Tag: Tim Yakteen

Kentucky Derby Report: Eventful Thursday Morning Beneath the Twin Spires

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With no shortage of racing fans, horsemen and media lined up along the outer rail, the Churchill Downs backstretch got awfully quiet in a hurry as Verifying (Justify) lost his exercise rider leaving the five-eighths marker during Thursday morning's special training session for GI Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.

A big tip of the cap goes out to outriders Greg Blasi and Lee Lockwood, who did a fantastic job of apprehending the GI Blue Grass S. runner-up at the quarter pole.

Trainer Brad Cox later reported that Verifying was in fine form following the mishap and remains on target for the Derby.

The siren went off for a second time just moments later as last term's GI TVG Del Mar Debutante S. heroine And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate) beelined for her current digs at Barn 24 after rearing up and losing her rider exiting the track. Trainer Peter Miller said that all was O.K. with the 15-1 Kentucky Oaks longshot afterwards.

Practical Move (Practical Joke)–the subject of plenty chatter after just jogging the past few days–made his presence felt while out for a routine gallop. Nearly six hours later, however, trainer Tim Yakteen broke the gut-punching news that Practical Move would be scratched from the Derby due to an elevated temperature. Really doesn't get much rougher than that.

On a much lighter note, it was business as usual for Todd Pletcher's imposing trio of Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite Forte (Violence), unbeaten Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) and Tapit Trice (Tapit), who all galloped a mile and three eighths at 7:30 a.m.

If anyone stood out on the sunsplashed morning during Thursday's trackwork, it had to be the stunning chestnut Disarm (Gun Runner). He just couldn't be looking any more locked and loaded for the first Saturday in May.

With the late defections of Practical Move and the Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained Lord Miles (Curlin), Cyclone Mischief (Into Mischief) and Mandarin Hero (Jpn) (Shanghai Bobby) have drawn into the body of the Derby field.

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Practical Move Scratched From Kentucky Derby

Leslie and Pierre Amestoy and Roger Beasley's Practical Move (Practical Joke) will be scratched from GI Kentucky Derby 149 due to an elevated temperature, according to trainer Tim Yakteen.

With the scratch of Practical Move, Albaugh Family Stables' Cyclone Mischief (Into Mischief), who is trained by Dale Romans, will draw into the field and break from the outside post 20, but his program number will remain the same as No. 21, Churchill Downs said in a release on Thursday afternoon.

“You have to be in it to win it,” Romans said by phone, who drew in after the defection. “I feel bad for Tim and all the connections. They have such a good horse. But I'm glad to be in the race. I think he's got a shot. Speed is dangerous and I think he's the speed of the race. I don't think the 20 hole will bother him because he'll come out of there running and get in good position in the first turn and, from there, we'll see what happens.” Cyclone Mischief's normal jockey, Joel Rosario, has already committed to Disarm (Gun Runner), and Romans said there had been no decision yet on a replacement. “We'll have to see who is available.”

All other horse's program numbers will also remain the same but those who were drawn outside Practical Move will break from one gate to their inside.

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Kentucky Derby 149 Early Impressions: Dr. Barry Eisaman on Practical Move

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – TDN Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of leading GI Kentucky Derby contenders to get their 'Early Impressions.'

After pairing up matching 100 Beyer Speed Figures for trainer Tim Yakteen while capturing the GII San Felipe S. and GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, Practical Move (Practical Joke) has firmly established himself as the best of the west heading into the Kentucky Derby.

Last term's GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner brought $230,000 from owners Leslie and Pierre Amestoy and Roger Beasley out of the Eisaman Equine consignment (:10 1/5 breezer) as an OBS April 2-year-old.

“We first met him not long after the Keeneland yearling sale and he came to us to break for his breeders with the intent of selling him at the OBS sales,” Dr. Barry Eisaman said.

“He was a different type of horse than many Practical Jokes that we've had. He was bigger than most and had a really laid-back personality. He had a two-turn physique look to him. He learned all his early lessons very well and was an ideal pupil. When we started doing any little bit of speed work, he would have plenty of speed and displayed it effortlessly. Whenever a little speed drill for the day would be over, he would just drop his head and head back to the barn oozing class and intelligence. He displayed a lot of speed and had an exceptionally good gallop out at the sale.”

Bred in Kentucky by four-time Eclipse Award winning-trainer Chad Brown and Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners, Practical Move previously RNA'd for $90,000 as a KEESEP yearling. He is one of 15 graded winners for young sire Practical Joke and is out of the grassy, multiple stakes-placed Afleet Alex mare Ack Naughty. She brought $500,000 from Chester and Mary Broman in foal to Upstart earlier this year at Keeneland January.

“He's out of an Afleet Alex mare,” Eisaman said. “I'm thinking that part of his gene pool could favor him giving him the ability to get Classic distances, hopefully. Tim's done a fantastic job with him. The horse really seems to have winning on his mind. He's been pretty courageous.”

Champion I'll Have Another (Flower Alley), the 2012 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. winner, was also a product of the Eisamans. He brought $35,000 from agent Dennis O'Neill on behalf of Reddam Racing out of the Eisaman Equine consignment at the OBS April 2-year-old sale.

