Kentucky Derby Update for Friday, April 26, 2024: Fierceness Works Half-Mile in :48.40

Apr 26, 2024 Kevin Kerstein

KENTUCKY DERBY PRESENTED BY WOODFORD RESERVE UPDATE

Repole Stable’s Fierceness, the likely favorite for the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (GI) presented by Woodford Reserve, completed his major preparation for the Run for the Roses by working a half-mile in :48.80 under jockey John Velazquez.

Working with Agate Road, Fierceness produced fractions of :12.80, :24.80, :36.80 and :48.80 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.60, six furlongs in 1:12.60 and seven-eighths in 1:26.

Also working toward next Saturday’s Derby was Amerman Racing’s Endlessly, who worked a half-mile in :47.80 under jockey Umberto Rispoli, who flew in last night for the work and returned to Santa Anita following the breeze.

Also working Friday morning over a fast track were six candidates for the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) to be run next Friday. The workers were Tarifa (five furlongs in :59.20), Thorpedo Anna (five furlongs in :59.40), Gin Gin (five furlongs in :59.60), Into Champagne (five furlongs in 1:00), Ways and Means (four furlongs in :46.20) and Where’s My Ring (four furlongs in :46.60).

Manama Gold, who worked four furlongs in :48.60, was taken out of Oaks consideration by trainer Todd Pletcher.

Derby candidates scheduled to work Saturday morning are Sierra Leone, Catching Freedom, Dornoch, Just a Touch, West Saratoga, Domestic Product, Encino, Society Man and Mystik Dan. Scheduled to work toward the Oaks is Regulatory Risk.

CATALYTIC – Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George Isaacs’ Catalytic was back on the track Friday with exercise rider Olaf Hernandez, shortly after he received a new set of shoes.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. arrived from South Florida on Thursday, and was on hand to supervise the shoeing and the easy mile-and-a-half gallop when he took to the track at 9:10 Friday morning.

“He’s galloping well,” said Joseph, who also gave Catalytic some time to stand in the starting gate. “He’s getting over the track really well. So far, so good.”

Catalytic, the Florida Derby (GI) runner-up behind probable Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness, is scheduled to work Sunday.

“Before we shipped from Florida, we weren’t sure what to do, if we should work him at Gulfstream or wait until we got here,” Joseph said. “The weather is looking good for this weekend, so hopefully it stays like that.”

Joseph is looking forward to taking part in something different that Churchill is doing this year – holding the Derby and Oaks post position draws between races Saturday night.

“That’s very different, something quite unique,” he said. “Anything that helps generate interest with the fans. It will be something to see. It’s always good to be creative.”

CATCHING FREEDOM/ENCINO/JUST A TOUCH – All was well in trainer Brad Cox’s Barn 22 Friday as his Derby trio of Catching Freedom, Encino and Just a Touch all galloped about 1 ½ miles around 6 a.m.

“It was a solid day of training for them ahead of their breezes tomorrow,” Cox said. “We’re looking forward to seeing good works out of all of them tomorrow ahead of next Saturday.”

DOMESTIC PRODUCT/SIERRA LEONE – Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook Smith’s Sierra Leone continued to give trainer Chad Brown a favorable impression, galloping a mile and a half under Kriss Bon. The son of Gun Runner is slated to have his final major workout in advance of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday with Bon set to be in the saddle during the 7:30 a.m. reserved training period for Derby/Oaks horses.

Klaravich Stables’ Domestic Product put in his mile and a half gallop shortly after 8 a.m. Friday and is also set to work at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday with Tyler Gaffalione in the irons.

“Tyler Gaffalione is going to breeze Domestic Product, and Kriss Bon is going to breeze Sierra Leone,” Brown said. “Tyler is riding Sierra Leone (in the Derby) but he knows Domestic Product and (jockey) Irad(Ortiz Jr.) has to be in New York, so he’s going to cover for him.

“Both of those horses are doing great.”

DORNOCH/SOCIETY MAN – Two-time graded stakes winner Dornoch, owned by West PacesRacing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables’, made a strong impression Friday with a solid gallop during the 7:30 a.m. training period under the watchful eye of trainer Danny Gargan.

Dornoch opened his season with a victory in the Fountain of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream Park on March 2, but will have to rebound off a fourth-place run in the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) at Keeneland on April 6. The son of Good Magic didn’t have ideal shipping conditions for that race, however, because of inclement weather and also didn’t get the smoothest of breaks away from the starting gate that day.

