Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Lord Miles

Apr 30, 2023 John Mucciolo

Vegso
Racing Stable’s homebred Lord Miles fought his way into the 2023 Kentucky Derby
(G1) field following his upset victory in the $750,000 Wood Memorial S. (G2) at
Aqueduct on April 8.

The
59-1 winner clocked nine furlongs on the fast main course in 1:51.17 under the
guidance of Paco Lopez when fighting off Hit Show and Dreamlike in a close
finish.

“He ran a very good race. I know at Tampa
he didn’t give me a very good race the first time I rode him,” Lopez said.
“This time, I knew I had a chance. I didn’t have too much time to jog and gallop
him. This time I had plenty of time and that helped me a lot today and it
worked out very well today. He gave me a beautiful run today.”

Lord
Miles was bred in the Bluegrass State and is the first black-type winner
produced from the unraced Majestic Warrior mare Lady Esme, a half-sister to
2017 Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Caledonia Road. This is the same female line
as Grade 1 victors Hymn Book and Data Link.

Trained
by Saffie Joseph, Lord Miles commenced his career on November 19 at Gulfstream
Park and powered clear late to post a sharp, 5 3/4-length score in a
six-furlong maiden special weight dash. The son of Curlin checked in third in
the subsequent Mucho Macho Man S., which preceded unplaced efforts in both the
Holy Bull (G3) and Tampa Bay Derby (G3). His lifetime line after the Wood
Memorial read 5-2-0-1, $451,100.

Lord Miles registered Brisnet Speed figures of
85-89-80-89-99 from his first five lifetime runs. The capable colt looks to be
a cut below the top horses in his generation at this stage of his development,
although improvement off his Wood victory will give him a chance to run a
positive race beneath the Twin Spires on May 6.