The statement in the overnights read:

“Out of an abundance of caution, there will be no turf racing at Churchill Downs through the remainder of the meet because the course has not satisfactorily responded to this fall's climate. Grass racing will resume next spring when the conditions become more optimum. As a result, there will be no turf entries taken for races scheduled to be run on turf from Nov. 25-29. All scheduled turf races in the condition book during this time period will be transferred to the main track and entries taken for the same conditions will be dirt only. Additionally, the $100,000 Cardinal (GIII) and $100,000 River City (GIII) will be put on hiatus this year.”

The announcement brings to a close what has already been a tumultuous fall meet for the Churchill Downs turf course. The track announced on Nov. 14 that it would be moving its turf races to the main track through Nov. 22. Races had already been taken off the turf on Nov. 13, and the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes was automatically downgraded to a Grade 3 when it was moved to the main track, and subject to review by the American Graded Stakes Committee for reinstatement to its original level.

The last turf race at Churchill Downs was the ninth race on Nov. 12, marred by the fatal injury to Grade 1 stakes-placed Winning Impression, who took a bad step at the finish and sustained a catastrophic leg injury as he was being pulled up.

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Races scheduled on the turf course on Friday and Saturday were moved to the main track, including Saturday's Mrs. Revere Stakes, designated Grade 2 as a turf race but automatically downgraded to Grade 3 and subject to review by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

“Out of an abundance of caution, there will be no turf racing at Churchill Downs through Sunday, Nov. 22, because the course has not satisfactorily responded to this fall's climate,” the statement said. “Our team will continue to evaluate the course daily and grass racing will resume should the conditions become more optimum. As a result there will be no turf entries taken for races scheduled to be run on turf from Nov. 19-22. All scheduled turf races in the condition book during this time period will be transferred to the main track and entries taken for the same conditions will be dirt only.”

The last turf race at Churchill Downs was the ninth race on Thursday, marred by the fatal injury to Grade 1 stakes-placed Winning Impression, who took a bad step at the finish and sustained a catastrophic leg injury as he was being pulled up.

Churchill Downs has two more graded stakes scheduled on turf before the meet ends Nov. 29: the Grade 3 Cardinal on Nov. 26 and G3 River City on Nov. 27.

Keeneland reduced the use of its turf course during the fall race meeting because of weather issues in advance of the Lexington, Ky., track hosting the Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup championships.

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“There will be no turf entries taken for races scheduled to be run on turf from Nov. 19-22. All scheduled turf races in the condition book during this time period will be transferred to the main track and entries taken for the same conditions will be dirt only.”

Churchill was also off the turf on Friday. On Thursday, 2020 GI Kentucky Derby competitor Winning Impression reportedly broke down after finishing third in a turf allowance and was subsequently euthanized.

The Churchill fall meet will conclude on Sunday, Nov. 29.

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The 3-year-old son of Paynter was making his first start since the Derby, and rallied from well off the pace to finish third before bobbling near the wire. The Dallas Stewart trainee was pulled up around the turn and vanned off the course, but Winning Impression was unable to be saved.

“Sesamoid too damaged for us to save him,” said West Point's Terry Finley in a text message. “Simply heartbroken for everyone involved with this very cool horse.”

Read more at bloodhorse.com.

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To read previous editions of The Haiku Handicapper, click here.

#2 – Max Player
Can't knock his hustle
Don't love the late-game barn change
Should gain some ground late

#3 – Enforceable
Looked good at Fair Grounds
But fell off the map quickly
Blue-blood would surprise

#4 – Storm the Court
How many horses
Finish third at Thistledown
Then win the Derby?

#5 – Major Fed
A fine Grade 3-type
Punching against heavyweights
Tricky assignment

#7 – Money Moves
One start in six months
An optional claimer loss
This guy's pocket change

#8 – South Bend
Which will be longer:
Touchdown Jesus's wingspan
Or lengths off winner?

#9 – Mr. Big News
First-class pedigree
Exit-row coach race record
Minor check at best

#10 – Thousand Words
His ship's been righted
Knocking around four-horse fields
What's his true level?

