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Kentucky Chaplaincy Looking Forward to Race for Grace

The Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy will host their 20^th annual Race for Grace, a dinner and fundraising event to support the ongoing work of the chaplaincy, on Monday, May 2 at 6:00pm. As a kickoff to Kentucky Derby week, the event will be held on Millionaires' Row in the clubhouse at Churchill Downs.

Nationally-recognized pastor Bob Russell will be the keynote speaker of the event and Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day will be the Master of Ceremonies.

“20 years ago, we said let's do this thing called the Race for Grace as a fundraiser on the Monday of Derby week and it's been a tremendous hit since,” Day said. “We've had some wonderful speakers and it's been very well-supported. It's a great way to kick off Derby week for a wonderful cause.”

Pat Day has been a devoted supporter of the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy for many years and recently stepped down from a six-year stint as the group's President.

“The Race Track Chaplaincy of America started over 50 years ago by an exercise rider named Salty Roberts,” Day explained. “He had a burden on his heart for the people he was working with at the racetrack, realizing that the hours that backside workers have limit their opportunity to go to a church of their choice. Salty's vision was to have a chaplain at every racetrack and training facility in the world. From that idea, the Race Track Chaplaincy of America was born.”

“They currently have over 50 chaplains ministering throughout the U.S. and affiliation with chaplains in other countries,” he continued. “The idea was based on being a ministry of presence. The chaplains walk through the barn area during training hours, being seen, cultivating relationships and providing hope and help.”

The Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy has chaplains on the grounds of Churchill Downs, Kentucky Downs, Ellis Park, Turfway Park and Belterra Park. In addition to holding weekly church services, chaplains host bible studies, meet with the jockey colony and gate crew at the start of each race day and more.

In 2006, the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy opened Christ Chapel, which was completely funded by donations from the community, on the backside of Churchill Downs. That same year they launched a Women and Children's Ministry, which now has two full-time staff members.

Joseph Del Rosario serves as the full-time chaplain at Churchill Downs. He spoke on the many activities hosted by the Chaplaincy throughout the year.

“We have our weekly chapel services, with one in English and one in Spanish,” he explained. “In between the services, we have a dinner to facilitate togetherness. We have our clothing closet, which is a free thrift store where people can get toiletries, bedding and clothes if they need it. Throughout the year we have cookouts, Bible studies, Easter celebrations and a Christmas party. Everything is community-wide; it's open to everyone.”

The Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy's Children's Ministry hosts many activities throughout the year | Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy

Rosario estimated that an average of 50 to 60 people attend each week's church service, although attendance fluctuates throughout the year to follow the racing calendar at Churchill Downs.

“Even when there isn't racing there are still families, particularly moms and kids, that stay back,” he noted. “We still serve them and have activities for them. In the past we've done sewing and knitting classes during that time.”

Rosario said the Chaplaincy aims to fulfill both the emotional and spiritual needs of the backside community.

“A lot of them come from outside the country,” he said. “They've come to take care of their family and their family has stayed back home. There's a lot of loneliness, which becomes the root cause to other secondary issues–substance abuse, people who keep to themselves or people who are more aggressive than they need to be.”

Rosario shared the story of one individual who recently began participating in Chaplaincy activities.

“When we have the clothing closet open, we usually have the kitchen open for a snack or a light lunch. It creates the opportunity for people to come in and sit so we can just talk and catch up. This man came in during one of those. I started talking to him and over time we built a relationship. I would visit him at his barn and he would come to chapel. We would talk about some of the issues he had in his barn. He felt people didn't like him so he would respond in an aggressive manner. We would talk through that and talk about what it means to love our neighbor. He's been getting a lot better with how he's relating to his co-workers.”

“Many backside workers are away from family so there's a great need for fellowship,” Day added. “We're offering programs to address the loneliness and just be a friend to them. The ministry is not just for backside workers, but for the racetrack at large.”

He continued, “For me personally, the racing industry has been so good to me and my family. Not only do I have a burning desire to share the gospel message, but this gives me an opportunity to give back to the industry a little bit of what I've received through it. I feel very privileged and honored to be a part of the Race Track Chaplaincy at large, but more specifically to the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy.”