“I think he’s training better heading into this race than he was for the Blue Grass,” Gargan said. “He reared at the start (of the Blue Grass) a little bit, nobody noticed that. But he did rear a bit. Then he broke awkward and had to sit in the pocket. Hopefully this time he can get a clean break and keep his face clean. We don’t need to be on the lead but we’d like to be right there.”

Dornoch’s stablemate Society Man hit the track for his gallop at 5:45 a.m. on Friday. Both horses are slated to breeze during the 7:30 a.m. training period on Saturday.

Society Man is owned by the partnership of Reeves Thoroughbreds, West Paces, GMP Stables and Carl and Yurie Pascarella and well outran his odds when he finished second in the Wood Memorial (GII) at odds of 106-1.

“I was kind of shocked when I entered, I thought we’d be 30- or 40-1, but when he went off a 100-1, I was a little shocked by that,” Gargan said. “We liked him going into the race, he’d been training good. He’d been a workmate for Dornoch going into the Remsen (GII), he was probably the only horse I had who could breeze with him. He kept up with him and he was right there all the time. That’s when I got a little high on him then.”

ENDLESSLY – Amerman Racing’s Endlessly got right on it early Friday morning at Churchill Downs working a half-mile in :47.80 (out five furlongs in 1:00) at 5:30 shortly after the track opened for business. Umberto Rispoli was in from his California base to handle the drill and will be in the saddle when the horse runs next.

Now, where he runs next is currently the question.

“All options are now open,” said trainer Michael McCarthy, who oversaw the early drill. “I liked his move this morning, very pleased with it. Now we’ll see what’s next.”

Endlessly, a homebred by Oscar Performance, has yet to run on a dirt track in any of his six races (with five wins) to date. He has been a turf or synthetic ace so far, including four stakes wins. And that has led to a friendly debate among his connections.

Endlessly could continue on the proven path and start next Saturday in the $600,000, Grade II American Turf on the Churchill lawn. Or he could take a shot at the $5 million, Grade I Kentucky Derby, contested at a mile and a quarter on the main track.

“I’m going to have a conversation with Mr. Amerman now and see what we’re going to do,” McCarthy said. “It’ll be interesting.”

FIERCENESS – Repole Stable's Fierceness put in his final major Kentucky Derby prep Friday morning during the 7:30-7:45 a.m. period that is reserved strictly for horses aiming for the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks.

The Florida Derby winner, bred by his owner, had Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez aboard as Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher looked on from in Churchill Downs grandstand. Clockers caught the City of Light colt in :48.80 for his half-mile exercise. Fractions on the work that was accomplished in company with Agate Road were :12.80, :24.80, :36.80, :48.80, galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.60, six furlongs in 1:12.60 and seven-eighths in 1:26.

Velazquez had a big smile when asked about the move and noted: “He really, really went well today.”

Pletcher offered his opinion of the exercise and replied: “I’m very, very happy with the work.”

FOREVER YOUNG (JPN) – Susumu Fujita’s Forever Young (JPN) warmed up in the mile chute during the morning’s first harrow break and then galloped a mile and a half under Yusaku Oka.

According to Kate Hunter, Asia representative for the Kentucky Derby, Forever Young would gallop at a two-minute lick in the morning.

GRAND MO THE FIRST – Granpollo Stables’ Grand Mo the First arrived at Churchill Downs at 11:39 p.m. Thursday after vanning to Louisville from Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. was en route to Louisville on Friday.

Grand Mo the First walked the shedrow this morning and is scheduled to go to the track in the morning.

HONOR MARIE – It was a scheduled walk day at trainer Whit Beckman’s Barn 37 after TwinSpires.comLouisiana Derby (GII) runner-up Honor Marie worked a sharp half-mile in :59.20 Thursday.

JUST STEEL – BC Stable’s Just Steel gave those watching the Derby/Oaks contenders during the special 7:30 a.m. training period an eyeful of his large frame as he jogged with the pony with trainer D. Wayne Lukas looking on.

'I’m jogging him today with the idea that I could do something tomorrow or the next day,” Lukas said, referring to when his charge might have his final pre-Derby breeze.

