medical personnel;
$1 million in catastrophic injury insurance coverage per accident for jockeys paid for by CDI;
Mandatory and uniform reporting of equine injuries to The Jockey Club's national Equine Injury Database System, thereby assisting in the compilation of comprehensive data and facilitating statistical analysis to improve safety around the country;
Professionally designed and installed safety rails on the inside of the dirt and turf course;
Mandatory usage by all jockeys, exercise riders, assistant starters and other on-track personnel of safety vests and safety helmets that meet internationally acknowledged quality standards;
3/8-inch foam padding on all parts of the starting gates;
Inspection of all horses by regulatory veterinarians prior to and following all races;
Review of security procedures around the barns and other racetrack backstretch areas;
Protocols for the treatment of horses that have been injured during racing or training, to ensure the most humane treatment possible;
Encouraging anyone that suspects any wrongdoing or witnesses improper conduct at all CDI tracks to speak up immediately via the independent and national office of the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau's Integrity hotline at (410) 398-3647 or integrity@trpb.com; and
Certification by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Safety & Integrity Alliance program of all CDI tracks.

There have been several equine safety initiatives that have been implemented at Churchill Downs within the last two years. Below are the changes and how they affect horsemen:

DR. FARMER HIRED AS EQUINE MEDICAL DIRECTOR: Announced in November 2019, Dr. William E. Farmer DVM oversees equine safety and care at all CDI racetracks. Previously, he served as official veterinarian for the California Horse Racing Board and out-of-competition coordinator and consulting veterinarian for Breeders' Cup Ltd. He is charged with development, implementation of and ensured enforcement of equine health and safety policies for CDI.
INVESTEMENT IN STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUINE MEDICAL CENTER: An Equine Medical Center and Quarantine Facility (three new isolated barns) opened in 2020 following an $8 million investment. The Equine Medical Center can be used for every-day equine therapeutic purposes as well as immediate and advanced onsite care in the event of injury. The Quarantine Facility permits horses from other countries to fly direct to Kentucky and eliminate long, taxing van rides when racing at Kentucky venues. It also provides a world-class facility for isolating, monitoring and treating horses who may suffer from contagious equine diseases.
COMMITMENT TO INDUSTRY RESEARCH: Churchill Downs Incorporated committed $100,000 of additional financial support to fund key scientific research projects geared toward improving the safety and welfare of race horses, particularly with respect to improving treatment options for joint and leg injuries.
PASSAGE OF HORSERACING INTEGRITY AND SAFETY ACT: Churchill Downs Incorporated worked with other industry leaders to pass the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives and Senate in December 2020 and signed into law. The bill calls for a phase-in period, and effective July 1, 2022, the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority will be in place and responsible for developing and implementing a horseracing anti-doping and medication program along with a racetrack safety program for covered horses.
ADVOCATED FOR ADDITIONAL EQUINE MEDICATION REFORMS: Churchill Downs advocated with applicable regulatory authorities for increased withdrawal times for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cortico-steroids so that horses can be more adequately evaluated during pre-race veterinary examinations. CDI also continued its strong financial support and advocacy for high quality drug testing as well as the mission of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium to extend its accreditation program to measure not only the capabilities of testing labs but to also verify what testing is being performed.
HORSEMEN-VETERINARIAN AGREEMENT: This must be signed by the trainer and veterinarian and submitted to the Stable Office upon arrival. This agreement will cover all CDI properties and will be in effect until the end of the Turfway Park 2022 meet.
MEDICATION-RESTRICTED RACES: Pursuant to KHRC regulation 810 KAR 8:050 all 2-year-old races and stakes races will be conducted Lasix-free.
— 810 KAR 8:050 SECTION 6: (A): A two (2) year old or stakes horse shall not be administered any drug, medication or other substance, including furosemide, with twenty-four (24) hours of the post time of the race in which the horse is entered. Participation by the horse shall not affect the status of the participating horse on the official authorized bleeder medication list. (B): The implementation and enforcement of the prohibition in paragraph (A) of this subsection shall begin on 1): Jan. 1, 2020, for all two (2) year olds; and 2) Jan. 1, 2021, for all horses entered to run in a stakes race, including the races comprising the Breeders' Cup World Championships and the races designated as graded stakes races by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
SHOCKWAVE THERAPY TREATMENTS: Effective with the opening of the Churchill Downs Racetrack backstretch for the 2021 year, all prescribed shockwave treatments for horses stabled at Churchill Downs Racetrack MUST be administered at the Equine Medical Center. Practicing veterinarians will have access to the Equine Medical Center daily from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. All treatments must be recorded on the Shockwave Treatment Log located at the Equine Medical Center along with a veterinarian's report submitted to the KHRC. Trainers violating this rule are subject to revocation of their stall privileges.
PRE-ENTRY EXAM: Pursuant to KHRC regulation, all horses must have an exam performed by a trainer's veterinarian within the three (3) days preceding a race entry. This exam is to be documented by the trainer's veterinarian and he/she will include their findings on their daily treatment records submitted to the KHRC.
PRE-WORK EXAM: All horses stabled at Churchill Downs Racetrack or Trackside must have an exam performed by a trainer's veterinarian within the five (5) days preceding a timed workout, per Horsemen-Veterinarian Agreement. This exam is to be documented by a trainer's veterinarian and turned in to both KHRC and CD Equine Medical Director.
IN-TODAY SIGNAGE: All horses entered to race must be clearly identified starting at 7:30 a.m. on race day with an “In-Today” sign. Trainers should hang these signs on the stall door or adjacent to the stall. This is separate from the KHRC Lasix tag hung following Lasix administration. Extra signs are available in the Stable Office.
ENTRY RESTRICTIONS: All first time starters 4-years-old and older or 3-years old and older with no race within 365 days are required to have an exam and published five furlong work in 1:03 or faster approved by the CDI Equine Medical Director PRIOR to entry. In addition, horses that have not raced within 120 days but less than 365 days must notify the CDI Equine Medical Director PRIOR to entry to schedule an exam.
WAIVER CLAIMING RULE: Allows a trainer to enter a claiming race, but be ineligible to be claimed providing the horse has been laid off and has not started for a minimum of 180 days since its last race, and the horse is entered for a claiming price equal to or greater than the price at which it last started.

CDI tracks continue to work with Dr. Mick Peterson, the director of the Ag Equine Programs at the University of Kentucky's department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering who is widely considered the world's foremost racing surfaces researcher, to routinely conduct engineering analyses and tests of their respective racing surfaces for safety and consistency. CDI has worked with Dr. Peterson to evaluate its racing surfaces since formally launching the “Safety from Start to Finish” program in 2009.

Through the “Safety from Start to Finish” program, CDI, its employees and its horsemen raise money and awareness for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, which accredits and funds aftercare programs that help care for and find new homes and careers for retired racehorses.

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