Kentucky Derby Update for Thursday, April 26, 2018

Apr 26, 2018

Godolphin Racing’s Enticed worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 at Palm Meadows Thursday morning for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin as the pace of final works for the 144^th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) as well as for the 144^th Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) began to pick up.

At Churchill Downs, five Derby works are scheduled for Friday morning headed by the Todd Pletcher-trained quartet of Audible, Magnum Moon, Noble Indy and Vino Rosso and the Tom Amoss-trained Lone Sailor. Lone Sailor is scheduled to work at 5:30; Audible, Magnum Moon and Vino Rosso at 7:30 and Noble Indy at 9.

Two Kentucky Oaks hopefuls worked Thursday: Courtlandt Farms’ My Miss Lilly (half-mile in :48.80 at Churchill Downs) and Peter Deutsch’s Take Charge Paula (five furlongs in 1:01 at Palm Meadows).

  Scheduled to work at Churchill Downs Friday morning for the Oaks is Loooch Racing Stable’s Heavenhasmynikki at 7:30.

AUDIBLE/MAGNUM MOON/NOBLE INDY/VINO ROSSO — For the first time in three days, a fast track awaited trainer Todd Pletcher’s four Kentucky Derby hopefuls Thursday morning, a day before their final works for the Run for the Roses. 

All four galloped 1 3/8 miles during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses. As usual, Amelia Green was on Audible, Nick Bush on Magnum Moon, Carlos Cano on Noble Indy and Adele Bellinger on Vino Rosso.

“They all galloped well and it was nice to see a fast track,” said Pletcher, who is looking forward to the Friday works.

“They all have different personalities. We are not looking to set any track records, just good maintenance works. Three of them will work at 7:30: Javier Castellano will be on Audible, John Velazquez on Vino Rosso and Nick (Bush) on Magnum Moon. Noble Indy will work at 9 o’clock with Florent Geroux up.”

Luis Saez is the Derby rider for Magnum Moon and Pletcher said there was a “good chance” Geroux would wind up on Noble Indy.

A little more than an hour after this year’s Derby contingent worked, Always Dreaming, the 2017 Derby winner, tuned up for next Friday’s 15^th running of the $400,000 Alysheba (GII) by working a half-mile in :49.20 under Bush. 

Churchill Downs clockers caught Always Dreaming in fractions of :12.80, :25, :49.20 and then galloping out five furlongs in 1:02, six furlongs in 1:14.80 and seven-eighths in 1:28.40. The half-mile work was the 18^th fastest of 50 at the distance.

“I was very happy with him. He was very enthusiastic and galloped out strong,” Pletcher said. “Nick had to reach up and get him to slow down at the half-mile pole by the kitchen.”

With the Breeders’ Cup World Championships here this year, Always Dreaming could return here in the fall for a run in the Classic (GI).

“That would be ideal, but let’s see him get through the Alysheba first,” Pletcher said..

BRAVAZO – Calumet Farm’s Bravazo galloped 1 ½ miles Thursday morning at 7:30 with exercise rider Danielle Rosier aboard for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.]

Lukas has not confirmed a jockey for Bravazo and expects the colt to breeze this weekend.

 COMBATANT/DREAM BABY DREAM – Combatant, currently No. 19 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard along with No. 22 Dream Baby Dream schooled in the gate Thursday morning at 7:30 and galloped 1 ½ miles for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

ENTICED – Godolphin Racing’s Enticed worked five furlongs in company in 1:00.20 at Palm Meadows in Florida Thursday morning under exercise rider Jason Eracia.

“He worked great,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said of the Wood Memorial (GII) runner-up who had worked last Thursday at Palm Meadows in 1:01.20. “I am very happy with and he has done well (since the April 7 Wood Memorial).”

Enticed is scheduled to leave Florida on Sunday and arrive at Churchill Downs on Monday. McLaughlin will be arriving in Louisville Monday night.

Junior Alvarado, who has ridden Enticed in five of his six starts, has the Derby mount. 

FLAMEAWAY – John Oxley’s Flameaway galloped 1 ½ miles under Chris Garraway during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Oaks horses.

Trainer Mark Casse is scheduled to be at the barn Saturday morning when Flameaway is scheduled to breeze.

FREE DROP BILLY/PROMISES FULFILLED – Albaugh Family Stables’ Free Drop Billy and Robert Baron’s Promises Fulfilled galloped 1 ½ miles for trainer Dale Romans Thursday morning.

