Kentucky Derby News Update: Louisiana Derby Winner Tiztastic Arrives at Churchill Downs

Mar 25, 2025

Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (Grade II) winner Tiztastic arrived at Churchill Downs early Tuesday morning from Fair Grounds to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s Barn 38, where he’ll begin his preparations for the “Run for the Roses.”

Tiztastic qualified for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) with a 7-1 upset victory in Saturday’s Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds under jockey Joel Rosario.

“We thought he’d run a better race in the Louisiana Derby with the extra distance and he took the step forwarded he needed,” Asmussen said. “He has a great mind to him. I think he ran a solid race but there is more in him.”

CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm’s John Hancock, who finished fourth in the Louisiana Derby, also arrived at Churchill Downs from Fair Grounds early Tuesday to trainer Brad Cox’s Barn 22. He was joined by Godolphin’s Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) likely favorite Good Cheer.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Built, who finished fifth in the Louisiana Derby arrived at Churchill Downs from Fair  Grounds early Monday to trainer Wayne Catalano’s Barn 14.

CHUNK OF GOLD RETURNS TO TURFWAY TO PREP FOR KENTUCKY DERBY – Terry Stephens’ Chunk of Gold, runner-up in the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII), arrived at Turfway Park on Sunday night and will complete most of his Kentucky Derby (GI) preparations at the Florence, Ky. racetrack, according to trainer Ethan West.

“Between the Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby, I could tell in his training that he took a step forward,” West said. “Galloping him at Turfway before the Louisiana Derby, you could tell he put on weight and was more powerful in his stride.

“I think he probably got a little tired late in the Louisiana Derby but there’s a lot of room to build off that performance in the next five weeks. As soon as I got back to the barn Saturday night, he was in the feed tub and cooling out great. This being my first starter in the Kentucky Derby, I’ve read a lot of interviews from people like Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert, who have had success in the Derby. They all seem to have the same idea of keeping routines the same leading up to the Derby. So, we’re going to try our best to do just that.”

This would mark Stephens’ second starter in the Kentucky Derby. He previously co-owned O Besos, who finished fourth in Kentucky Derby 147.

“This is actually my first horse for Terry,” West said. “He had horses with my brother, Aaron West, and that’s how the connection between us was made. Terry owns a steel company in Russell Springs, Ky. It’s a really small town but my brother and I spent several years there at a training center.”

Chunk of Gold is tentatively scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Saturday, April 26, just prior to the 11 a.m. deadline when all Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (GI) contenders must be on the grounds.