Race for Grace was held virtually last year and was postponed in 2020, so the team at the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy is looking forward to a rewarding evening on the 20^th anniversary of the successful fundraiser. The event will have a silent auction with a collection of racing memorabilia as well as a live auction featuring a box for the 2023 Kentucky Oaks and Derby.

Individuals interested in ticket purchasing, sponsorships and donations can visit kychapliancy.org/race-for-grace.

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Insight Outcomes: Maracuja, Mendenhall, More Hint at Bright 2022

An abundance of well-bred runners went to post this week with some very satisfying visits to the winner's circle. A Grade I winner kickstarted her 2022 campaign with a win before facing tougher company, while a number of first-time starters ran with promise, perhaps foreshadowing bigger things down the road.

Thursday's Insights: Mandy Pope Starts Pair at Oaklawn

4th-Oaklawn, $90,000, Msw, 3-31, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:44.99, gd, head.

Regally bred SALUTE THE FLAG (f, 4, Curlin–Private Ensign {GSP, $124,384}, by A.P. Indy) gamely wore down a loose-in-the-stretch late leader to win by a head with the rest of the field more than 10 lengths behind. The Larry Jones trainee for Fox Hill and Siena Farms traces back to undefeated champion and Broodmare of the Year Personal Ensign (Private Account). Meanwhile the Whisper Hill-owned pair of Dance It (Tapit), a $500,000 purchase at Keeneland September, and Goldena (Medaglia d'Oro) finished off the board. Dance It was making her career debut only to hop awkwardly out of the gate and prove a bit rank early, but finished evenly. Goldena had added blinkers for what was her third start after working two bullets at Oaklawn in a month. Like winner Salute the Flag, both also hail from exceptional female families, with Dance It tracing to Starlet Storm (Storm Bird), dam of and granddam of, respectively, champions Flanders (Seeking the Gold) and Surfside (Seattle Slew); and Goldena tracing to Numbered Account (Buckpasser), 1971's champion 2-year-old filly and the dam of both GISW Dance Number (Northern Dancer), the ancestress of several GISWs, and MGISW Private Account (Damascus), sire of the aforementioned Personal Ensign. In spite of the results of this maiden race, Mandy Pope and her Whisper Hill operation didn't fare too badly over the weekend, with homebred 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit) finishing a green but exciting second in the GI Florida Derby. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Friday's Insights: Maracuja Begins 2022 Campaign at Oaklawn

8th-Oaklawn, $108,000, Alw (NW4L)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 4-1, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:44.51, ft, 2 lengths.

MARACUJA (f, 4, Honor Code–Patti's Regal Song {SP}, by Unbridled's Song), vanquisher of both champion Malathaat (Curlin) and GISW Clairiere (Curlin) in last year's GI Coaching Club American Oaks, kicked off her 2022 campaign by overcoming a bumpy start–literally, as she ricocheted repeatedly off her inside rival out of the gate–and circling the field wide with enthusiasm to storm past all by two lengths. It was the classy filly's first start since fourth behind Clairiere in the Sept. 25 GI Cotillion S. Trainer Rob Atras is reportedly considering Oaklawn's Apr. 23, $1-million GI Apple Blossom S. as a next start for the gray. Both Clairiere and reigning Eclipse older female champion Letruska (Super Saver) are also pointing to the race. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Saturday's Insights: Karen With an I Flies Beholder's Colors on Debut

8th-Santa Anita, $68,500, Msw, 4-2, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.27, ft, neck.

Debuting MY KENTUCKY GIRL (f, 3, American Pharoah–Easy Living {SP, $153,300}, by Big Brown) raced very wide, failed to change to her proper lead until late stretch, and got no more confidence from the public than 20-1, but none of it mattered as she rallied late to win by a neck. The dark bay sold for $475,000 as a 2020 Keeneland September yearling, making her among the top 10 highest-priced yearlings by her sire that year. The Jonathan Wong pupil had been working steadily over the Golden Gate all-weather surface for this unveiling. Bred by Stonehaven Steadings and owned by Tommy Town, My Kentucky Girl beat another filly also 'Insighted' in the race, Karin With an I (Curlin). The latter has had a close following since birth as the second foal and first daughter of superstar mare Beholder (Henny Hughes). A Spendthrift homebred, Karin With an I had been working nicely for this debut, but broke from the rail and never quite got involved. For the record, Beholder didn't win first-time out either and things worked out just fine for her. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

8th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 4-2, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.97, ft, 1/2 length.