#11 – Necker Island
A wonderful claim
Who's lost to a lot of these
He'd be an upset

#12 – Sole Volante
Churchill plays turfy
Which might be his best surface
A player, if he's right

#13 – Attachment Rate
Has some wins in him
Don't reckon this'll be one
He'll grow up nicely

#14 – Winning Impression
A pair of sevenths
Never held back Dallas Stewart
From trying longshots

#15 – Ny Traffic
Loves to run second
Pack animal tendencies
Wait for a mile race

#16 – Honor A. P.
Mike Smith had options
This one got the final rose
Serious win threat

#17 – Tiz the Law
All that's left to do
Is avenge his Churchill loss
And he's a man now

#18 – Authentic
Nail-biting Haskell
Begs the question if he peaked
For the May Derby

Prediction
Long-awaited bout
“Law” staves off Honor A. P.
Twelve and two follow

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Pedigree analysis for the rest of the Kentucky Derby field can be found below.

• Tiz the Law, Authentic, Honor A. P., and Ny Traffic
• Thousand Words and South Bend
• Storm the Court, Attachment Rate, and Sole Volante
• Max Player, Enforceable, Major Fed, and Mr. Big News

Winning Impression
Paynter x Unbridled Sonya, by Unbridled's Song
Paynter is best known for his dramatic comeback from a life-threatening illness, but he was also a decorated two-turn runner. His biggest win came in the G1 Haskell Invitational Stakes at 1 1/8 miles, and he finished second in the 2012 Belmont Stakes. At age four, he turned in runner-up efforts in the G1 Awesome Again Stakes (1 1/8 miles) and G2 San Diego Handicap (1 1/16 miles).

He has an average progeny winning distance of 6.95 furlongs, putting him in the lower-mid pack among this year's Derby sires. His star runner is Knicks Go, who won the G1 Breeders' Futurity and finished second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, both at 1 1/16 miles. Lazy Daisy took the G2 Pocahontas Stakes at the same distance. Ms Peintour has arguably done the most to boost her sire's distance credentials, notching a win in the G3 Astra Stakes going 1 1/2 miles over the turf.

Winning Impression would be Paynter's first Derby starter.

Unbridled Sonya went one-for-nine during her racing career, graduating in her second start, a Belmont Park maiden special weight going 7 furlongs on the turf.

She is also the dam of Queen Arella, a 2-year-old of 2020 who became the first winner for sire Speightster when she took a 5 furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park. Unbridled Sonya was sold to continue her broodmare career in Korea at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Necker Island
Hard Spun x Jenny's Rocket, by Mr. Greeley
Hard Spun finished second in his own Kentucky Derby try in 2007, but he proved himself to be a versatile runner, taking the G1 King's Bishop Stakes at 7 furlongs and the G2 Lane's End Stakes and Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. He also finished second in the Breeders' Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles.

His own foals post an average winning distance of 7.64 furlongs, which is near the top of the list for this year's Derby sires. His most notable runner on the classic stage is Wicked Strong, who won the G1 Wood Memorial Stakes at 1 1/8 miles en route to finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

Stonestreet Farm homebred Jenny's Rocket went winless in four career starts in South Florida, but she was never worse than third in any of those efforts, all of them around one turn.

The two foals to race out of Jenny's Rocket are both winners. Joining Necker Island is the Super Saver colt In the Loop, who won on debut in a six-furlong Gulfstream Park maiden special weight, and later won a waiver claiming race at Belmont Park at the same distance.

Money Moves
Candy Ride x Citizen Advocate, by Proud Citizen
Candy Ride was a turf star in his native Argentina, taking a pair of Group 1 races at a mile. He then moved to Southern California where he proved his mettle on both surfaces, winning the G1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on the dirt, and the G2 American Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.

Those looking for Candy Ride's classic credentials as a sire need look no further than 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby, and went on to win six G1 races, including the Breeders' Cup Classic and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes. Champion Shared Belief was also a Pacific Classic winner at the same distance as his sire. Game Winner ran a solid fifth in last year's Derby.

Citizen Advocate rolled off a diverse four-race winning streak as a 2-year-old, breaking her maiden at six furlongs on the dirt, then taking the Catcharisingstar Stakes over five furlongs on the turf at Calder Race Course. She then won at 6 furlongs over the all-weather Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs before shipping to Delta Downs to win the My Trusty Cat Stakes over 7 furlongs.

She never won again, but she finished second or third in five additional stakes races in Florida and Louisiana, highlighted by a runner-up effort in the G3 Azalea Stakes at 6 furlongs. Her longest black-type earning effort came at 7 1/2 furlongs over the turf.

Money Moves is the second starter out of Citizen Advocate, joining Remarqued, a daughter of Arch who was a maiden special weight winner at Saratoga, going 1 mile on the turf.