Runaway GIII Gotham S. winner Raise Cain (Violence) will give the Eisamans two chances at a second Kentucky Derby win. The Andrew and Rania Warren colorbearer was broken by the Eisamans and RNA'd for $65,000 from their consignment at last year's OBS June 2-year-old sale. Bred in Kentucky by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, he was produced by a Lemon Drop Kid half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic heroine Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song). Raise Cain was previously a $180,000 KEESEP yearling.

“We'll have two chances,” Eisaman said. “It's a lot of fun. We decided years ago not to have a racing stable. We're service providers to some of the largest racing outfits in the country. When we have horses that we sell, we want them all to do wonderful things for the people that buy them. It's really rewarding and fun and we couldn't be happier for all these connections.”

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Champion Forte Draws Post 15 for Kentucky Derby, Tabbed as 3-1 Favorite

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There was very little suspense during Monday afternoon's GI Kentucky Derby post position draw held in the Aristides Lounge at Churchill Downs as Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's champion 2-year-old colt and 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) immediately kicked things off by drawing very well on the outside in post 15.

Tabbed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the full field of 20, last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner overcame more than his share of adversity beneath regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. while punching his ticket to Louisville with a valiant win in the GI Curlin Florida Derby. Only Street Sense and Nyquist have pulled off the Breeders' Cup Juvenile-Kentucky Derby double so far.

Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher will also saddle GI Blue Grass S. winner and fellow 'Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit), the second choice on the morning line at 5-1 (post five); and unbeaten GII Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) (post six; 12-1).

The latter will look to win the Derby in just his career fourth start, a feat previously accomplished by dual Classic winner Big Brown in 2008 and subsequent Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018.

“I'm good with all of them,” Pletcher said. “Good draws. We're very happy with it.”

Trainer Brad Cox, extremely well-represented by GI Kentucky Oaks morning-line favorite Wet Paint (Blame) and second-choice Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro) in Friday's feature, will also have a fantastic shot in the Derby. Cox will have four chances for a second Derby victory including: GI Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) (post 14; 8-1); game Blue Grass runner-up Verifying (Justify) (post two; 15-1); Louisiana Derby third and 'Rising Star' Jace's Road (Quality Road) (post 12; 15-1); and narrow GII Wood Memorial S. runner-up Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) (post one; 30-1).

The Oaks/Derby double has only been pulled off three previous times by Herbert J. Thompson in 1933 with Brokers Tip (May 6 Derby) and Barn Swallow (May 20 Oaks); Ben Jones in 1949 with Wistful (May 6 Oaks) and Ponder (May 7 Derby); and Jones again in 1952 with Real Delight (May 2 Oaks) and Hill Gail (May 3 Derby).

The Louisville-born Cox won the 2021 Kentucky Derby via disqualification with Mandaloun.

“Hit Show, it's OK,” Cox said. “We'll live with it. We have to. He's doing great. Manny [Franco] is obviously going to have to work out a trip from down in there. Same thing with Verifying. Tyler [Gaffalione] rides Verifying and both riders are going to have to find a way into the first turn. Angel of Empire, I think it's a good draw. Flavien [Prat] will be able to break running and get a good spot mid-pack. That's what I'm envisioning. Jace's Road will probably be more forwardly placed as opposed to Angel of Empire. Hopefully, he can get himself up into the mix.”

Practical Move (Practical Joke), listed at 10-1 on the morning-line, will exit from post 10 following three straight victories in Southern California, led by a nose decision in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Trainer Tim Yakteen will also tighten the girth on Arkansas Derby third Reincarnate (Good Magic) (post seven; 50-1).

Drawn on the outside, G2 UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) (post 17; 10-1) and UAE Derby third Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong) (post 20; 50-1) will both fly the flag for Japan.

The 1 1/4-mile Classic for 3-year-olds will go as the 12th race on Saturday's 14-race Derby Day program with a 6:57 p.m. post time.

From the rail out, the complete field for the Kentucky Derby with morning-line odds:

1-Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) (30-1)

2-Verifying (Justify) (15-1)

3-Two Phil's (Hard Spun) (12-1)

4-Confidence Game (Candy Ride {Arg}) (20-1)

5-Tapit Trice (Tapit) (5-1)

6-Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) (12-1)

7-Reincarnate (Good Magic) (50-1)

8-Mage (Good Magic) (15-1)

9-Skinner (Curlin) (20-1)

10-Practical Move (Practical Joke) (10-1)

11-Disarm (Gun Runner) (30-1)

12-Jace's Road (Quality Road) (15-1)

13-Sun Thunder (Into Mischief) (30-1)

14-Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) (8-1)

15-Forte (Violence) (3-1)

16-Raise Cain (Violence) (15-1)

17-Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) (10-1)

18-Rocket Can (Into Mischief) (15-1)

19-Lord Miles (Curlin) (30-1)

20-Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong) (50-1)

Also-Eligibles: Cyclone Mischief (Into Mischief) (30-1); Mandarin Hero (Jpn) (Shanghai Bobby) (20-1); and King Russell (Creative Cause) (50-1).

All starters will carry 126 pounds.

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