The highest-priced 2-year-old by her now-sophomore sire when she hammered for $575,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Gulfstream sale last year after working in a sharp :10, WISH YOU WELL (f, 3, American Freedom–Listen to Libby, by Indian Charlie) debuted accordingly. The Brereton Jones-bred chestnut leaped eagerly out of the gate, pricked her ears, led the field through :22.10 and :44.75 fractions, and held off fellow 'Insighted' filly Inventing (Union Rags) to win gamely. The George Weaver trainee is a half-sister to GSW Chanteline (Majesticperfection). Their dam is undoubtedly named for Libby Jones, co-proprietor of Airdrie Stud, where this filly was bred and where American Freedom stands. Fellow firster Inventing, a $390,000 Keeneland September purchase now in Todd Pletcher's barn, targeted Wish You Well on the turn and was closing with every stride, but couldn't quite catch her rival. She had stumbled at the start and will surely be stretched out down the road, as she's had family members appreciate a little extra distance, including GI Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Status (A.P. Indy) and GI Alabama S. winner Dunbar Road (Quality Road). Easy to Love (Empire Maker) also debuted in this spot. The Bill Mott-trained Gainesway homebred broke inwardly from the outside and set off a chain reaction of bumps. All seven of her siblings are winners, including half-brother Lukes Alley (Flower Alley), who is a Canadian champion and U.S. GISW, and another half-sister who is a SW and GSP, so don't count her out yet. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Sunday's Insights: Hall of Famer-Trained Maidens in at Gulfstream

7th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 4-3, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.50, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.

Pedigree handicappers may have had a tough time with this race, as a slew of well-bred and/or expensive sophomores contested this spot. MENDENHALL (c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Mamma Kimbo {GSW, $242,250}, by Discreet Cat) got the job done at second asking after two bullets at Payson since his Mar. 5 seventh-place debut for Bill Mott. He had dwelt at the start that day and was never an active part of the race, but what a difference a little experience makes. The $675,000 Keeneland September OXO Equine purchase took command early and never left the result in doubt with Tyler Gallalione riding him confidently to a 1 1/2-length win after easing up late. His GII Fantasy-winning dam is a granddaughter of Canadian champion Deputy Jane West (Silver Deputy) and has produced two stakes winners from her six foals to race. Mendenhall was also a part of 'Insights' for his first career start. Logico (Violence) closed from last to second after being bumped at the start and has been knocking heads with some major players in his previous starts, including Saturday's GI Florida Derby winner White Abarrio (Race Day) and runner-up Charge It (Tapit) in their respective maiden wins. The debuting Stuart Janney III homebred Breakwater (Flatter) finished third. That left other 'Insighted' horses Days of Yore (Street Sense), Gate Runner (Arrogate), and Broken Spur (American Pharoah) off the podium in their respective unveilings. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

9th-Gulfstream, $43,000, Moc ($50K), 4-3, 3yo, 7 1/2fT, 1:31.02, fm, neck.

Great Uncle (Uncle Mo) debuted in this softer spot while not in for a tag and just missed the win against a bevy of more seasoned competitors. He broke from the rail, set all the pace with ears flicking back and forth early, and got a good education, as he was pressed most of the way and repelled that protracted challenge to pull away from the field before just getting caught at the wire by MR MAC QUHAE (g, 3, Classic Empire–Starlight Lady, by Elusive Quality). The Live Oak homebred, a half to MGSW Souper Tapit (Tapit), is trained by Mark Casse and is the second foal to race out of GISW Zo Impressive (Hard Spun), who is out of GISW Zoftig (Cozzene) and is a half-sister to GISW Zaftig (Gone West). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Will Walden Launches Training Career

It wasn't that long ago that Will Walden, recovering from substance addiction, was working the morning shift at Wendy's, walking a mile and a half, sometimes in the snow, to get to a job where his duties included scraping old ketchup packets off of the concrete in the parking lot.

“I got to a place that I'm not proud of. I was at the end of my rope. I was broken,” Walden said.

But his time at Wendy's, as humbling as it may have been, was an important step. He needed a job because a job was part of the process, one that he hoped would lead him away from years of substance abuse to a career as a Thoroughbred trainer.

