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Essential Quality Extends His Lead In NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll

Undefeated Essential Quality, fresh off a determined victory in the Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 3, maintained the top spot in this week's National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll.

Trained by Brad Cox and bred and owned by Godolphin LLC, Essential Quality ran his record to five for five in the Blue Grass. The Eclipse Award-winning two-year-old male of 2020, Essential Quality received 31 first-place votes and 371 points in this week's poll. He is expected to make his next start in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on May 1. Concert Tour, winner of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, remained in second place for the second consecutive week with five first place votes and 319 points. Concert Tour, bred and owned by Gary and Mary West and trained by Bob Baffert, is expected to be favored in this Saturday's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. Hot Rod Charlie, winner of the Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby on March 20, was third in the poll with one first place vote and 239 points.

Rock Your World, frontrunning winner of Saturday's Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby in California at odds of 5-1, moved up to fourth in the NTRA poll with 238 points. Rock Your World, who was bred by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and his wife Deborah, was making his first start on the dirt following two victories on the turf. Rock Your World is owned by Hronis Racing of brothers Kosta and Pete Hronis and Michael Talla's Talla Racing. St. Elias Stable's Known Agenda, winner of the Curlin Florida Derby on March 27, rounded out the top five in this week's poll with 233 points.

Greatest Honour, beaten favorite in the Florida Derby, was sixth in this week's poll with 160 points. Klaravich Stables Inc.'s Highly Motivated, a game second behind Essential Quality in the Blue Grass, was seventh in this week's poll with 151 points. Medina Spirit, beaten favorite in the Santa Anita Derby, was eighth in the poll with 96 points. Life is Good, who is sidelined with an injury and will miss the Triple Crown, was ninth with 69 points, followed by Midnight Bourbon with 35 points.

A Godolphin homebred, Mystic Guide, also retained the top spot in this week's NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, which saw no change to the top seven placings. Mystic Guide, winner of the Dubai World Cup, remained in the top spot with 24 first place votes and 346 points. Charlatan was second in the voting with seven first-place votes and 320 points. Two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl (six first-place votes, 306 points) remained in third place, followed by Eclipse Champion filly Swiss Skydiver (1 first-place vote, 248 points) and Knicks Go (225 points).

Grade 1 winner Colonel Liam remained in sixth place with 188 points and Idol remained in seventh place with 113 points. The lone change in the top 10 saw Eclipse Champion Gamine jump from 10th to eighth place with 93 points. Maxfield (57 points) and Shedaresthedevil (37 points) rounded out the top 10.

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred polls are the sport's most comprehensive surveys of experts. Every week eligible journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. All horses that have raced in the U.S., are in training in the U.S., or are known to be pointing to a major event in the U.S. are eligible for the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. Voting in the Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll concludes following the Belmont Stakes on June 5 and the Top Thoroughbred Poll is scheduled to be conducted through November 6.

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Kentucky Derby: Limited Infield-Only Tickets Go On Sale Wednesday At Noon

A limited number of Infield-only General Admission tickets for the April 30 Longines Kentucky Oaks and May 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve will go on sale at 12 p.m. EST on Wednesday at www.kentuckyderby.com/tickets/2021-derby-week-tickets.

“The Kentucky Derby experience is synonymous with fun and excitement and we're thrilled to welcome fans back to our Infield,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson. “We remain committed to relying on the most recent scientific evidence we have surrounding COVID-19, and with Kentucky Derby Week three weeks away, we are encouraged by the favorable trajectory. In addition to a low positivity rate, Kentucky's vaccination efforts have reached approximately 40 percent of adult Kentuckians with every indication that those numbers will continue to rapidly increase over the coming weeks leading into this year's Derby.”

Derby Day Infield-only General Admission tickets, which will not have access to the Frontside of the venue, are $75 if purchased prior to April 18; $80 if purchased between April 19-30; and $85 if purchased on Derby Day. Oaks Day Infield-only General Admission tickets, which will not have access to the Frontside of the venue, are $55 if purchased prior to April 18; $60 if purchased between April 19-29; and $65 if purchased on Oaks Day.

Two-day Infield-only General Admission tickets for both Oaks and Derby are $120 if purchased prior to April 18 or $135 if purchased between April 19-29.

An official program is included with all tickets.

Guests who purchase Infield-only General Admission tickets must enter Churchill Downs through the Infield Admission Gate at Central Avenue and Fourth Street. The Infield-only General Admission tickets will not have access to the Frontside of the venue.

General Admission guests will have access to food and beverage options for purchase at Infield concession stands. Infield guests will also have designated restrooms and wagering windows.

Additional ticket inventory to Oaks and Derby is also available, including uncovered reserved bleacher seating in the First Turn; uncovered reserved box seating for six in the Infield; and First and Second Floor Grandstand reserved seats. All reserved seats include all-inclusive food, non-alcoholic beverages and alcoholic beverages.

As previously announced, reserved seats are limited to approximately 40 to 50 percent of seated capacity. General Admission ticket sales will be limited to approximately 25 to 30 percent of Infield capacity.

