Max Player | Horse Racing Free Tips

Kentucky Derby Pedigree Corner: Max Player, Enforceable, Major Fed, And Mr. Big News

Each day of Kentucky Derby week, we'll take a look at the pedigrees of some Derby contenders and how those pedigrees might factor into their ability to succeed at 1 1/4 miles.

Max Player
Honor Code x Fools In Love, by Not For Love
Honor Code has strong credentials around two turns, winning the 1 1/8-mile Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at age two, then earning champion older male honors at age four with a campaign including a score in the G1 Whitney Stakes, also at 1 1/2 miles. Honor Code's championship season also included wins at 1 mile in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap and G1 Gulfstream Park Handicap. He is a son of A.P. Indy, who is one of the modern breed's bedrocks for distance runners.

Honor Code's runners post an average winning distance of 7.29 furlongs, which is a strong number for a sire with his first crop of 3-year-olds. He'll have two colts pointing toward this year's Kentucky Derby, with Honor A. P. having won the G1 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles and Max Player winning the G3 Withers Stakes at the same distance. Max Player is also placed at the Derby distance, having run third in the G1 Travers Stakes in August.

Fools in Love was a stakes-level horse on the East Coast for most of her racing career, but her lone win in stakes competition came in the 7 furlong Orleans Stakes at Delta Downs. A versatile runner, Fools in Love won at distances ranging from 5 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles.

Her resume continued to be strong when she transitioned from the racetrack to the foaling barn, consistently producing black type runners. She is the dam of the Scat Daddy colt Seahenge, a British Group 2 winner at 7 furlongs who now stands at stud in France and Argentina.

Other runners of note out of Fools in Love include Urban Bourbon, a City Zip gelding who is Grade 3-placed at 7 1/2 furlongs over the turf and was a multiple winner at 1 1/16 miles on the same surface. Frank's Folly, by Mineshaft, is stakes-placed and a multiple winner at 1 1/16 miles, while the Exchange Rate gelding Exchequer was a multi-surface claiming winner beyond a mile.

Enforceable
Tapit x Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union
Tapit won the G3 Laurel Futurity as a juvenile going 1 1/16 miles, then came back at three to take the G1 Wood Memorial Stakes at 1 1/8 miles before running in the 2004 Kentucky Derby.

After he retired to stud, Tapit ascended to become perennial leader on the North American sire lists, both in on-track earnings and auction returns. He has sired three Belmont Stakes winners – Tonalist, Creator, and Tapwrit – while classic-placed Frosted became a prominent figure in the handicap division. His average progeny winning distance of 7.65 furlongs is among the leaders for this year's class of Derby sires.

Justwhistledixie has been a versatile star, both on the racetrack and in her broodmare career. She won the G2 Bonnie Miss Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park, preceded by a one-mile score in the G2 Davona Dale Stakes at the same track. She was also a non-graded stakes winner at 6 and 7 furlongs.

Enforceable would be Justwhistledixie's second Derby starter, following in the footsteps of his full-brother Mohaymen. After bringing $2.2 million as a yearling, Mohaymen won his first five starts: a 6 furlong maiden special weight at Belmont Park; the G2 Nashua Stakes (one mile); the G2 Remsen Stakes (1 1/8 miles); the G2 Holy Bull Stakes (1 1/16 miles); and the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes (1 1/16 miles). He went on to finish fourth in the Kentucky Derby, and now stands at Shadwell Farm in Kentucky.

The Tapit/Justwhistledixie cross has also produced Kingly, who won the G3 La Jolla Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on the turf, and the non-graded California Derby at the same distance over the synthetic Tapeta Footings surface of Golden Gate Fields.

However, the biggest winner to date out of Justwhistledixie is New Year's Day, a son of Street Cry who took the 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles and went on to sire champion 3-year-old Maximum Security.

Major Fed
Ghostzapper x Bobby's Babe, by Smart Strike
Ghostzapper was a force of nature on the racetrack, earning a diverse catalog of wins at the highest level, from the G1 Vosburgh Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs to the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic. Between those two extremes, he won at 1 1/16 miles in the G1 Woodward Stakes and G3 Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Handicap, at 1 mile in the Metropolitan Handicap, and at 7 furlongs in the G2 Tom Fool Handicap.