Now sober, that goal is about to become a reality. Walden has 10 horses and is ready to begin his training career at the upcoming Keeneland spring meet.

He is the 31-year-old son of Elliott Walden, the former trainer who is the President and CEO of WinStar Farm. The younger Walden grew up around the barn, was always interested in horses and his father is a leading figure in the industry. He grew up watching his father win races like the GI Haskell with Menifee (Harlan), the GI Belmont S. with Victory Gallop (Cryptoclearance) and the GI Super Derby with Ecton Park (Forty Niner). He said if he wasn't in school he was around the barn. When his father left training in 2005 to go to work at WinStar, he put his equipment in storage, believing that some day his then teenage son would put them to good use.

“I remember when my dad first handed me shank. It was when I was 8 or 9-years-old,” Walden said. “I wanted a pair of Jordans. I couldn't afford them and he wasn't going to pay for them. So, he handed me a shank and had me hot walk to earn the money to buy them. I always had a connection with the horse. When I wasn't in school, every Saturday and Sunday, I was at the barn.”

Considering his upbringing and his family connection, Walden's path into the training profession should have been a smooth one. But nothing is smooth when you are an addict. Around the time he turned 18, the drugs took control of Walden's life. It was no longer a matter of becoming a trainer but figuring out a way to stay alive.

“It's pretty much been a 12-year run,” Walden said. “Started going to treatment centers and jail. I was pretty much an equal opportunity drug user. It wasn't anything specific. It was mainly heroin and crack cocaine and alcohol. Those were my things. It took me to a place where I about lost my life several times. I kept waking up in hospitals or jail cells or with a defibrillators on my chest or Narcan in my nose.”

It's not that he didn't try to get better. It's just that nothing worked. That was until he met Christian Countzler, who worked at Shepherds House, a drug treatment program in Lexington. He convinced Walden to give the facility a try.

“He kind of saved my life,” Walden said. “He was running a treatment facility in Lexington and was a sergeant in the military. He did two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. I knew his passion and his heart was in it. There was no agenda with him. He just wanted to help people.”

Walden entered Shepherds House in November, 2020. It was at a time that he had hit bottom and was, he said, finally ready to make some changes in his life.

“When I got there, it was at a point where I was going to wake up or I wasn't,” he said. “I called Christian and asked him to take me to detox. I was in such a bad place that a willingness to change had been produced. I have been clean ever since I went into Shepherds House.”

Those going in for treatment at Shepherds House usually stay from 12 to 18 months, but Walden did so well that he was let out early. His 10-month stay ended in September. Next up was the job at Wendy's.

Showing that he was sober and could hold down a job, Walden was ready to start training and his father was there to lend his support.

“He's always been supportive,” Walden said. “He just wanted the personal issues that I had to be in the rear view before this jump was made. Something that he's always told me was 'it's never been your professional life that's been in question. It's been your personal life.' Once those two got on the same page, he didn't see why I couldn't have a successful career doing this.”

In rehab, he made two close friends, Tyler Maxwell and Michael Lowrey. Walden said their support was an important factor in his recovery and he wanted to stay close to them. So, he convinced them, upon their release, to sign up for the Taylor Made School of Horsemanship. The school, created by Taylor Made's Frank Taylor, was created to teach horsemanship skills to people recovering from substance issues and provide them with the skills needed to get a job on the racetrack.

“I'm off at Wendy's or wherever I am at and I get texts during the day from Tyler and Michael,” Walden said. “There were all these questions, like how do I get this foal to walk into the paddock? It had been two years since I had been on the track but I recognized that spark. They had the passion.”

So Walden hired the two as part of his training team.

He expects his first starter will be the 2-year-old Sergeant Countzler (Bolt d'Oro), who was named for Christian Countzler. The colt was bought at Keeneland September for $45,000. It's a modest price, but was part of an overall strategy. Walden wants to focus on young horses who are eligible for maiden races that are restricted to horses that sold for less than a certain price.

“These horses run for $90,000 in Kentucky and for $85,000 in New York,” he said. “If you win or run second in one of those races the odds are you've covered the purchase price or gotten pretty close. Everything after that is profit.”

He will not have any horses for WinStar.