A 17-hand son of Justify, Just Steel captured the Ed Brown Stakes at Churchill Downs last November and is coming into the Derby off a second-place run in the Arkansas Derby (GI) on March 30.

“He’s really big, he’s 17 hands and he’s just finding himself now,” Lukas said. “He’s going to get better as he gets older but he’s starting to find himself and get the idea.”

MYSTIK DAN – Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing and Daniel Hamby III’s Mystik Dan galloped a light mile-and-a-half for trainer Kenny McPeek under Martin Reyes.

Mystik Dan, the winner of the Southwest (GIII) and most recently finished third in the Arkansas Derby (GI) at Oaklawn Park, is scheduled to work Saturday with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., who has the Derby riding assignment.

RESILIENCE – With co-owner Ric Waldman in attendance, Wood Memorial (GII) winner Resilience put in an easy gallop at 7:30 Friday morning and may have his final breeze Sunday, according to trainer Bill Mott.

Resilience, who is owed by Waldman in partnership with Emily Bushnell, took four tries to break his maiden but has won two of his past three outings. In the Wood Memorial, Mott said he saw what his charge was capable of when he finally put him mind toward the business at hand.

“I think it seems like the last couple races, the last race in particular, he was more focused,” Mott said. 'We closed his blinkers up a bit and it seemed to get him a little more focused. Instead of paying attention to what the other horses were doing, he was minding his own business. That’s really helped him. We always kind of felt that there seems to be a little bit more there, like he’s leaving a little left in the tank. Last time he finally showed that.”

STRONGHOLD – Eric and Sharon Waller’s Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold continued to train forwardly at Churchill Downs Friday morning as he prepares for a run in Kentucky Derby 150 on Saturday, May 4.

Trainer Phil D’Amato, in from California to oversee his charge’s preparations, sent the Ghostzapper colt out during the 7:30 special training period for Derby/Oaks horses after having put his favorite exercise rider – Sherri Alexander – up for the exercise that covered roughly a mile and one half of a steady gallop.

D’Amato’s propensity for Alexander is understandable; she’s his wife. She’s also a veteran horsewoman who knows how to do well with a good horse.

D’Amato will continue on in Louisville through Sunday, when he has a “probably five furlong” drill slated for Stronghold with rider Joe Talamo scheduled to be in the tack. The trainer will then catch a plane back to his California headquarters to tend to some business before returning to Kentucky on Tuesday for the balance of the week.

T O PASSWORD (JPN) – Tomoya Ozasa’s T O Password arrived at Churchill Downs at 4:45 a.m. Friday after spending 42 hours in quarantine in Chicago following a flight from Japan.

Undefeated in two starts in Japan going a mile and eighth, T O Password is trained by Daisuke Takayanagi and will be ridden in the Derby by Kazushi Kimura.

“I’m very lucky to run in the Kentucky Derby,” Takayanagi said before T O Password left Japan. “I am honored to join the history of running in the 150th one.

“I didn’t change any training with T O Password going into the Derby. We have a long travel schedule and it’s a lot different environment compared to Japan. I’d like to make a similar Japanese training style over the Churchill Downs track.

“T O Password had a good jump out of the gate in his last two starts, so naturally he had good position. But we aren’t sure if we’ll have that good of a position in the Kentucky Derby.”

TRACK PHANTOM – L and N Racing, Clark Brewster, Jerry Caroom and Breeze Easy’s Track Phantom had a routine 1 ½-mile gallop Friday around 5:45 a.m.

The Steve Asmussen trainee will add blinkers for the Kentucky Derby and has been galloping with them for the past two weeks.

WEST SARATOGA – Harry Veruchi’s West Saratoga was scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs Friday afternoon from Lexington.

Trained by Larry Demeritte, West Saratoga is slated to work three furlongs Saturday morning with jockey Jesus Castanon in the irons.

ALSO ELIGIBLES – Welch Racing’s Epic Ride worked an easy half-mile in :51.20 at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Kentucky, and is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs this evening for trainer John Ennis.

Epic Ride would need one defection from the top 20 point earners and invitees on the Road to the Kentucky Derby to be included in the main body of the race when entries close Saturday morning.