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Also working toward the Derby were Winning Impression (5 furlongs in :59.20), Major Fed (5 furlongs in :59), Necker Island (4 furlongs in :48.40) and Rushie (5 furlongs in 1:01.60).

Working toward the Oaks were Speech (4 furlongs in :47.60), Shedaresthedevil (5 furlongs in 1:01.40), Bonny South (4 furlongs in :48.20) and Tempers Rising (4 furlongs in :47).

There were also Derby hopefuls working at Saratoga and Palm Meadows Friday morning.

At Saratoga, Ny Traffic covered five furlongs in :59.45; Dr Post (4 furlongs in :49.60) and Money Moves (5 furlongs in 1:00.14). At Palm Meadows, Sole Volante worked five furlongs on firm turf in :57.80.

On the Oaks front, four other fillies worked from coast to coast.

Donna Veloce worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 at Del Mar; Dream Marie worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 at Gulfstream Park West; Hopeful Growth worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 at Monmouth; and, Project Whiskey worked a half-mile in :47.82 at Parx.

ART COLLECTOR – Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector put in his final work prior to next Saturday's Kentucky Derby with a five-furlong move in 1:00.80 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle.

“He really loves this track here at Churchill,” trainer Tommy Drury said. “He galloped pretty strong yesterday on his first day back at Churchill and turned in a really strong work today. The difficult part is out of the way and now we just need to keep him happy and healthy until Saturday.”

Owned by Louisville native Lunsford, Art Collector brings many local ties together for the first Saturday in September.

“It's really an honor being local to Kentucky, training for a local owner and running in the biggest horse race in the world,” Drury said.

ATTACHMENT RATE – Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's $200,000 Ellis Park Derby runner-up Attachment Rate galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Faustino Herrarte at 7:30 a.m. Friday.

Attachment Rate is scheduled to work on Sunday. Trainer Dale Romans is due back in Louisville Saturday from Saratoga.

AUTHENTIC – Spendthrift Farm LLC, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Starlight Racing's $1 million Haskell (GI) winner Authentic is scheduled to arrive Monday at Churchill Downs.

CARACARO – Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing's $1 million Travers Stakes (GI) runner-up Caracaro has been removed from Kentucky Derby contention with a soft tissue injury, according to trainer Gustavo Delgado.

DR POST – St. Elias Stable's Haskell third-place finisher Dr Post worked a half-mile in :49.60 Friday at Saratoga. His plans for the Derby remain in question.

ENFORCEABLE – John Oxley's Enforceable galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Paolo Perez at 5:40 Friday morning at Churchill Downs.

The Mark Casse trainee is scheduled to work at 5:15 Saturday morning, weather permitting, with Derby rider Adam Beschizza scheduled to be aboard.

FINNICK THE FIERCE – Trainer and co-owner Rey Hernandez said Finnick the Fierce returned to the track Friday at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington. He will ship to Churchill Downs on Monday.

FIRST LINE – Noda Brothers' Saratoga maiden special weight winner First Line no longer remains under consideration for the Derby according to vice president of racing Ben Huffman.

HONOR A. P. – C R K Stable's $100,000 Shared Belief runner-up Honor A. P. is scheduled to work Saturday at 12:45 p.m. PDT at Del Mar and slated to arrive at Churchill Downs Monday.

KING GUILLERMO – Victoria's Ranch's King Guillermo galloped 1 ½ miles Friday at 7:30 a.m. with exercise rider Edgar Medina in the saddle. He is scheduled to breeze Saturday or Sunday at 7:30 a.m. pending inclement weather.

Owner Victor Martinez is due in Louisville Saturday.

MAJOR FED – Lloyd Madison Farm's $300,000 Indiana Derby (GIII) runner-up Major Fed cruised five furlongs in :59 at 5:15 a.m. with jockey James Graham in the saddle.

Trained by Greg Foley, Major Fed began his work at the half-mile pole and clipped through early fractions of :12.20, :23.80 and :47. He continued around the turn and completed a six-furlong gallop out in 1:12.

“I wanted to put a good work in him this morning and focus on making sure he finished through the wire,” Foley said. “He was moving pretty good around there. James tapped him on the shoulder once and he lowered his body to continue galloping out well. The big relief was how easy he seemed to do it because back at the barn he really wasn't tired.