“I haven't earned something like that,” Walden said.

Ten horses isn't going to guarantee success, especially when many of them were inexpensive yearling buys. For Walden, it could be tough at first, but he's not complaining. It beats the life he had been living.

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TDN Kentucky Derby Top 12 for Apr. 5

Seven horses among the current Top 12 will be in action Saturday in the last nine-furlong preps of the season. This past weekend's trio of stakes at Gulfstream, Oaklawn and Turfway dislodged former No. 1 contender Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway), but no winners from those races vaulted into the upper echelon. The rankings below are independent from the “Road to the GI Kentucky Derby” points leaderboard Churchill Downs uses to determine starting berths. Access that list here.

1) SMILE HAPPY (c, Runhappy–Pleasant Smile, by Pleasant Tap) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Lucky Seven Stable. B-Moreau Bloodstock Int'l Inc. & White Bloodstock LLC (KY). T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Sales History: $175,000 wlg '19 KEENOV; $185,000 ylg '20 FTKSEL. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-1-0, $364,810. Last Start: 2nd GII Risen Star S. Next Start: GI Toyota Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 9. KY Derby Points: 30.

'TDN Rising Star' Smile Happy coasts into the second Saturday of April with a 2-for-3 record that includes assertive juvenile form and one forgivable loss at three. This confidently powerful son of Runhappy ($175,000 KEENOV; $185,000 FTKSEL) got pocketed, moved too late, then ran up on heels under a full head of steam while second in the GII Risen Star S. behind the No. 2-ranked Epicenter (Not This Time). But it only took two jumps after the wire for Smile Happy to gallop out abreast of that geared-down rival, and the 94 Beyer Speed Figure he earned for the runner-up effort added to his upward-trending three-race arc. On Saturday at Keeneland, Smile Happy will return to the scene of his career unveiling, an emphatic 5 1/2-length victory in which he accelerated in hand three-eighths out to win with panache over a short-stretch, 1 1/16 miles configuration.

Smile Happy already showed no signs of wilting at nine furlongs in New Orleans. But 10 furlongs in the Derby? Smile Happy's sire was the 2015 champion sprinter. But his dam-sire, Pleasant Tap, was third in the 1990 Derby and won champion older horse honors in '92, and Derby winners like Super Saver and Pleasant Colony aren't too far back on each side of Smile Happy's pedigree.

2) EPICENTER (c, Not This Time–Silent Candy, by Candy Ride {Arg}) O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC. B-Westwind Farms (KY). T-Steven M. Asmussen. Sales History: $260,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 6-4-1-0, $1,010,639. Last Start: 1st GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby. KY Derby Points: 164.

Epicenter brings nearly impeccable credentials to the Derby: He breaks like a pro, attains speed-centric positioning, withstands up-tempo paces, fights when challenged, finishes strongly, is capable of triple-digit Beyers, has won at 1 3/16 miles, has won at Churchill, and has only lost once (barely) in the past six months. Yet he's facing several historical hurdles.

Trainer Steve Asmussen is 0-for-23 in the Derby, the longest active drought on record. Epicenter's most recent prep, the GII Louisiana Derby, which dates to 1894, has only yielded two horses who crossed the finish wire first in the Kentucky Derby (in 1924 and 1996). And only two horses since 1929 have won the first leg of the Triple Crown off a six-week break like Epicenter will be trying to do (Animal Kingdom in 2011 and Needles in 1956 did it; Authentic's 49-day layoff in 2020 occurred when the Derby got rescheduled to September). If Epicenter winds up being the third choice or higher in the Derby, he could represent betting value.

3) MESSIER (c, Empire Maker–Checkered Past, by Smart Strike) 'TDN Rising Star' O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine M. Donovan, Golconda Stable & Siena Farm LLC. B-Sam-Son Farm (ON). T-Tim Yakteen. Sales History: $470,000 ylg '20 FTKSEL. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, $285,600. Last Start: 1st GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Next Start: GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 9. KY Derby Points: 0.