Trainer Jeff Engler reported Mugatu is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs Friday and train Saturday.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Here are the horses (with jockeys and trainers) that are qualified for the Kentucky Derby and those on the also-eligible list (in alphabetical order with AEs listed last in preference order):

Catalytic (Jose Ortiz, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Catching Freedom (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox); Domestic Product (Irad Ortiz Jr., Chad Brown); Dornoch (Luis Saez, Danny Gargan); Encino (TBA, Brad Cox); Endlessly (Umberto Rispoli, Michael McCarthy); Fierceness (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher); Forever Young (JPN) (Ryusei Sakai, Yoshito Yahagi); Grand Mo the First (Emisael Jaramillo, Victor Barboza Jr.); Honor Marie (Ben Curtis, Whit Beckman); Just a Touch (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Just Steel (Keith Asmussen, Wayne Lukas); Mystik Dan (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Resilience (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott); Sierra Leone (Tyler Gaffalione, Chad Brown); Society Man (Frankie Dettori, Danny Gargan); Stronghold (Antonio Fresu, Phil D’Amato); T O Password (JPN) (Kazushi Kimura, Daisuke Takayanagi); Track Phantom (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen); West Saratoga (Jesus Castanon, Larry Demerritte).

Also Eligibles: Epic Ride (Adam Beschizza, John Ennis); Seize the Grey (TBA, Wayne Lukas); Mugatu(Joe Talamo, Jeff Engler).

LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE

GIN GIN/TARIFA – Trainer Brad Cox’s duo of Gin Gin and Tarifa completed their final tune-ups prior to the Longines Kentucky Oaks, working together through five furlongs in :59.60 and :59.20, respectively.

Tarifa, ridden by jockey Flavien Prat, started the work about two lengths back of her stablemate, who was ridden by Kelvin Perez. The duo cruised through opening quarter-mile of :23.80 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.

“I thought the move was very strong,” Cox said. “Tarifa started just behind Gin Gin and they both finished up well together and galloped out strong. A good, solid move. We’re looking forward to getting them ready for next Friday.”

INTO CHAMPAGNE – Gulfstream Parks Oaks (GIII) third-place finisher Into Champagne completed a five-furlong breeze Friday morning in 1:00 for trainer Ian Wilkes. With jockey Julien Leparoux aboard, Into Champagne galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.

“Everything was really good,” Wilkes said. “I couldn’t be any happier with the way she’s doing. Now we’ll gallop, school her in the paddock, school her in the gate to get ready – the normal things. And keep her happy.”

Into Champagne is Wilkes’ second filly in the Oaks, with Champagne Anyone having finished fourth in 2019.

“That’s the key (to winning),” he said. “You just have to get in the gate. Once you’re in the gate, it’s a long run to the first turn, so you don’t have to rush. You just hope for a clean break, and go from there.”

JUST F Y I – The improved level of fitness trainer Bill Mott has been seeing from champion filly Just F Y I was again on display Friday. George Krikorian’s homebred daughter of Justify put in another energetic gallop, going about 1 1/2 miles beneath the Twin Spires after going through the new Churchill Downs paddock.

Just F Y I had has just one start since taking the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) last November, an effort that capped off a 3-for-3 campaign for the Eclipse Award honoree. After having her seasonal bow delayed because of illness, the bay filly finished second in the Ashland Stakes (GI) at Keeneland on April 5.

“Her last race, we went into that last race not 100 percent cranked up,” Mott said. “She had been sick and she missed a couple works. We got a couple works into her and we ran her and I believe she was probably needed the race, just because she had been off several months. It seems like she’s bounced out of that race good.”

Mott added he might breeze Just F Y I on Sunday.

LEMON MUFFIN – Taking to the track during the 7:30 a.m. training period along with her stablemate and Kentucky Derby hopeful, Just Steel, Aaron Sones and Julie Gilbert’s Lemon Muffin put in a routine gallop as trainer D. Wayne Lukas pondered when he might give the Oaks hopeful her final workout.

After winning the Honeybee Stakes (GIII) on Feb. 24, Lemon Muffin threw in a disappointing effort when she finished seventh in the Fantasy Stakes (GII), an outing Lukas is drawing a line through given how dull the filly was the day after.

“She didn’t feel good when she ran in the Fantasy, so throw that one out,” Lukas said. “She was really flat the next day but she’s training really well since. She’s going to have something to say about this race.”

LESLIE’S ROSE/MANAMA GOLD – Whisper Hill Farm’s Leslie’s Rose merely walked the shedrow at trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn on the Churchill Downs backside Friday morning.