“We're sort of taking in this entire Derby experience. Being from Kentucky and Churchill being our home track, this is the race every owner, trainer and jockey dreams of winning. This is why we put in the hard work. I always thought about making that walkover for the Derby and it's sure going to be special for me, our family, our owners and everyone in our barn.”

Major Fed will have a walk day Saturday and could return to the track for a light jog Sunday.

MAX PLAYER – George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbred's $1 million Travers Stakes (GI) third-place finisher Max Player galloped 1 ½ miles at 6 a.m. with exercise rider Juan Vargas in the saddle.

Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. will have the call in the Derby.

MONEY MOVES – Robert LaPenta and Bortolazzo Stable's two-time winner Money Moves still remains under Derby consideration according to assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator Dan Bork.

Money Moves worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 Friday at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher. He is nominated to the $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU (GII).

NECKER ISLAND – Raymond Daniels and Wayne Scherr's Necker Island worked a half-mile in company in :48.40 under jockey Miguel Mena during the 7:30 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.

Working with Kurilov, Necker Island posted fractions of :12.60, :25 and :36.60 before galloping out strong to the half-mile pole.

“I thought it was a great work and it was the first time Miguel had been on him,” trainer Chris Hartman said. “He finished well and other than the little hiccup at the start with the '25' it was exactly what I wanted to see.”

It was the first work for Necker Island since finishing third behind Art Collector in the Ellis Park Derby.

Hartman said Necker Island would walk the shedrow the next two days and then return to the track Monday with a likely visit to the starting gate.

“I may stand him at the gate every day,” said Hartman, who claimed Necker Island for $100,000 in June. “We'll play it by ear and see how he participates. That's one of the things about training horses, learning to work with them.”

NY TRAFFIC – John Fanelli, Cash is King and Paul Braverman's Ny Traffic worked five furlongs in :59.45 at Saratoga under David Cohen for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

“He went in company and sat a few lengths off his target,” Joseph said via text. “He went on by readily and worked well.”

Ny Traffic is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Monday.

RUSHIE – Jim and Donna Daniell's Rushie worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 under exercise rider Osman Cedeno for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Working on his own at 9 o'clock, Rushie produced fractions of :12.80 and :24.80 in the work that was the 26th fastest of 36 at the distance.

“He worked (five furlongs) in :59 last week at Del Mar and today looked like a good leg stretcher with a solid gallop out,” McCarthy said. “He got over the track well and was well within himself.”

Rushie, who would have to be supplemented to the Derby, also is under consideration for the $500,000 Pat Day Mile Presented by LG&E and KU on Derby Day.

“I'm not sure (about which race),” McCarthy said. “The money doesn't have to be in until Tuesday morning so we will watch things the next 24 to 48 hours and get the Daniells and go from there.

“This is the kind of year to take a shot. You have two very good horses in Tiz the Law and Art Collector and then there is Authentic and Honor A. P. and then everybody else is in the same boat. I think he will get a good setup in both races … there is a lot to think about.”

SHIRL'S SPEIGHT – Charles Fipke's $100,000 Marine Stakes winner Shirl's Speight is scheduled to work at Woodbine Sunday and ship to Churchill Downs Monday, according to trainer Roger Attfield

SOLE VOLANTE – Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone's Soul Volante worked a half-mile on firm turf in :57.80 Friday morning at Palm Meadows.

“He breezed really well and cooled out perfect,” trainer Patrick Biancone said via text. “He will ship to Churchill Downs tomorrow.”

STORM THE COURT – David A Bernsen LLC, Exline-Border Racing LLC, Dan Hudock and Susanna Wilson's 2-year-old champion Storm the Court is slated to arrive at Churchill Downs Sunday on a flight from San Diego to Louisville. He is scheduled to work Saturday at Del Mar.

Julien Leparoux has the call in the Derby.

THOUSAND WORDS – Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift Farm's Shared Belief Stakes hero Thousand Words is scheduled to arrive Monday with stablemate Authentic to trainer Bob Baffert's Barn 33 at Churchill Downs.

Florent Geroux has the call in the Derby.

TIZ THE LAW – Sackatoga Stable's Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law is scheduled to breeze Saturday or Sunday at Saratoga before his Monday arrival at Churchill Downs.

WINNING IMPRESSION – West Point Thoroughbreds' and Pearl Racing's graded stakes placed Winning Impression worked five furlongs in :59.20 Friday morning at 6 o'clock under exercise rider Emerson Chavez.