He's proven able to get high-caliber runners at either the sprint or route distance at stud, with his two-turn stars including Shaman Ghost, who is a Grade 1 winner at 1 1/4 miles, and Moreno, who won the G1 Whitney Handicap at 1 1/8 miles and ran second in the G1 Travers Stakes at the classic distance. On the shorter side of the equation, he has sired champion female sprinter Judy the Beauty; Paulassilverlining, who was a finalist in the same category. Guarana, a finalist for champion 3-year-old filly last year, is a Grade 1 winner at both 1 1/8 miles and 7 furlongs, with another one in between at a mile.

Ghostzapper's Kentucky Derby runners include Stately Victor, who won the G1 Blue Grass Stakes at 1 1/8 miles before running eighth in the 2010 Derby; and McCraken, who also ran eighth in 2017 and was a three-time graded stakes winner at 1 1/16 miles.

Bobby's Babe broke her maiden on debut at age three, going 6 furlongs over the Polytrack at Turfway Park. She never won again in her 11 career starts, but she finished second by a nose in a one-mile turf race at Kentucky Downs.

She has four earners of six figures under her produce record, led by May Lily, a turf sprint specialist by Broken Vow who won the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Sprint Stakes at 5 ½ furlongs. Zapperini, a full-brother to Major Fed, took it in the opposite direction, finishing second in last year's G3 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes going 1 1/2 miles. Clairenation, by Bernstein, went on a four-race winning streak of turf sprints between five and 5 1/2 furlongs.

Mr. Big News
Giant's Causeway x Unappeased, by Galileo
Giant's Causeway was one of the greatest runners of his generation on a global scale, earning Europe's Horse of the Year honors in 2000.

He was a Group 1 turf winner at distances ranging from 7 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles, racking up victories in the French G1 Prix de la Salamandre at seven panels, the English G1 St. James's Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes at 1 mile, and the G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles. Giant's Causeway stretched out even further to win the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at 10 furlongs and 56 yards.

In his final start, Giant's Causeway showed elite class and distance ability on the dirt, finishing second by a neck to Tiznow in the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

Giant's Causeway was North America's leading sire in 2009, 2011, and 2012, with a broad cross-section of successful runners across distance, surface, and international borders. One of the few boxes left to check on his stallion resume is siring a U.S. classic winner, but he's gotten classic winners elsewhere with Footstepsinthesand in the English 2,000 Guineas, Shamardal in the French 2,000 Guineas, and Mike Fox Canada's Queen's Plate.

Giant's Causeway has sent eight runners to post in the Kentucky Derby, with his best finish being a fifth by Creative Cause in 2012. Other Giant's Causeway runners to start in the Derby include Destin (6th, 2016); Brody's Cause (7th, 2016); Carpe Diem (10th, 2015); Santiva (6th, 2011); Hold Me Back (12th, 2009); Cowboy Cal (9th, 2008); and Noble Causeway (14th, 2005).

Unappeased, by another all-world sire in Galileo, went winless in six career starts Japan. Her best performance was a runner-up effort going about 7 furlongs over a sloppy main track.

The mare comes from a strong extended family that includes Canadian Horse of the Year Glorious Song, U.S. champion juvenile Devil's Bag, and top global runner Sligo Bay.

Unappeased is the dam of two other runners including Lalibela, a full-sister to Mr. Big News who won on debut in a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight, going a mile and an eighth on the turf. Untouch, by Speightstown, raced just once, finishing out of the money in a Belmont Park maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

The post Kentucky Derby Pedigree Corner: Max Player, Enforceable, Major Fed, And Mr. Big News appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Kentucky Derby Consignor Standings Presented By Keeneland: Final Countdown Sees Sequel New York, Taylor Made On Top

When a young horse goes through the ring at any auction, a few cents of every dollar in the hammer price is spent on the hope that the horse will one day end up in the Kentucky Derby. Before they can be bought, though, they have to be found.

At the end of a Derby trail that had a four-month detour, we have a final picture of which consignors had the most success producing horses who earned Derby qualifying points for this year's race, both in quantity and quality. Of the 18 horses with intentions to run as of Monday afternoon, 15 went through the ring at least once at public auction, and all but two of those earned points for their consignors in this year's Kentucky Derby Consignor Standings.

Tiz The Law has been the de facto leader of his division for much of the Derby prep season, and when he ascended to the top of the points standings, his consignor Sequel New York joined him. The son of Constitution was Sequel's only graduate to earn points on this year's Derby trail, but the postponement of the race from May to September left him and Sequel with an astronomical 372 points as the runners descend on Churchill Downs.