As he primes for his final prep in Saturday's GI Santa Anita Derby, Messier–looking ahead one race–will be attempting to be the first Canadian-bred since Sunny's Halo in 1983 to win the Kentucky Derby. The only other Canadian-bred to win the Derby? The great Northern Dancer in 1964. Given the connection between his home country and hockey star namesake (Mark Messier), the Toronto Sun recently profiled this 'TDN Rising Star' and $470,000 FTKSEL bay by Empire Maker. “He's big, robust, long-striding, athletic, well-balanced and most importantly, mentally a very focused colt,” said Tom Ryan of SF Racing, part of Messier's multi-partner ownership. “He knows his job and he enjoys his job.” Ryan further told the Sun that the recent training transition from Bob Baffert to Tim Yakteen has gone “incredibly well” under the “unfortunate” circumstances related to Baffert's suspension. “Messier, himself, he doesn't know. He's settled into his new surroundings very well. He's being cared for at the same elite level with Tim as he was with Bob. The foundation has already been laid and now it's just a matter of hoping we can maintain him and he continues on that upwards trajectory and he can be competitive at the elite level.”

4) MO DONEGAL (c, Uncle Mo–Callingmissbrown, by Pulpit) O-Donegal Racing. B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY). T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales History: $250,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-0-2, $221,800. Last Start: 3rd GIII Holy Bull S. Next Start: GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 9. KY Derby Points: 12.

Mo Donegal hasn't been to work in the afternoon in two months, but his stock has ticked upward based on the subsequent graded stakes wins racked up by the winner, runner-up, and seventh-place finisher out of the GIII Holy Bull S. This $250,000 KEESEP Uncle Mo bay ran a trip-troubled third as the beaten fave in that Feb. 5 stakes, and he'll be stretching back out to his most recent winning distance and surface when he goes as the likely chalk in Saturday's GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct.

Although the GII Remsen S. itself has fallen off the map as a producer of Derby winners (only three horses won both stakes in the last 58 years–Thunder Gulch, Go For Gin and Pleasant Colony)–it was still pretty impressive back in early December to see Mo Donegal bump and grind through a hard-fought final furlong in :12.33 to prevail by a nose over the well-regarded Zandon (Upstart).

5) ZANDON (c, Upstart–Memories Prevail, by Creative Cause) O-Jeff Drown. B-Brereton C. Jones (KY). T-Chad C. Brown. Sales History: $170,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGSP, 3-1-1-0, $139,500. Last Start: 3rd GII Risen Star S. Next Start: GI Toyota Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 9. KY Derby Points: 14.

Provided he makes the qualifying cut, Zandon will go into the Derby with three consecutive nine-furlong preps, which is something you don't generally see these days–especially when the colt in question will only have four lifetime starts.

Considering this $170,000 KEESEP colt has only a MSW sprint win to his credit, he's been well supported by Derby prognosticators all winter long, chiefly on the premise that he's persevered well through two rough/unlucky trips in the GII Remsen S. and the GII Risen Star S.

On Saturday, Zandon will partner with Flavien Prat for the first time, and it's also a little out of the ordinary to see such a highly ranked horse be ridden by four different jockeys in as many starts. But here's another stat to chew on in case you don't think this lightly raced Chad Brown trainee belongs with the top of the crop: The only horses who have ever finished in front of Zandon are ranked at Nos. 1, 2 and 4 on this list.

6) SIMPLIFICATION (c, Not This Time–Simply Confection, by Candy Ride {Arg}) O-Tami Bobo. B-France & Irwin Weiner (FL). T-Antonio Sano. Sales History: $50,000 wlg '19 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 7-3-1-2, $515,350. Last Start: 3rd GI Curlin Florida Derby. Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby. KY Derby Points: 74.

Although he finished third in the GI Florida Derby, Simplification delivered the performance that rates above the two rivals who beat him. He applied direct pressure to front-running Classic Causeway, and even though he cracked that rival with little resistance 4 1/2 furlongs out, the move by jockey Jose Ortiz appeared premature when Pappacap (Gun Runner) immediately launched a go-for-broke bid that hooked both of them into a far-turn slugfest through the fastest quarter-mile segment (:23.44) of the race. When confronted anew by White Abarrio (Race Day) at the head of the lane, Simplification made the eventual winner work until the eighth pole to wrest command, and this colt hung in as well as he could without being pumped dry before Kentucky Derby day. He's sixth on the points list for Louisville, where his tactical speed and résumé of five 90-plus Beyers will rate him as a legit threat in the 15-1 range.