“I thought he really cruised around there well,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “We're ready to go. You got to be in it to win it.”

Winning Impression rocketed through early fractions of :11.80, :23.40, :34.60 and 47 and completed a six-furlong gallop out in 1:12.60. Joe Rocco Jr. has the call in the Derby.

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The speedy King Guillermo has turned heads in his morning training led by his flashy :58.20 five-furlong move last Saturday. He is scheduled to work once prior to the Sept. 5 race.

“I think he's really enjoying being in Kentucky,” said the Venezuelan-native Avila, who emigrated to the U.S. in 2018. “We're very happy with how he's taken to the track and his workouts the last two weeks.”

Prior to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks training window, Lloyd Madison Farm's Major Fed galloped 1 ½ miles at 5:15 a.m. under exercise rider Margarito Fierro. Trained by Greg Foley, the $300,000 Indiana Derby (GIII) runner-up is scheduled to have his final breeze on Friday. Approximately 45 minutes following Major Fed's gallop, West Point Thoroughbreds and Pearl Racing's $600,000 Arkansas Derby (GI) third-place finisher Winning Impression had a light 1 ½-mile gallop with trainer Dallas Stewart's exercise rider Emerson Chavez in the saddle.

Raymond Daniels and Wayne Scherr's graded stakes placed Necker Island had his normal 1 ½-mile gallop at 7:30 a.m. under Hillary Hartman. Trainer Chris Hartman reported Necker Island is scheduled to have one work prior to the Derby with jockey Miguel Mena in the saddle.

Several Kentucky Derby contenders have yet to converge on Churchill Downs but are scheduled to arrive in the upcoming week. The following is the latest arrival information, according to senior director of the stable area Steve Hargrave:

• Tuesday via flight from San Diego (approximately 12:30 p.m. ET at Barn 40): Rushie (Michael McCarthy)
• Wednesday or Thursday via van from Skylight Training Center to Churchill Downs: Art Collector (trainer Tommy Drury)
• Sunday via flight from New York: Caracaro (Gustavo Delgado) and Ny Traffic (Saffie Joseph)
• Sunday via van from Florida: Sole Volante (Patrick Biancone)
• Aug. 31 via flight from San Diego to Louisville: Authentic (Bob Baffert), Honor A. P. (John Shirreffs), Storm the Court (Peter Eurton); and Thousand Words (Baffert)
• Aug. 31 via flight from New York: Dr Post (Todd Pletcher) and Tiz the Law (Barclay Tagg)
• Aug. 31 or Sept. 1 via van from Canada: Shirl's Speight (Roger Attfield)

On the Longines Kentucky Oaks front, Mark and Nancy Stanley's graded stakes placed Tempers Rising galloped 1 ½ miles at 6:30 a.m. under Chavez. Also making an appearance Monday morning at Churchill Downs was Flurry Racing Stables, Qatar Racing Limited and Big Aut Farms' $200,000 Indiana Oaks (GIII) winner Shedaresthedevil, who galloped 1 ½ miles with exercise rider Edvin Vargas up for trainer Brad Cox. Her stablemate, Juddmonte Farms' $600,000 Alabama Stakes (GI) runner-up Bonny South, galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Gustavo Abrego.

“Both of these fillies continue to train really well and even though Bonny South just ran, she looks great on the track,” Cox said. “I think Shedaresthedevil has really come into her own and continues to mature with age.”

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Max Player, who was recently transferred to the care of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen from New York-based conditioner Linda Rice, worked at 7:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) during the exclusive 15-minute training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders. Max Player, who breezed with jockey Florent Geroux up, began his work two lengths behind stablemate Allege and worked through fractions of :23.80 and :35.80. Max Player finished even with his workmate at the wire and continued to gallop out in front through six furlongs in 1:12.60.

“He worked really well behind his workmate,” said Geroux, who was filling in Monday for Max Player's Derby rider Ricardo Santana Jr. “I think he will like the 1 ¼-mile distance in the Derby. I was working the horse this morning because Ricardo is still at Saratoga. Steve has given me many great opportunities in my career so I always try to help when he needs me. I will be on (trainer) Bob Baffert's horse Thousand Words in the Derby.”

Raymond Daniels and Wayne Scherr's former $100,000 claim Necker Island returned to the track following his walk day on Sunday with an easy jog under exercise rider Hillary Hartman. Necker Island, trained by Chris Hartman, is tentatively scheduled to work on Saturday with jockey Miguel Mena aboard.