Tiz the Law's accumulation journey began at Churchill Downs, where he earned two points for a third-place effort in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. He then picked up 10 points when he won the G3 Holy Bull Stakes, and he cemented himself as a top contender following a 100-point triumph in the G1 Florida Derby. From there, Tiz the Law piled it on during his summer campaign, earning 150 points by winning the Belmont Stakes, and another 100 points in the G1 Travers Stakes.

Sequel was the top consignor by Derby points, both in the overall standings and among consignors of yearlings. The top point-getter among consignors specializing in 2-year-old sales was Randy Bradshaw, who had 150 points on the lone strength of Nadal.

A son of Blame, Nadal picked up 40 points in the G2 Rebel Stakes, then earned 100 points by winning the second division of the G1 Arkansas Derby.

Nadal was an incredibly successful pinhook for Bradshaw, who bought him for $65,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, then sold him for $700,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Taylor Made Sales Agency led all consignors on this year's Kentucky Derby trail by the number of horses that earned qualifying points, with nine.

The group was led by Shotski, a Blame colt who picked up 19 points with a win in the G2 Remsen Stakes, a second in the G3 Withers Stakes, and a fourth in the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes. The Taylor Made Grade 1 graduate board added another name last fall when Eight Rings, by Empire Maker, won the G1 American Pharoah Stakes and earned 10 points. Texas Swing, a son of Curlin, also earned 10 points with a third in the G2 Tampa Bay Derby.

Other Taylor Made graduates to pick up points on the Derby trail include Three Technique (Mr Speaker, 9 points); Scabbard (More Than Ready, 9 points); Arkaan (Into Mischief, 4 points); Cosmo (Distorted Humor, 4 points); Earner (Carpe Diem, 2 points); and Super John (Super Saver, 2 points).

Taylor Made will also send graduate Mr. Big News, a son of Giant's Causeway, into the Derby starting gate without any qualifying points.

A pair of juvenile consignors tied for the most point-earners, each with three.

Top Line Sales graduates picked up a combined 131 points on the Derby trail, led by Ny Traffic, a son of Cross Traffic who earned 110 points with runner-up efforts in the G1 Haskell Stakes, G2 Louisiana Derby, and G3 Matt Winn Stakes, along with a third in the G2 Risen Star Stakes.

The Top Line consignment also featured Candy Tycoon, an earner of 20 points by Twirling Candy, and Gozilla, by Flatter, who earned one point.

Wavertree Stables also saw three graduates earn points, including Country Grammer, a first-crop Tonalist colt who got 50 points for winning the G3 Peter Pan Stakes.

Independence Hall, also from a first-crop sire in Constitution, picked up 14 points with a win in the listed Jerome Stakes and a runner-up effort in the G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes. Rounding out the trio of first-crop point-earners was Wrecking Crew, who picked up five points with a third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and a fourth in the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity.

Though the horse enters the first Saturday in September with no qualifying points, Wavertree Stables' graduates on this year's trail also include Money Moves, a son of Candy Ride who is a likely Derby starter.

As the field of potential Derby starters stands through Monday afternoon, Lane's End is the only consignor with multiple graduates scheduled to enter the starting gate.

Max Player, a first-crop son of Honor Code, has 60 points after winning the G3 Withers Stakes and finishing third in the Belmont Stakes and G1 Travers Stakes. Sole Volante, also a first-cropper by Karakontie, picked up 30 points with a victory in the G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes and a runner-up effort in the G2 Tampa Bay Derby.

Lane's End finished with the second-most point-earners on this year's Derby trail, with five.

The group was topped by Wells Bayou, a Lookin at Lucky colt with 104 points from winning the G2 Louisiana Derby and running second in the G3 Southwest Stakes. Arkaan, by Into Mischief, who earned four points with a third in the listed Pegasus Stakes. Express Train, by Union Rags, earned one point for running fourth in the American Pharoah Stakes.

The post Kentucky Derby Consignor Standings Presented By Keeneland: Final Countdown Sees Sequel New York, Taylor Made On Top appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Max Player Works and Mr. Big News Added to Derby Line Up

George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbred Corp.’s Max Player (Honor Code) put in his final work ahead of Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby with an easy half-mile in :49.80 (26/50) Monday morning at Churchill Downs. The colt put up splits of :12.40 and :24.40 and galloped out in 1:02.80.