The Into Mischief filly, who is likely to be one of the favorites for next Friday’s Grade I Kentucky Oaks, had worked a half mile in :49.40 Thursday at Churchill in her final major move in front of the nine-furlong classic.

“She came out of it (the work) well,” Pletcher said. “We’re all good.”

Victorious’ Manama Gold worked a half-mile in :48.60 with Irad Ortz Jr. in the saddle during the special Oaks/Derby training period between 7:30 and 7:45.

The 3-year-old daughter of Star Guitar has been a late arrival at the Pletcher barn in hopes of finding a spot in year’s $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks. Her most recent outing was a tally in the UAE Oaks (GIII) at Meydan in Dubai in February, a triumph that gave her the points for entrance in this year’s Kentucky Oaks.

But because of various issues, notably a late ship from the Middle East, the conditioner doesn’t feel the Louisiana-bred is ready to take on an assignment as tough at next Friday’s championship race.

“She worked OK this morning (half mile in :48.60), but she got real tired at the end of it,” Pletcher said. “She looks like she has the makings of a good filly, but we’re going to need some more time to work with her before she’s ready to go. We won’t be putting her in the Oaks.”

POWER SQUEEZE – Lea Farms’ Kentucky-bred Power Squeeze arrived at Churchill Downs at 9 p.m. Thursday from South Florida, and will visit the track for the first time on Saturday.

On Wednesday, she was timed by Gulfstream Park clockers going four furlongs in :49.03 in her final work in preparation for the Oaks.

Trainer Jorge Delgado is arriving in Louisville on Sunday.

REGULATORY RISK/WAYS AND MEANS – While Klaravich Stables’ Regulatory Risk put in a routine gallop ahead of her planned breeze on Saturday, her stablemate Ways and Means showcased how fast the Churchill Downs surface was playing when she drilled four furlongs in :46.20 under exercise rider Peter Roman.

Working solo, Ways and Means cranked out splits of :12.40 and :23.40 en route to her blistering final time, galloping out in :58.40 and 1:11.80.

Trainer Chad Brown didn’t hide the fact the work was more than he wanted to see from the daughter of Practical Joke a week out from the Kentucky Oaks (GI), but he was encouraged by the way the filly he calls the best he has trained on dirt handled the effort.

“She just did a little bit too much,” Brown said. “It seemed like she was doing it in hand but it’s a little quicker than I was looking for so that part’s disappointing. But she came back good from it and hopefully she can overcome it. The track was fast, and a bit of rider error.”

Ways and Means returned from a near seven-month layoff to finish second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) on March 30. While Friday’s move wasn’t exactly what Brown ordered, it did showcase part of the reason why the filly has earned such high regard from her four-time Eclipse Award winning trainer.

“Part of what you saw there is just her raw talent,” Brown said. “Right on top of the race a week out, I just wish she had done just a tick less. But looking at some of the times, it seems the track’s very quick. I have turf horses who just went down there in :48 and 2 and they can’t run on dirt at all so maybe the track is just that fast hopefully.

“I will say, she doesn’t seem to be blowing much. That gives me a little bit of relief. So we’ll see.”

Regulatory Risk galloped with Gudiel Alvarez and is set to breeze on Saturday at 7:30 with Jose Ortiz in the irons.

TAPIT JENALLIE – After Thursday morning’s half-mile breeze, Willis Horton Racing’s Tapit Jenallie walked the shedrow on Friday for trainer Eddie Milligan Jr. in preparation for the Oaks.

Jockey Manny Esquivel, who rode her to a third-place finish in the GII Fantasy and a second in the GIII Honeybee at Oaklawn Park, guided the homebred daughter of Tapit to a 49.40 half-mile Thursday.

THORPEDO ANNA – Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. was aboard Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing’s Thorpedo Anna for her final major workout on Friday ahead of the Longines Kentucky Oaks for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Hernandez guided her to a five-furlong work in :59.40, with splits of :12.20 and :35.40 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.60.

“She worked really well,” Hernandez said. “She was in the bridle all the way. She’s a forward filly, and always shows how talented she is.”

“She does things really easy,” McPeek said. “She was born fast.”

The Fast Anna filly is the winner of three of her four starts with Hernandez, most recently having captured the Fantasy (GII) in her first start this year. Thorpedo Anna cost just $40,000 at the Fasig-Tipton sale in Lexington, Kentucky, in October 2022.