The 147^th runnings of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks and $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve will be held on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1, respectively.

Guests with tickets who are unable to attend the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks or other events can utilize the Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange, the official fan-to-fan resale marketplace and only authorized resale platform, to resell tickets. The Official Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange allows guests to resell tickets, charge face value or above and guarantee authenticity through Ticketmaster verified tickets.

Notification of the availability of additional tickets to Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks will be made by way of email and social media. Fans are encouraged to subscribe to the Kentucky Derby's email distribution list online at https://www.kentuckyderby.com/tickets/newsletter-signup and follow @KentuckyDerby on social media to stay updated on any changes to ticket availability.

Those interested in attending Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks can also visit Derby Experiences, the Kentucky Derby's Official Experience Package Partner, to explore a variety of packages combining Derby and Oaks seats with access to exclusive lounges, VIP Fast Access passes, hotel and transportation accommodations and more. Information is available online at www.derbyexperiences.com/kentucky-derby-2021.

Churchill Downs ticket options are available for other popular Derby Week events: Opening Night presented by Budweiser (Saturday, April 24); Dawn at the Downs (Sunday, April 25 and Monday, April 26); Champions Day presented by TwinSpires (Tuesday, April 27); and Thurby presented by Old Forester (Thursday, April 29).

In addition to Kentucky Derby Week, tickets are on sale for the entire 2021 Spring Meet, which covers 38 dates from Saturday, April 24 through Saturday, June 26.

Notable Spring Meet events and dates include Twilight Thursdays (Thursdays, May 6-June 24); Mother's Day (Sunday, May 9); Preakness Stakes Simulcast (Saturday, May 15); Sunday Brunch (Sundays, May 16-June 20); Downs After Dark presented by Budweiser (Saturdays, May 22 and June 12); Stephen Foster Preview Day (Saturday, May 29); Memorial Day (Monday, May 31); Teacher Appreciation Day (Thursday, June 3); Belmont Stakes Simulcast (Saturday, June 5); Flag Day Observance (Sunday, June 13); Father's Day (Sunday, June 20); and Stephen Foster Day/Closing Day (Saturday, June 26).

Churchill Downs will continue to rely on proven health and safety protocols and operate within the guidance of state health officials as well as the CDC. Information regarding Churchill Downs' Health & Safety plan for Kentucky Derby 2021 can be found at www.kentuckyderby.com/tickets/ticket-options/updates.

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Julien Leparoux To Ride Helium In Kentucky Derby

Jockey Julien Leparoux will be aboard Tampa Bay Derby winner Helium in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, the Daily Racing Form reported Monday. Jose Ferrer rode the colt to victory at Tampa.

Trained by Mark Casse, the 3-year-old son of Ironicus is undefeated in three career starts, including two over the synthetic main track at Woodbine Racecourse last year. Helium provided a 15-1 upset in the Tampa Bay Derby, his first start of 2021, when defeated Hidden Stash (who returned to run fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes) by three quarters of a length.

Helium will ship to Kentucky this week, Casse said.

Out of the Thunder Gulch mare Thundering Emilia, Helium was a $55,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. He is raced by D. J. Stable.

Cox, Juddmonte Keeping Derby On The Table For Risen Star Winner Mandaloun

On a brisk Spring morning beneath the historic Twin Spires, Juddmonte Farm's Risen Star (Grade 2) winner Mandaloun started his serious preparation toward the first Saturday in May with a half-mile breeze Saturday in :49.80 under jockey Florent Geroux.

Trained by Brad Cox, Mandaloun was the highly-touted 6-5 favorite in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) but finished a disappointing sixth behind eventual winner Hot Rod Charlie. The Into Mischief colt worked outside of Louisiana-bred stakes winner Australasia through a moderate :25.40 opening quarter-mile fraction. The duo galloped out together through five furlongs in 1:02.60 and completed the work with a six-furlong time of 1:16.40, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“There really wasn't an excuse in the Louisiana Derby,” Cox said. “I hate to use the cliché of drawing a line through the race, but that is what we are doing. At the half-mile pole, he really didn't continue to put himself into the race and was out of gas. We had high hopes, obviously, that he would run better in that race. We talked it over with the folks from Juddmonte and if he continues to train well, we are going to pursue the Derby.”

Moments before Mandaloun's work, Cox's top $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender Travel Column breezed a half-mile in :48.60. She began the work with a :24.60 quarter-mile time and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.

Other stars that recorded works Saturday morning at Churchill Downs included 2020 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Swiss Skydiver, who worked a half-mile in :48 under jockey Robby Albarado and undefeated Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) hero Aunt Pearl, who worked a half-mile in :48.60 under Geroux.

Training hours at Churchill Downs will switch Monday to the normal 5:30-10 a.m. (all times Eastern) with two renovation breaks from 7-7:30 a.m. and 8:30-9 a.m. Weather permitting, turf training is scheduled to begin on April 18 from 9:30-10 a.m. every Sunday and Tuesday.

Special 7:30-7:45 a.m. training for Oaks and Derby contenders will begin Saturday, April 17.

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