  Both horses are expected to breeze Saturday morning at 7:30, according to Romans. 

GOOD MAGIC – e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables’ Good Magic galloped 1 ½ miles under Walter Malasquez at 7:30 for trainer Chad Brown.

“I liked what I saw,” Brown said of Good Magic’s first day galloping over a fast track here since arriving Sunday from Keeneland where he won the Blue Grass Stakes (GII) in his most recent start.

Good Magic is scheduled to work Saturday with Malasquez aboard. Jose Ortiz has the Derby mount.

HOFBURG – Juddmonte Farms’ Hofburg visited the paddock and then galloped about a mile and a half under Penny Gardiner at 7:30.

  Trainer Bill Mott plans to work the Florida Derby (GI) runner-up on Sunday with Gardiner up. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the Derby mount.

LONE SAILOR – G M B Racing’s Louisiana Derby (GII) runner-up Lone Sailor galloped 1 ½ miles at 7:30 a.m. under exercise rider Maurice Sanchez for trainer Tom Amoss.

The colt is scheduled to breeze early Friday morning, according to Amoss.

MY BOY JACK – Lexington (GIII) and Southwest (GIII) winner My Boy Jack had a regular walk day for trainer Keith Desormeaux.

Owned by Don’t Tell My Wife Stables, Monomoy Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds, My Boy Jack is scheduled to go to the track Friday morning with Desormeaux on hand.

My Boy Jack is scheduled to work Saturday.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 144^th running of the $2 million, Grade I Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve to be run for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, May 5: Audible (jockey Javier Castellano), Bolt d’Oro (Victor Espinoza), Bravazo (TBA), Enticed (Junior Alvarado), Firenze Fire (Paco Lopez), Flameaway (Jose Lezcano), Free Drop Billy (Robby Albarado), Good Magic (Jose Ortiz), Hofburg (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Instilled Regard (TBA), Justify (Mike Smith), Lone Sailor (James Graham), Magnum Moon (Luis Saez), Mendelssohn (Ryan Moore), My Boy Jack (Kent Desormeaux), Noble Indy (TBA), Promises Fulfilled (Corey Lanerie), Solomini (Flavien Prat), Vino Rosso (John Velazquez).

Possible starters within the Top 20 on the preference list: Combatant (TBA).

 Next up in order of preference: Blended Citizen (Kyle Frey), Dream Baby Dream (TBA), Restoring Hope (TBA), Sporting Chance (TBA), Givemeaminit (TBA) and Pony Up (TBA). 

KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE

 BLAMED – Cleber Massey’s Blamed galloped 1 ½ miles under Luis Rojero at 5:40 as trainer Joel Marr returned her to her early schedule a day after visiting the starting gate during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Oaks and Derby horses.

Blamed, a winner of five of six starts, also was scheduled for a paddock schooling session Thursday.

Marr plans to work Blamed Saturday and said he probably would go at 7:30.

Ken Tohill, who worked Blamed last week and has the Oaks mount, will not be in town for Saturday’s work and Marr said he would line up a jockey for the breeze.

CHOCOLATE MARTINI – Double Doors Racing’s Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) winner Chocolate Martini jogged one mile Thursday morning for trainer Tom Amoss.

 Amoss expects to announce a rider for the Kentucky Oaks by tomorrow afternoon. 

CLASSY ACT/PATRONA MARGARITA – Carl Moore Management’s Rachel Alexandra (GII) runner-up Classy Act schooled in the gate, then galloped 1 ½ miles at 7:45 a.m. Thursday with exercise rider Simon Camacho aboard for trainer Bret Calhoun.

Prior to the Derby/Oaks exclusive training session, Craig Upham’s homebred Patrona Margarita galloped 1 ½ miles with Camacho in the saddle.

Calhoun does not have a rider confirmed for either filly.

COACH ROCKS – Roddy Valente, RAP Racing, and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) winner Coach Rocks galloped 1 ½ miles for trainer Dale Romans with exercise rider Adrian Vincencio aboard.

Coach Rocks is scheduled to breeze Saturday, according to Romans.

HEAVENHASMYNIKKI – Loooch Racing Stables’ Heavenhasmynikki galloped 1 ½ miles under Jake Radosevich at 7:30.

Trainer Anthony Quartarolo plans to work Heavenhasmynikki in company Friday morning at 7:30.