“He’s continuing to do well,” Steve Asmussen, who has taken over training duties from Linda Rice, said. “I’m extremely excited about how he’s going to run in the Kentucky Derby. I love how he looks going over the racetrack. His attitude is really good. He came in with a really good attitude and was moving really well. That has stayed the same.”

Max Player won the GIII Withers S. for the New York-based Rice in February and is coming off third-place efforts in the June 20 GI Belmont S. and Aug. 8 GI Travers S. He will be making his first start for Asmussen in the Derby.

“The reason he is here is to give him time to acclimate to the track and the surroundings to hopefully make up the difference,” Asmussen said. “He’s been third to Tiz the Law in his last two races. That horse is the deserving favorite and a tall task. You only have one chance to run in the Derby and we just wanted to do everything we could to give him his best chance.”

Allied Racing Stable’s Mr. Big News (Giant’s Causeway) has been added to the field of Derby contenders. Fifth in the Feb. 15 GII Risen Star S., he won the Apr. 11 Oaklawn S. and is coming off a sixth-place effort in the July 11 GII Toyota Blue Grass S.

“I know we don’t have some of the numbers like Tiz the Law, Art Collector and Honor A. P., but this horse is improving,” said owner Chester Thomas. “I think he is absolutely going to love the distance and will make a big run late.”

Trained by Bret Calhoun, Mr. Big News will be ridden by Gabriel Saez in the Derby. He worked five furlongs in 1:04.40 (2/2) at Churchill Downs Sunday.

The post Max Player Works and Mr. Big News Added to Derby Line Up appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Derby Notes: Asmussen ‘Extremely Excited’ About Max Player After Final Breeze

George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbred's Max Player completed his major preparations for Saturday's $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) by working a half-mile in :49.80 over a fast track.

Late Monday morning, a total of nine fillies, headed by Gamine and Swiss Skydiver were entered for Friday's 146th running of the $1.25 Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).

Also announced Monday morning, Allied Racing Stables' Mr. Big News will target Saturday's Kentucky Derby instead of the $500,000 American Turf (GII).

ART COLLECTOR – They made not be visible beneath their masks, but Bruce Lunsford's homebred Art Collector continues to inspire a round of smiles around Churchill Downs' Barn 3.

The son Bernardini had another solid, routine morning in advance of the Kentucky Derby as he jogged a mile, then galloped 1 1/8 miles during the special training period reserved for Derby and Oaks horses at 7:30.

“Today was his first day back galloping since his breeze (five furlongs on Aug. 28) and I thought he looked fantastic,” trainer Tommy Drury said. “Everything seems to be in good order. From here on out, we're back in a normal gallop routine and just try to stay out of his way for a few more days.”

Drury added he would likely do some paddock and gate schooling with Art Collector “Wednesday or Thursday.”

ATTACHMENT RATE – Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Attachment Rate walked trainer Dale Romans' shedrow Monday morning.

The Ellis Park Derby runner-up is expected to go back to the track Tuesday.

AUTHENTIC – Grade 1 winner Authentic was slated to arrive in Louisville along with his Bob Baffert-trained stablemates around 3 p.m. (all times Eastern). The son of Into Mischief turned in his final major breeze in preparation for the Kentucky Derby on Sunday, covering six furlongs at Del Mar in 1:12.40.

ENFORCEABLE – John Oxley's Enforceable galloped about a mile and a half under assistant trainer David Carroll on Monday, two days after breezing a half-mile in his final serious move in preparation for the Kentucky Derby.

“He's in great shape, this is the best he's trained,” Carroll said.

High expectations literally run in the family where Enforceable is concerned as he is a full brother to graded stakes winner Mohaymen — the fourth-place finisher in the 2016 Kentucky Derby — and a half sibling to New Year's Day, sire of champion Maximum Security, who crossed the wire in front in the 2019 Kentucky Derby before being disqualified because of interference.

After finishing fifth in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (GII) on March 21, however, Enforceable was a horse who needed all the extra time he could get if he were to make his own presence felt in the Run for the Roses.

“Oh if it (the Kentucky Derby) had been in May, he wouldn't have ran,” trainer Mark Casse said of Enforceable. “He came out of the Louisiana Derby tired and beat up and there is no way that I would have ran him in the Derby. It took him a long time. We brought him home (to Ocala, Florida) and it took us about two months to get back to where I was happy training him.”

