Derby Day 147 Is Here!

LOUISVILLE, KY – Beautiful spring weather, enthusiastic racing fans dressed to impress and the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

This, of course, wasn't the case last year, far from it, as the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down and forced both the GI Kentucky Oaks and Derby to be held spectator-free over Labor Day weekend.

Masks, temperature checks and social distancing are more of the norm these days as limited crowds of between 40,000-50,000 (40-50% reserved seating, 60% premium dining areas and 25-30% infield) have been welcomed back beneath the Twin Spires.

Last year's Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox will look to become the first native of Louisville to saddle a Derby winner.

He has unbeaten 2-year-old champion and 2-1 morning-line favorite Essential Quality (Tapit) as well as Mandaloun (Into Mischief). The latter, despite a no-show in his final prep in the GII Louisiana Derby, has become a bit of a talking horse on the Churchill backstretch leading up to the main event.

Redemption for jockey Luis Saez? Disqualified from first for causing interference aboard Maximum Security in 2019, Saez has the call aboard Essential Quality.

Chad Brown has been in good form as he prepares the very live GII Blue Grass S. runner-up Highly Motivated (Into Mischief), beaten just a neck by Essential Quality. Looking for his first win in the Derby, Brown asked to sit next to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert at the Kentucky Derby Trainers' Dinner for some advice.

“I've been working him over there all night and I finally cracked him,” Brown said at the event. “He leaned over to me and said, 'If you want to win the Derby, you're best chance is, you got to sneak into Churchill Friday night and put grass seed all over the main track.' He actually didn't say that, but it's something he would say!”

Baffert, currently tied with Ben Jones for the most Kentucky Derby victories with six, will be represented by the overachieving GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby runner-up Medina Spirit (Protonico). The GIII Robert B. Lewis S. winner, just a $1,000 OBSWIN yearling, brought a mere $35,000 as an OBSOPN juvenile.

The unbeaten Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}), meanwhile, figures to go off as the race's second choice. He will look to emulate unbeaten Derby winners Big Brown and Barbaro, who also kicked off their careers on grass.

Two-time Kentucky Derby winning-trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle four–GI Curlin Florida Derby winner Known Agenda (Curlin); GII Wood Memorial S. one-two Bourbonic (Bernardini) and Dynamic One (Union Rags); and GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks second Sainthood (Mshawish). There's been plenty of talk about Known Agenda drawing the rail, but we'll see how much of factor it is with the new 20-horse starting gate, which debuted in 2020.

Who's made the best physical appearance during training hours? Mandaloun, as previously noted, the stunning gray Soup and Sandwich (Into Mischief) and Rock Your World are certainly right at the top of the list.

As far as getting over the surface, Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), Known Agenda and Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) were all traveling very nicely during their morning preparations.

In case you missed it, the aforementioned GII Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie has been sporting a special blanket honoring the late Jake Panus, who passed away at 16 last August when he was a passenger in a car involved in a DUI accident. The blanket features a University of South Carolina logo to help spread awareness for The Jake Panus Walk-on Football Endowed Scholarship. Donations to the scholarship fund can be made here: https://donate.sc.edu/JakePanusScholarship.

The supporting cast on the Kentucky Derby undercard includes: the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, GI Churchill Downs S., GI Derby City Distaff S. and three other graded races.

Saturday's Kentucky Derby coverage begins at 12:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN. The action shifts to NBC Sports at 2:30 p.m. ET for a live five-hour telecast. Post time for the Derby is 6:57 p.m. ET.

Happy Derby!

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Shedaresthedevil an Oaks Day Victress Once Again

You can't keep the Brad Cox barn down for long. One race after previously unbeaten heavy favorite Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) finished a head-scratching fifth in the GII Edgewood S., the Eclipse-winning conditioner sent out last year's GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil to a convincing victory as the chalk.

Three-for-three under the Twin Spires already, Shedaresthedevil was hard ridden to make the lead and was able to slow it down from there to post comfortable splits of :23.99, :47.94 and 1:11.74. They stacked up behind the leader heading for home, and Shedaresthedevil briefly looked like she might get beat–most likely by rail-skimming Envoutante–but she dug deep and found more in midstretch to pull clear again under the line.

“She loves to race at Churchill; she showed it again today,” rider Florent Geroux said. “They made me work hard for this. When we turned for home, she kept her head up and I could tell she was digging in. Those other fillies came to her but she showed a lot of heart and a lot of grit and I knew she wasn't going to let them by.”

Acquired by Flurry Racing Stables for $280,000 out of the 2019 Keeneland November sale off a pair of stakes placings at two, the bay was transferred from Simon Callaghan to Cox with previous co-owner Qatar Racing staying in for a piece. She was second to eventual MGSW stablemate Bonny South (Munnings) in an Oaklawn allowance last February, and annexed that venue's GIII Honeybee S. that March. A well-beaten third behind future champion 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GIII Fantasy S. May 1, she was a six-length optional claiming winner under the Twin Spires the following month before dominating the GIII Indiana Oaks in July.

Let go at 15-1 for the Sept. 4 GI Kentucky Oaks, she proved best on the day while beating both Swiss Skydiver and odds-on Gamine (Into Mischief), who would go on to earn an Eclipse herself as champion female sprinter. Given the rest of the season off after a third in Keeneland's GI Juddmonte Spinster S. Oct. 4, Shedaresthedevil bested Letruska (Super Saver) by a head in Oaklawn's Mar. 13 GII Azeri S. That performance was flattered significantly when Letruska returned to down Shedaresthedevil's superstar stablemate Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 17.