WHERE’S MY RING – Michael McMillan’s Where’s My Ring, a solid winner of New York’s Grade III Gazelle Stakes last out on April 6, put in her final major prep for next Friday’s Kentucky Oaks when she covered a half mile in :46.60 under exercise rider David Rodriguez during the special Oaks/Derby training period at Churchill Downs Friday morning at 7:30.

Veteran horseman Val Brinkerhoff was very pleased with the drill.

“It was good to see her make a move like that coming up to this kind of race,” the trainer said. “We’ve had so many issues with her; mostly small problems, but plenty of them all along the way. But now she’s right. I know we haven’t gotten to the bottom of her yet, but it’s good to have her doing well with her getting ready to take on that tough bunch next Friday. I’m just glad she’s come around.”

Brinkerhoff said top New York rider Jose Lezcano – who rode Where’s My Ring in her Gazelle triumph – again will be on board for the Grade I Oaks.

ALSO ELIGIBLES: Courtlandt Farm’s Our Pretty Woman, currently No. 15 on the Oaks preference list, galloped about 1 ½ miles at 5:30 a.m. Friday with Wilson Fabian in the irons. She’d need one defection to make the Oaks field.

Eclipse Thoroughbreds’ Candied walked trainer Todd Pletcher’s shedrow following her half-mile move in :47.60 Thursday morning.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY OAKS – Here are the horses (with trainers) that are qualified for the Longines Kentucky Oaks and those on the also-eligible list (in alphabetical order with AEs listed last in preference order):

Everland (Abel Cedillo, Eric Foster); Fiona’s Magic (TBA, Bo Yates); Gin Gin (TBA, Brad Cox); Into Champagne (Julien Leparoux, Ian Wilkes); Just F Y I (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott); Lemon Muffin (Keith Asmussen, Wayne Lukas); Leslie’s Rose (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Power Squeeze (Daniel Centeno, Jorge Delgado); Regulatory Risk (Jose Ortiz, Chad Brown); Tapit Jenallie (Manny Esquivel, Eddie Milligan); Tarifa (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox); Thorpedo Anna (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Ways and Means (Tyler Gaffalione, Chad Brown) and Where’s My Ring (Jose Lezcano, Val Brinkerhoff).

Also-Eligible: Our Pretty Woman (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen); Candied (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher)

STAKES PROBABLES – The following are the early probable stakes race entrants for Kentucky Derby Week, according to assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator Dan Bork:

The 39th running of the $1 million Fasig-Tipton La Troienne (GI), run Friday, May 3 at 1 1/16 miles, entries taken Saturday: Dorth Vader (George Weaver); Idiomatic (Brad Cox); Pretty Mischievous (Brendan Walsh) and Xigera (Phil Bauer).

The 21st running of the $750,000 Alysheba (GII), run Friday, May 3 at 1 1/16 miles, entries taken Saturday: Call Me Fast (Al Stall Jr.); First Mission (Brad Cox); Il Miracolo (Antonio Sano); Money Supply (Joe Sharp); Steal Sunshine (Bobby Dibona); T O Saint Denis (JPN) (Daisuke Takayanagi); Trademark (Vicki Oliver); Tumbarumba (Brian Lynch).

The 40th running of the $600,000 Edgewood presented by TwinSpires.com (GII), run Friday, May 3 at 1 1/16 miles on turf, entries taken Saturday: Buchu (Phil Bauer); Dancing N Dixie (Mark Casse); Hard to Justify (Chad Brown); Pink Polkadots (Joe Sharp); Ragtime Lady (Tom Amoss) and Simply In Front(Eddie Kenneally).

The 69th running of the $600,000 Eight Belles presented by Sysco (GII), run Friday, May 3 at seven furlongs, entries taken Saturday: Accommodate Eva (Dallas Stewart); All Things Go (Michael Puhich); Asternia (Randy Morse); Do Gooder (Jena Antonucci); Harbor Springs (Greg Foley); Lady Moscato (Wayne Lukas); Launch (Jorge Delgado); Maxisuperfly (Eric Foster).

The 67th running of the $400,000 Modesty presented by Derby City Gaming (GIII), run Friday, May 3 at 1 1/8 miles on turf, entries taken Saturday: Aspen Grove (IRE) (Chad Brown); Be Your Best (Horacio De Paz); Forever After All (Brendan Walsh); Henrietta Topham (Geoff Mulcahy); Sparkle Blue (Graham Motion); Surprisingly (Todd Pletcher); Tryinmyheartout (Shane Wilson).