Enforceable returned to run fourth in the July 11 Blue Grass Stakes (GII), a finish his Hall of Fame trainer feels is better than it looks given that the colt was basically on the farm for two months.

“I kind of feel like each day, he's gotten bigger and better. And his race in the Blue Grass, I thought it was a good race,” Casse said. “Obviously speed is dangerous at Keeneland and there was no way that he could have been 100 percent ready for that given that he had two months off. I thought it was a good comeback race. He was probably 80-85 percent and I feel he's 100 percent now. That's why we're trying it.”

FINNICK THE FIERCE – Arnaldo Monge and trainer Rey Hernandez's Finnick the Fierce galloped at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington on Monday morning and then vanned to Churchill Downs.

“Everything is good,” Hernandez said.

Martin Garcia has the Derby mount.

HONOR A. P. – C R K Stable's Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner was en route from California Monday morning along with a large contingent of West Coast horses.

KING GUILLERMO – Victoria's Ranch's King Guillermo galloped 1 ½ miles Monday under exercise rider Edgar Garcia.

The colt trained Monday under the watchful eye of trainer Juan Avila, owner Victor Martinez and jockey Samy Camacho, who arrived Sunday from Florida.

MAJOR FED – Lloyd Madison Farm's Major Fed jogged about 1 5/8 miles and schooled in the new Kentucky Derby 20-horse starting gate.

Major Fed was accompanied to the track by 50-year-old exercise rider Margarito Fierro. The Mexico City-native Fierro has worked for Foley for more than 15 years and Major Fed is the first Derby contender he has ridden.

“Horses are my life,” Fierro said. “I grew up in Mexico and lived and breathed horses from a young age. I credit them with everything I've done in my life. A couple of years ago I was battling cancer and the horses were my therapy. When I'm around them, all the stress of life goes away.”

Major Fed is scheduled to return to the track at his normal training time of 5:15 a.m. on Tuesday.

MAX PLAYER – George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbred Corp.'s Max Player was the last Derby horse to complete his final work Monday morning, breezing an easy half-mile in :49.80 at 5:50 a.m. with regular exercise rider Juan Vargas aboard.

The Honor Code colt put up splits of :12.40 and :24.40 before completing his work and galloping out in 1:02.80.

“He's continuing to do well,” Hall of Fame trainer Steve

Asmussen said. “I'm extremely excited about how he's going to run in the Kentucky Derby. I love how he looks going over the racetrack. His attitude is really good. He came in with a really good attitude and was moving really well. That has stayed the same.”

Asmussen assumed the training of Max Player from Linda Rice shortly after the horse finished third to likely Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law in the Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 8.

“The reason he is here is to give him time to acclimate to the track and the surroundings to hopefully make up the difference. He's been third to Tiz the Law in his last two races. That horse is the deserving favorite and a tall task. You only have one chance to run in the Derby and we just wanted to do everything we could to give him his best chance.”

MONEY MOVES – Robert LaPenta and Bortolazzo Stable's Money Moves galloped a mile and three-eighths Monday morning at Saratoga and is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs early Tuesday morning for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Money Moves will be housed in Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas' barn.

MR. BIG NEWS – Allied Family Stables' $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes winner Mr. Big News will enter Saturday's Kentucky Derby (GI), according to owner Chester Thomas.

“I know we don't have some of the numbers like Tiz the Law, Art Collector and Honor A. P. but this horse is improving,” Thomas said. “I think he is absolutely going to love the distance and will make a big run late.”

Trained by Bret Calhoun, Mr. Big News will be ridden by Gabriel Saez in the Derby.

NECKER ISLAND – Raymond Daniels, Wayne Scherr and Will Harbut Racing Stables' Necker Island jogged once around under Hillary Hartman and then stood in the starting gate in the mile chute.

Necker Island was claimed by trainer Chris Hartman in June out of an optional claiming race for $100,000 in which he finished fourth behind Art Collector, who figures to be one of the top choices for Saturday's Run for the Roses.

“The initial goal was we hoped to hold his previous form and not ugly it up,” Hartman said. “We knew we were getting a nice horse who was already proven and obviously we were hoping he would be a Derby horse.”

In two starts for Hartman, Necker Island has earned back $50,455 of his claiming price with third-place finishes in the Indiana Derby (GIII) and the Ellis Park Derby.