7) WHITE ABARRIO (c, Race Day–Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief) O-C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable, LLC. B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY). T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. Sales History: $7,500 ylg '20 OBSWIN; $40,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-4-0-1, $823,650. Last Start: 1st GI Curlin Florida Derby. Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby. KY Derby Points: 112.

He's smaller in stature and his auction history ($7,500 OBSWIN; $40,000 OBSMAR) is more modest than most of his peers, but this athletic Race Day gray has punched above his weight through a five-race career. Yes, you can argue that White Abarrio's two graded stakes scores came over his home court at Gulfstream when he encountered clear sailing while favorites either ran into trip trouble (the Holy Bull S.) or embroiled themselves in a tactical meltdown (the Florida Derby). But at some point, even detractors have to acknowledge the admirable fact that White Abarrio keeps finding ways to win. It's also to his credit that his only loss was a respectable third in the most meaningful juvenile prep race from last autumn (the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S.). White Abarrio gave up real estate on both turns Saturday, yet he has a nimble enough way of going to think that he could have an advantage fighting for position in a crowded 20-horse race like the Derby.

8) EMMANUEL (c, More Than Ready–Hard Cloth, by Hard Spun) 'TDN Rising Star' O-WinStar Farm LLC & Siena Farm LLC. B-Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust (KY). T-Todd A. Pletcher.
Sales History: $350,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $69,600. Last Start: 4th GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. Next Start: GI Toyota Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 9. KY Derby Points: 5.

We won't see the entries until Wednesday, but the Blue Grass S. could shake out with 'TDN Rising Star' Emmanuel as the controlling speed. That's provided this physically imposing son of More Than Ready reverts to seeking the lead like he did in his first two victories against MSW and allowance company. In the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S., this $350,000 KEESEP colt rated from off the pace while four and then five wide on the turns, but his middle move was decent enough considering the lost ground (229 feet more than the winner) and it being his first try against graded stakes company. Trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Blue Grass on three previous occasions (Carpe Diem 2015, Monba '08 and Bandini '05).

9) FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (c, American Pharoah–Just Louise, by Five Star Day) O-MyRacehorse & Spendthrift Farm LLC. B-Springhouse Farm (KY). T-Richard E. Mandella. Sales History: $300,000 ylg '20 FTKSEL. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 5-3-1-1, $434,000. Last Start: 1st GII San Felipe S. Next Start: GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 9. KY Derby Points: 50.

What Saturday's Santa Anita Derby will lack in depth should be more than offset by the headline match-up of Forbidden Kingdom vs. Messier. The race promises to be a classic clash of true California speed horses, although this front-running son of American Pharoah ($300,000 FTKSEL) will probably be asked to tone down his blitzing early pace presence while Messier might be in the process of honing his quickness out of the gate. Messier won their only previous head-to-head (the GIII Bob Hope S. back in November), but Forbidden Kingdom has emerged as a stronger, more intimidating colt at age three with 94- and 98-Beyer wirings in a pair of Grade II stakes.

10) EARLY VOTING (c, Gun Runner–Amour d'Ete, by Tiznow) O-Klaravich Stables, Inc. B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY). T-Chad C. Brown. Sales History: $200,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $181,500. Last Start: 1st GIII Withers S. Next Start: GII Wood Memorial, AQU, Apr. 9. KY Derby Points: 10.

Should Early Voting win Saturday's Wood Memorial, he'd go into the Derby with a 3-for-3 lifetime record, all at Aqueduct. An all-New York Derby campaign is a little offbeat these days, but this $200,000 KEESEP buy has been cautiously handled as a late bloomer who has already wired a nine-furlong stakes. The Wood pace pressure should be torqued up a notch or two, but Early Voting's style so far has been based on sustained intensity, and his MSW win in a one-turn mile showed he can deal with multiple threats on the front end while still having enough power left in reserve to swat away stern stretch bids.

11) CHARGE IT (c, Tapit–I'll Take Charge, by Indian Charlie) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Whisper Hill Farm (KY). T-Todd A. Pletcher. Lifetime Record: GISP, 3-1-1-0, $230,400. Last Start: 2nd GI Curlin Florida Derby. Next Start: Uncommitted. KY Derby Points: 40.