Prior to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks training window, Lloyd Madison Farm's Major Fed galloped 1 ½ miles at 5:15 a.m. under exercise rider Margarito Fierro. Trained by Greg Foley, the $300,000 Indiana Derby (GIII) runner-up is scheduled to have his final work on Friday or Saturday. Approximately 45 minutes following Major Fed's gallop, West Point Thoroughbreds and Pearl Racing's $600,000 Arkansas Derby (GI) third-place finisher Winning Impression had a light 1 ½-mile gallop with trainer Dallas Stewart's exercise rider Emerson Chavez in the saddle.

Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's $200,000 Ellis Park Derby runner-up Attachment Rate had a scheduled walk day following his half-mile move in :48.60 Sunday morning.

On the Longines Kentucky Oaks front, Mark and Nancy Stanley's graded stakes placed Tempers Rising galloped 1 ½ miles at 6:30 a.m. under Chavez. Also making an appearance Monday morning at Churchill Downs was Flurry Racing Stables, Qatar Racing Limited and Big Aut Farms' $200,000 Indiana Oaks (GIII) winner Shedaresthedevil, who jogged with exercise rider Edvin Vargas up for trainer Brad Cox. Her stablemate, Juddmonte Farms' $600,000 Alabama Stakes (GI) runner-up Bonny South, galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Gustavo Abrego.

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“Sure, yeah, we are,” Finley said of the Arkansas Derby fourth-place finisher. “Especially with Dallas Stewart at the helm and the repertoire he has with these kinds of horses.”

That would be distance-thriving horses who come running late to pick up a good part of the pieces while speedier rivals stagger home. Prime examples: Commanding Curve, second in the 2014 Kentucky Derby at 37-1; Golden Soul, second in the 2013 Kentucky Derby at 34-1; Tale of Verve, second in the 2015 Preakness at 28-1. West Point campaigned Commanding Curve, as well as the Stewart-trained Macho Again, second in the 2008 Preakness at 39-1.

“He reminds us a lot of Commanding Curve — just kind of getting there, getting there,” Finley said.

“Ever since he went two turns, he's been a very consistent horse — and run with the best,” said Jeff Lifson, West Point's executive vice president for Midwest Operations. “He is a Dallas Stewart prototype: Gets better and better and better. He was never a flashy 2-year-old. As soon as he went two turns, it was like, 'This is what I was meant to do.'

“The fun part is looking at the Thoro-Graph (handicapping) sheets. He has a pattern very similar to Commanding Curve. If the sheets are at all predictive, he's going to run massively big at Indiana — if he's getting better, and he seems to be getting better.”

West Point was a minority partner in Always Dreaming, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt who got really good early in his 3-year-old season, carrying his speed to four impressive victories to start off 2017, capped by the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby. He was never the same horse after that.

By contrast, Winning Impression is an example of a horse benefiting from the coronavirus forcing the Kentucky Derby to be postponed from May 2 until Sept. 5.

After a pair of fifth-place finishes sprinting last November, Winning Impression promptly won a 1 1/16-mile maiden race in New Orleans. That was followed by a second and third at the Fair Grounds and a disqualification from first to fifth for interference in an Oaklawn Park allowance race. But his team had seen enough to take the next step.

Winning Impression's stakes debut came on May 2 in the Arkansas Derby, in which he finished fourth by a total of nine lengths at 20-1 odds. The first- and third-place finishers that day, Charlatan and Gouverneur Morris are on the shelf and runner-up Basin is going in Keeneland's Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday.

“He's a nice horse,” said the Louisville-based Stewart. “He ran great at Oaklawn — won and got disqualified but he ran terrific. He ran great in the Arkansas Derby, has trained very consistent and this race will tell us a lot where we're at. He's doing well and he needs to run. We'll see where we're at in September, but right now we're just focused on this race. I think he fits real well in there, and we'll take it from there.”

Julien Leparoux, who rode Winning Impression in the Arkansas Derby and once in New Orleans, has the mount. Winning Impression drew post 9 in the field of ten 3-year-olds.

“It's a good race, it's a legitimate race,” Finley said. “There are no superstars in there. But the horses who figure to run well in here are very, very similar to what we are at this point in their careers. If we run well, we'll have a little stronger circle around the first Saturday in September.”

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