“This is huge,” said Cox. “She has been training really well coming up to this. We freshened her up after the Spinster last year. We didn't want to try and chase the [GI] Breeders' Cup Distaff. It was obviously the right move. She's moved forward at four. She's shown that in her two starts. She has a lot of fight and determination down the lane. She showed that again today down the lane. She's now a Grade I winner at four. We'll target the Breeders' Cup Distaff and work our way back from that. There some obvious races in New York and one at Del Mar we are thinking about.”

Friday, Churchill Downs
LA TROIENNE S. PRESENTED BY TWINSPIRES.COM-GI, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 4-30, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:42.69, ft.
1–SHEDARESTHEDEVIL, 123, f, 4, by Daredevil
                1st Dam: Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats
                2nd Dam: Andria's Forest, by Forestry
                3rd Dam: Andriana B., by Far North
($100,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $20,000 RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP;
$280,000 2yo '19 KEENOV). O-Flurry Racing Stables LLC, Qatar
Racing Limited and Big Aut Farms; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY);
T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $303,800. Lifetime Record:
13-7-2-3, $1,807,318. *1/2 to Mojovation (Quality Road), GSP,
$196,388. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: B.
2–Envoutante, 118, f, 4, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Enchante (MSP, $153,172), by Bluegrass Cat
2nd Dam: Wear, by Arch
3rd Dam: Abrade, by Mr. Prospector
($250,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Walking L Thoroughbreds, LLC
and Three Chimneys Farm; B-Jumping Jack Racing LLC (KY);
T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $98,000.
3–Finite, 118, f, 4, by Munnings
1st Dam: Remit (MSW, $257,556), by Tapit
2nd Dam: Free Spin, by Olympio
3rd Dam: Spin n Win, by Private Account
($200,000 2yo '19 EASMAY). O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC,
Reiman, Thomas J., Dickson, William and Easter, Deborah A.;
B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$49,000.
Margins: 1, 2, HF. Odds: 1.70, 3.70, 10.60.
Also Ran: Bajan Girl, Dunbar Road, Paris Lights, Sanenus (Chi).
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

   Shedaresthedevil is one of two Grade I/graded winners for her sire Daredevil with the other being Swiss Skydiver. She is also one of five stakes winners for the young stallion, who was repatriated from Turkey by Lane's End to stand the 2021 seasson. The 4-year-old filly is one of three graded victors and nine black-type scorers out of a daughter of Congrats. She is bred on the same More Then Ready/A.P. Indy Cross as MGSW Hungry Island. The winner's dam Starship Warpspeed is also responsible for a juvenile filly named Blackheartedgypsy (Speightster), purchased for $50,000 at KEESEP by Flurry Racing Stables; a yearling filly by Exaggerator; and an Uncle Mo colt foaled Mar. 26. Shedaresthedevil hails from the family of GSW & MGISP Crafty C.T. (Crafty Prospector).

The post Shedaresthedevil an Oaks Day Victress Once Again appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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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.

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Oaks Day Back Where It Belongs

LOUISVILLE, KY – Now, this is much more like it.

With a forecast calling for sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s, the GI Kentucky Oaks returns to its traditional spot on the calendar Friday.

While last year's delayed GI Kentucky Derby and Oaks were both conducted spectator-free over Labor Day weekend due to the COVID-19 pandemic, limited crowds of between 40,000-50,000–health and safety protocols in place and all-are expected to be on hand at Churchill Downs this weekend.

Following the withdrawal of Ava's Grace (Laoban) earlier this week, a field of 13 sophomore fillies will line up, headed by undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin). The Shadwell Stable colorbearer and $1.05-million KEESEP graduate punched her ticket to Louisville for Todd Pletcher just getting up for a narrow victory over Pass the Champagne (Flatter) in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland Apr. 3.

Malathaat, the 5-2 favorite on the Oaks morning line, is a daughter of the brilliant Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy), who finished a troubled fourth as the favorite in the 2013 Oaks.

The aforementioned lightly raced Pass the Champagne has made a nice appearance during the special training session reserved for Derby and Oaks runners this week for the husband-and-wife team of George Weaver and Cindy Hutter. Aboard his stable pony, Weaver has accompanied Pass the Champagne to the track while his other half is in the irons aboard the chestnut.

Like Malathaat, Search Results (Flatter) also heads to the Oaks with an unblemished record. The Klaravich Stables representative made it a perfect three-for-three for Chad Brown with a good-looking score in Aqueduct's GIII Gazelle S. Apr. 3.

'TDN Rising Star' Travel Column (Frosted) and Clairiere (Curlin) will renew their rivalry once again with the former currently holding a 2-1 advantage. Travel Column got the better of Clairiere in the GII Golden Rod S. Nov. 28 as well as the GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks last time Mar. 20. Clairiere defeated Travel Column by a neck in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 13, respectively.

In addition to Travel Column, two-time Oaks winning-trainer Brad Cox, represented by last year's upsetter Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), will also saddle longshot Coach (Commissioner). Cox, of course, also trains the favorite for Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby, unbeaten 2-year-old champion Essential Quality (Tapit).

Juddmonte homebred Millefeuille (Curlin) wasn't done any favors drawing wide in post 14 (she'll move in a slot), but is another who has caught the eye during training hours beneath the Twin Spires this week. She was second behind Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) after leading in the stretch in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks Mar. 27.

Friday's loaded Oaks program also features: the popular Maxfield (Street Sense) in the GII Alysheba S.; returning GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the GII Edgewood S.; last year's Oaks heroine Shedaresthedevil in the GI La Troienne S.; GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Dayoutoftheoffice (Into Mischief) in the GII Eight Belles S.; and a field of 11 for the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S.

Six hours of live Kentucky Oaks coverage begins Friday at 12 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

The post Oaks Day Back Where It Belongs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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