MONOMOY GIRL/SASSY SIENNA/KELLY’S HUMOR – Monomoy Stables Ashland (GI) winner and probable Longines Kentucky Oaks favorite Monomoy Girl galloped 1 5/8 miles Tuesday morning at 7:30 for trainer Brad Cox with regular exercise rider David Garcia aboard.

“She looks great,” said jockey Florent Geroux who has the return call in the Kentucky Oaks. “The only thing that worries me a little bit is her focusing. Sometimes she can lose focus a bit and look around during her races. She really hasn’t done it too much recently when I’ve been on her in the mornings, which is good.”

Monomoy Girl’s stablemate, Medallion Racing and Jerry McClanahan’s upset Fantasy Stakes (GIII) winner Sassy Sienna also galloped 1 5/8 miles at 7:30 with Edvin Vargas up.

Both fillies are on target to breeze Saturday, according to Cox.

Needing four defections to get in the Oaks field at No. 18, Ike and Dawn Thrash’s Kelly’s Humor galloped 1 ½ miles. The daughter of Midnight Lute could target the Eight Belles Presented by Kentucky Trailer (GII) on the undercard of the Kentucky Oaks, according to assistant trainer Jorje Abrego.

MY MISS LILLY – Courtlandt Farms’ Gazelle (GII) winner My Miss Lilly worked a half-mile in company in :48.80 with Emerson Chavez aboard for trainer Mark Hennig.

Fractions on the work were :12.40, :24.40, :36.80, :48.80 and out five furlongs in 1:02.40. The half-mile move was the 11^th fastest of 50 at the distance over a fast track. My Miss Lilly worked in company with recent Keeneland allowance winner Spikes Shirl.

“I told him to go between 48 and 49,” Hennig said. “It was good to see a fast track and I was very happy with it. Just wanted her to stretch her legs.”

Joe Bravo will have the Oaks mount on My Miss Lilly.

“Our work is over and we will train normally (up to the Oaks) and hope she is good enough,” Hennig said.

TAKE CHARGE PAULA – Peter Deutsch’s Take Charge Paula worked five furlongs in company in 1:01 with Rob Massey up at Palm Meadows in Florida Thursday morning.

“She did everything right,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said of the drill in which Take Charge Paula was outfitted in blinkers. “She had worked in blinkers before, but that will be an equipment change (for the Oaks).”

Runner-up in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) in her most recent start, Take Charge Paula will be ridden in the Oaks by Jose Ortiz. She is scheduled to leave Florida Sunday and be at Churchill Downs Monday. McLaughlin arrives in town Monday night.

WONDER GADOT – Gary Barber’s Wonder Gadot galloped 1 ½ miles under Orlando Cross during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Oaks horses.      

  Trainer Mark Casse is scheduled to be at the barn Saturday morning when Wonder Gadot is slated to work.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY OAKS – Likely starters in the 144^th running of the $1 million, Grade I Longines Kentucky Oaks to be run for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on Friday, May 4: Blamed (jockey Ken Tohill), Chocolate Martini (TBA), Classy Act (TBA), Coach Rocks (Luis Saez), Eskimo Kisses (TBA), Midnight Bisou (TBA), Monomoy Girl (Florent Geroux), My Miss Lilly (Joe Bravo), Patrona Margarita (TBA), Rayya (Drayden Van Dyke), Sassy Sienna (Gary Stevens), Take Charge Paula (TBA), Wonder Gadot (John Velazquez).

  Possible Starters within the Top 14 on the preference list: Amy’s Challenge (TBA).

  Next up in order of preference: Red Ruby (TBA), Exuberance (TBA), Heavenhasmynikki (TBA), Kelly’s Humor (TBA). 

PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES 

$100,000 KENTUCKY JUVENILE (Entries taken Saturday, race Thursday, May 3) – Probable: Baytown Macca, Blazin Liason, Boucan, Inda Zone, Myhotrodlincoln, Shanghaied Roo

$70,000 OPENING VERSE OVERNIGHT STAKES (Entries taken Saturday, race Thursday May 3) – Probable: Dimension (GB), First Premio, Mr Cub, Royal Son, Royal Squeeze, Serjeant at Arms (IND), Shakhimat, Swagger Jagger, Trust Factor 

$400,000 ALYSHEBA PRESENTED BY SENTIENT JET (GII) (Entries taken Monday, April 30, race Friday, May 4) – Probable: Always Dreaming, Backyard Heaven, Goats Town, Hence