NY TRAFFIC – Haskell Invitational (GI) runner-up Ny Traffic continued his Kentucky Derby preparations with a 1 ½-mile gallop at Saratoga Monday and will arrive in Kentucky Tuesday, nearly 24 later than expected.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said via text that the horse “was doing well” and that he had “no concerns” about the travel delay.

SOLE VOLANTE – Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone's Sole Volante got his first feel of the Churchill track Monday, one day after vanning from his base at Palm Meadows in South Florida. With his co-owner aboard, the Karakontie (JPN) gelding jogged one mile around the track.

Andie Biancone, also the daughter of trainer Patrick Biancone, said she's seeing signs that her horse is ready for a top effort in the Kentucky Derby.

“Normally, he's the quietest horse in the barn, so yesterday (Sunday) when I took him off the van, I didn't even use a lip chain and he dragged me off the van. This morning (Monday), he felt better than he ever has.”

Biancone said Sole Volante would gallop Tuesday and likely school in the paddock with herself or jockey Luca Panici on board.

STORM THE COURT – David Bernsen, Exline-Border Racing, Dan Hudock and Susanna Wilson's Storm the Court is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs Monday afternoon from his Southern California base.

Trainer Peter Eurton is scheduled to arrive in Louisville at 10 Tuesday morning and plans to be at the post position draw scheduled at 11 o'clock.

THOUSAND WORDS – Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift Farm's Thousand Words was slated to arrive in Louisville along with his Bob Baffert-trained stablemates around 3 p.m.

While the son of Pioneerof the Nile won his first three career starts, including two graded stakes, Thousand Words is among the Kentucky Derby contenders who likely would have had to sit this classic out had it not moved from its usual spot of the first Saturday in May. After starting his sophomore season with a victory in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (GII) in February, Thousand Words went off form, finishing fourth in the San Felipe Stakes (GII) and 11th in the Oaklawn Stakes on April 11, prompting Baffert to give him a brief freshening.

The mid-spring hiatus served Thousand Woods well as he has regained his top form since returning to the races in July. Following a runner-up effort in the Los Alamitos Derby (GIII), the bay colt defeated Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Honor A. P. to capture the Aug. 1 Shared Belief Stakes.

“There has not been one positive thing from Covid that I can think of other than it allowed us to run in the Kentucky Derby, because we wouldn't have deserved to be in the Kentucky Derby in May,” said Jason Loutsch, racing manager for Albaugh Family Stables. “We would have qualified probably with points but the horse just wasn't doing well in May and after that Oaklawn race, Bob was really frustrated with him, we were frustrated and as a group, so we decided to just give him 30-45 days and get him happy, put some weight on. And we're really happy with the way the horse has come around. The last race, we couldn't be happier with. Obviously Honor A. P. was in there and to compete with those horses and fight and not give up down the lane, that gives us a lot of confidence going into this weekend.”

TIZ THE LAW – With trainer Barclay Tagg already en route to Kentucky, assistant trainer Robin Smullen was left in charge of the presumptive Kentucky Derby favorite's morning training and was aboard as he galloped twice around the Saratoga track.

The flight bringing Tiz the Law from New York to Kentucky has been delayed until Tuesday. Also, on the flight are fellow Kentucky Derby starters Ny Traffic and Money Moves.

WINNING IMPRESSION – West Point Thoroughbreds' and Pearl Racing's graded stakes placed Winning Impression galloped about 1 ½ miles Monday under exercise rider Emerson Chavez.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 146th running of the $3 million, Grade I Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve to be run for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, Sept. 5 (in order of preference): Tiz the Law (jockey Manny Franco); Authentic (John Velazquez); Art Collector (Brian Hernandez Jr.); Honor A. P. (Mike Smith); Ny Traffic (Paco Lopez); King Guillermo (Samy Camacho); Thousand Words (Florent Geroux); Max Player (Ricardo Santana Jr.); Enforceable (Adam Beschizza); Major Fed (James Graham); Storm the Court (Julien Leparoux); Attachment Rate (Joe Talamo); Sole Volante (Luca Panici); Finnick the Fierce (Martin Garcia); Winning Impression (Joe Rocco Jr.); Necker Island (Miguel Mena); Mr. Big News (Gabriel Saez); Money Moves (Javier Castellano).

The post Derby Notes: Asmussen ‘Extremely Excited’ About Max Player After Final Breeze appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post