The 14th running of the $400,000 Unbridled Sidney presented by Resolute Racing (GIII), run Friday, May 3 at 5 ½ furlongs on turf, entries taken Saturday: Miss Speedy (Mark Casse); Stone Silent (Brian Lynch); Tony Ann (Phil D’Amato).

The 89th running of the $1 million Churchill Downs presented by Ford (GI), run Saturday, May 4 at seven furlongs, entries taken Saturday: Bo Cruz (Al Stall Jr.); Here Mi Song (Billy Stinson Jr.); Hoist the Gold(Dallas Stewart); Minnesota Ready (Tom Amoss); Oscar Eclipse (Brian Lynch); Tejano Twist (Chris Hartman); Three Technique (Jason Cook).

The 38th running of the $1 million Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (GI), run Saturday, May 4 at seven furlongs, entries taken Saturday: Alva Starr (Brett Brinkman); American Band (John Haran); Oliva Darling (Jorge Delgado); Red Carpet Ready (Rusty Arnold II); Spirit Wind (Saffie Joseph Jr.); Sterling Silver (Lance Rutledge) and Vahva (Cherie DeVaux).

The 38th running of the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI), run Saturday, May 4 at 1 1/8 miles on turf, entries taken Saturday: Anglophile (Brian Lynch); Cellist (Rusty Arnold II); Far Bridge(Christophe Clement); I’m Very Busy (Chad Brown); Naval Power (GB) (Charlie Appleby); ProgramTrading (Chad Brown); Siege of Boston (Jimmy Toner); Webslinger (Mark Casse).

The 39th running of the $750,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GII), run Saturday, May 4 at one-mile on turf, entries taken Saturday: Be My Sunshine (Saffie Joseph Jr.); Delahaye (Chad Brown); Evvie Jets (Mertkan Kantarmaci); Mission of Joy (Graham Motion); Safeen (Eddie Kenneally); Sister Lou Ann (Saffie Joseph Jr.); Walkathon (Ian Wilkes).

The 33rd running of the $600,000 American Turf presented by TwinSpires (GII), run Saturday, May 4 at 1 1/16 miles on turf, entries taken Saturday: Abrumar (Saffie Joseph Jr.); Dancing Groom (Antoino Sano); Legend of Time (GB) (Charlie Appleby); Neat (Rob Atras); Rock’n a Halo (Tom Amoss) and Trikari(Graham Motion).

The 100th running of the $600,000 Pat Day Mile presented by SAP (GII), run Saturday, May 4 at one-mile, entries taken Saturday: Glengarry (Doug Anderson); Knightsbridge (Bill Mott); Nash (Brad Cox) and Who Dey (Tom Drury Jr.).

The 30th running of the $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sentient Jet (GII), run Saturday, May 4 at 5 ½ furlongs on turf, entries taken Saturday: Bad Beat Brian (Brittany Vanden Berg); Big Invasion (Christophe Clement); Coppola (Dale Romans); Eamonn (Joe Orseno); Extendo (Joe Orseno); Mischief Magic (IRE) (Charlie Appleby); Mister Mmmmm (Joe Sharp); Mo Stash (Vicki Oliver); Nothing Better (Jorge Duarte Jr.); Our Shot (John Terranova); Panther Island (Laura Cazares).

The 3rd running of the $200,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes presented by L&N Federal Credit Union (Listed), run Saturday, May 4 at one mile, entries taken Saturday: Best Actor (Brad Cox); Collaborate (Michael Ann Ewing); Five Star General (Grant Forster); Kupuna (Bret Calhoun); Major Blue (Wayne Lukas); Strava (Norm Casse).

KENTUCKY DERBY MORNING WORKS PROGRAM AIRS DAILY – The Kentucky Derby Morning Works Show will air daily through Thurby and feature Churchill Downs’ expert handicappers Joe Kristufek, Kaitlin Free, Tony Calo and Kevin Kilroy along with an array of popular industry figures such as former leading rider Rosie Napravnik and Churchill Downs Track Announcer Travis Stone.

The 20-minute program will be streamed live on @KentuckyDerby on YouTube, Facebook and X.