$350,000 LA TROIENNE PRESENTED BY TWINSPIRES.COM (GI) (Entries taken Monday, April 30, race Friday, May 4) – Probable: Abel Tasman, Martini Glass, Streamline. Possible: Ivy Bell, Salty

$200,000 EDGEWOOD PRESENTED BY FORCHT BANK (GIII) (Entries taken Monday, April 30, race Friday, May 4) – Probable: Altea (FR), Beyond Blame, Bo Peep, Daddy Is a Legend, Heavenly Love, Kabella, Toinette  

$200,000 EIGHT BELLES PRESENTED BY KENTUCKY TRAILER (GII) (Entries taken Monday, April 30, race Friday, May 4) – Probable: Gas Station Sushi, Hold Her Tight, Kram, Mia Mischief, Salt Bae, Shamrock Rose, Talk Veuve to Me

$200,000 TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT (GIII) (Entries taken Monday, April 30, race Friday, May 4) – Probable: Bucchero, Chief Cicatriz, Flashaway, Frisky Magician, Imprimis, Kid Perfect, Latent Revenge, Restless Rambler, Riser, Vision Perfect

$500,000 OLD FORESTER TURF CLASSIC (GI) (Entries taken Tuesday, May 1, race Saturday, May 5) – Probable: Arklow, Beach Patrol, Channel Maker, Deauville (IRE), Kurilov (CHI), Shining Copper, Sir Dudley Digges, Synchrony, War Decree

$500,000 CHURCHILL DOWNS PRESENTED BY TWINSPIRES.COM (GII) (Entries taken Tuesday, May 1, race Saturday, May 5) – Probable: Imperial Hint, Limousine Liberal, McCraken, Outplay, Petrov, Unbridled Outlaw, Warrior’s Club 

$300,000 AMERICAN TURF PRESENTED BY RAM TRUCKS (GII) (Entries taken Tuesday, May 1, race Saturday, May 5) – Probable: Admiralty Pier, Arawak, Channel Cat, Dragon Drew, Maraud, Ride a Comet, River Boyne (IRE), Threeandfourpence, Tigers Rule, Tiz Mischief, Untamed Domain 

$300,000 HUMANA DISTAFF (GI) (Entries taken Tuesday, May 1, race Saturday, May 5) – Probable: American Gal, Finley’sluckycharm, Jordan’s Henny, Lewis Bay, Miner’s Cat, Skye Diamonds. Possible: Ivy Bell 

$300,000 LONGINES DISTAFF TURF MILE (GII) (Entries taken Tuesday, May 1, race Saturday, May 5) – Probable: Juno (BRZ), La Coronel, Madam Dancealot (IRE), Madame Stripes (ARG), On Leave, Psycho Sister, Res Ipsa, Union Strike

$300,000 PAT DAY MILE PRESENTED BY LG&E AND KU (GIII) (Entries taken Tuesday, May 1, race Saturday, May 5) – Probable: Believe in Royalty, Givemeaminit, Greyvitos, Lombo, Madison’s Luna, Mask, Mississippi, National Flag, New York Central, Seahenge, Shane Zain, Smart Remark, Title Ready 

WORKOUT VIDEOS

 

Thursday, April 26, 2018: https://bit.ly/2qX1a3J

Wednesday, April 25, 2018: https://bit.ly/2JwgZVZ

Tuesday, April 24, 2018: https://bit.ly/2HtmuZ1

Monday, April 23, 2018: https://bit.ly/2qXtuSG

Sunday, April 22, 2018: https://bit.ly/2FjqeWS

 

BRISNET.COM PAST PERFORMANCES

 

Kentucky Derby: https://bit.ly/2Jnwkbc

Kentucky Oaks: https://bit.ly/2JtAZsg 

CHURCHILL DOWNS RACING CLUB

Up to 200 people can experience the excitement of Thoroughbred racehorse ownership this spring with an unraced 2-year-old, the latest addition to the popular Churchill Downs Racing Club stable.

The Churchill Downs Racing Club, which was inaugurated in the spring of 2016, again will give 200 people a low-cost pathway to introduce and experience the excitement of Thoroughbred racehorse ownership for one-time membership dues of $500.

The unraced 2-year-old horse will be trained by New Orleans native Tom Amoss, a veteran on the Kentucky and Louisiana circuit, winning 3,500 races with his horses earning more than $95 million. Amoss is the two-time leading trainer at Churchill Downs.

Interested parties are invited to register online at www.ChurchillDowns.com/RacingClub.