'TDN Rising Star' Charge It uncorked the type of performance in the Florida Derby that whets the appetite to see what he will do over longer distances with a little more seasoning. The open question is whether his three-race foundation is enough to launch him into contention as a ready-for-prime-time Derby horse.

This Whisper Hill Farm homebred was briefly favored prior to the closing of odds on Saturday, which is saying a lot considering the son of Tapit was making his first two-turn attempt against Grade I company. He definitely got a good schooling out of the experience–bumped out of the gate, learned how to rate while covered up under mild restraint, and ran well in spots through the lane while excusably green. But he really had to be roused by jockey Luis Saez from the far turn all the way to the wire, and he ran up on White Abarrio's heels twice in the final quarter mile while also losing momentum from repeatedly veering in and out. There were some noticeable spurts of interest through the stretch. But when you consider that four other horses had already taken turns on the lead after three consecutive sub-24-second quarter splits and a fourth quarter that devolved to :25.87, Charge It couldn't seal the deal when handed a soft :14.09 final eighth.

12) BARBER ROAD (c, Race Day–Encounter, by Southern Image) O-WSS Racing, LLC. B-Susan Forrester & Judy Curry (KY). T-John Alexander Ortiz. Sales History: $15,000 wlg '19 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: GISP, 8-2-3-1, $650,720. Last Start: 2nd GI Arkansas Derby. Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby. KY Derby Points: 58.

I'm going to lob a bomb onto the caboose of this week's Top 12 by making a case for hard-charging Barber Road, described by his trainer, John Ortiz, as a “tough little horse.”

This unsung gray by Race Day ($15,000 KEENOV) nearly always outruns his odds despite traffic woes, and his attempted takedown of the shifting and drifting leader in Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby got derailed by Barber Road's running up onto the back end of a tiring pacemaker before refocusing with grit to snatch second from the favorite–all while losing a shoe amid the chaos.

Barber Road has eight races under his belt, has run well at Churchill (a 6 1/4-length win and a second, beaten half a length), and has gained ground and position in the stretch of every race at age three. True, he hasn't won a race since Nov. 10, and then against far lesser company. But longer distances are within the scope of his pedigree, which is anchored on the bottom by damsire Southern Image, who in 2004 at age four won two Grade I routes at Triple Crown distances (the Santa Anita H. and the Pimlico Special H.) before losing by a nose in the nine-furlong GI Stephen Foster H.

On the Bubble (in alphabetical order):

Blackadder (Quality Road): An undesirable draw of post 12 scratched this $620,000 KEESEP colt out of the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway and into Saturday's Blue Grass S. at Keeneland.

Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway): Homebred for Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper has the points to get into the Derby, but not the positive momentum after his inexplicable caving to last while on the lead in the Florida Derby. Starting status for Louisville TBD.

Cyberknife (Gun Runner): High-energy colt ($400,000 FTKSEL) dislodged jockey in post parade and was four wide through first turn before getting first (and only) run on a tiring pacemaker on the far turn of the Arkansas Derby. One bid behind him fizzled, another got blocked. Veering out late while clear in 92-Beyer score over soft field.

Ethereal Road (Quality Road): D. Wayne Lukas-trained $90,000 KEESEP colt gave up four paths of ground on both turns in the slowly run Rebel S., yet led from the quarter pole until 50 yards before the wire. Because Lukas did not want to run Ethereal Road in the same race as the filly Secret Oath (Arrogate), who was third as the fave in the Arkansas Derby, this colt must travel to a much tougher spot in the Blue Grass S.

In Due Time (Not This Time): Three-time sales grad ($9,500 KEENOV; $35,000 KEESEP; $95,000 OBSAPR) owns 20 qualifying points (ranked 27th) based on second in Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S.

Morello (Classic Empire): Undefeated, 96-Beyer GIII Gotham S. victor ($140,000 KEENOV; $200,000 FTKSEL; $250,000 EASMAY) gets two turns for the first time in Wood Memorial. Will he hook up on the front end with Early Voting?

Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb): Runner-up in GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (FTKSEL $330,000) and winner of two subsequent Turfway stakes on Tapeta surface was declared a “go” for the Derby by trainer Kenny McPeek on Monday.

The post TDN Kentucky Derby Top 12 for Apr. 5 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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