Kentucky Derby Update: Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Apr 20, 2021

Klaravich Stables’ Highly Motivated, runner-up to likely Kentucky Derby
favorite Essential Quality in the Blue Grass Stakes (GII) in his most
recent start, made his first appearance on the main track at Churchill Downs
Tuesday morning galloping under exercise rider Peter Roman. 

    Highly Motivated arrived
Monday morning from Keeneland where he had been
training since the Blue Grass. Trainer Chad Brown plans to work Highly
Motivated on Saturday, weather permitting. Rain is in the forecast for
Saturday. 

Trainer Brad Cox reported
Tuesday morning that Shortleaf Stable’s Arkansas Derby (GI)
runner-up Caddo River would run in the Kentucky Derby. He’s
scheduled to work Saturday.

Unseasonably cool temperatures are
expected to arrive in the Louisville area overnight Tuesday with snow showers
early Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

     

BOURBONIC, DYNAMIC ONE, KNOWN AGENDA,
SAINTHOOD – Trainer Todd
Pletcher sent his quartet of Kentucky Derby
hopefuls out in groups of two for 1 3/8-mile gallops Tuesday morning. 

    Going first during the
7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Oaks hopefuls were St. Elias Stable’s
Known Agenda with Hector Ramos aboard and Repole
Stable, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Dynamic One with
Carlos Perez Quevedoaboard. 

    Coming out just before 8
o’clock were Calumet Farm’s Bourbonic with
Ramos aboard and WinStar Farm and CHC
Inc.’s Sainthood with Amelia Green aboard. 

    Pletcher
has penciled in Saturday as the work day for his Derby runners but noted,
“There could be some weather coming in and we will watch that and could move
the works to Friday.” 

 

CADDO RIVER, ESSENTIAL QUALITY, MANDALOUN – Trainer Brad Cox
confirmed Tuesday morning that Shortleaf Stable’s Arkansas Derby (GI)
runner-up Caddo River would run in the Kentucky Derby.

    “If all goes well after
his work on Saturday, we’ll run in the Derby,” Cox said. “He came out of the
Arkansas Derby in great shape. He’s a sound horse who is training well.”

    All three of his Derby
contenders galloped about 1 ½ miles Tuesday morning. Kentucky Derby favorite Essential
Quality trained at 5:15 a.m. with Edvin
Vargas in the saddle. About 45 minutes later, Caddo River trained with Gustavo
Abrego in the saddle. At 7:30, during the
exclusive training session for Derby and Oaks contenders, Juddmonte
Farm’s Mandaloun trained with Fernando
Espinoza in the boot.

    All three horses are
scheduled to work Saturday morning, according to Cox.

 

HELIUM, SOUP AND SANDWICH – Live Oak Plantation’s Soup
and Sandwich, along with D J Stable’s Helium, galloped 1 ½
miles early Tuesday beneath the Twin Spires.

    Trainer Mark Casse’s assistant David
Carroll reported both horses would work this weekend. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione rides Soup and Sandwich in the Derby while Helium
will be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

 

HIGHLY MOTIVATED – With exercise rider Peter Roman
aboard, Klaravich Stables’ Highly Motivated
galloped during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks
horses. 

    Highly Motivated arrived
at Churchill Downs on Monday and following shortly thereafter was trainer Chad
Brown. 

    “He got around there
good this morning and I am pleased with the way he shipped in,” said Brown, who
has started five horses in the Kentucky Derby with his best finish coming in
2018 when Good Magic was runner-up to eventual Triple Crown winner Justify. 

    Highly Motivated closed
his 2020 campaign with a track record-setting performance in the Nyquist Stakes at Keeneland. A
third-place finish in the Gotham (GIII) opened 2021 followed by the 1 1/8-mile
Blue Grass that marked his first start around two turns. 

    “I thought the Blue
Grass was a really good race and that was the first time he had been on the
lead,” Brown said. “I am confident he can handle the two turns and I think he
will move forward in this race. 

    “We shut him down on
purpose (after the Nyquist) and worked backward from
the Derby. He has hit all the marks getting here.” 

 

KEEPMEINMIND – Spendthrift Farm, Cypress
Creek and Arnold Bennewith’s Keepmeinmind galloped a
mile and a half under exercise rider Enrique Benitez at 5:45. 

    Sitting at No. 22 on the
Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, the Robertino
Diodoro trainee’s next work date is to be
determined.  

 

KING FURY – Fern Circle Stables and Three
Chimneys Farm’s King Fury galloped a mile and a half shortly
after 5:30 with Danny Ramsey aboard for trainer Kenny McPeek. 

    Winner of the Lexington
at Keeneland in his most recent start, King Fury sits
at No. 21 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. He is scheduled to
work Saturday. 

 

MIDNIGHT BOURBON, SUPER STOCK – Winchell Thoroughbreds’
multiple graded stakes-placed colt Midnight Bourbon had a
scheduled walk day following his five-furlong move in :59.80 Monday morning at
Churchill Downs.

    Erv
Woolsey and Keith Asmussen’s upset Arkansas Derby (GI) hero Super Stock
galloped about 1 3/8 miles with Juan Vargas aboard. He’s scheduled to
work Saturday.

 

O BESOS – Barrett Bernard, Tagg Team Racing and West Point
Thoroughbreds’ O Besos will have his final
work prior to the Kentucky Derby Wednesday or Thursday morning at Churchill
Downs.

    Jockey Marcelino Pedroza
will be aboard for the work and also ride O Besos in
the Kentucky Derby.

    “He’s maturing even more
as every day goes by,” Pedroza said. “The first time
I worked this horse I couldn’t believe he won going six furlongs. He loved the
extra distance in the Louisiana Derby.”

    O Besos
had a light gallop Tuesday morning with exercise rider Margarito
Fierro.

    Pedroza
and Fierro share a common bond entering the Kentucky Derby as both riders are
overcoming life changing events. Pedroza lost his
mother last year at 44-years-old to brain cancer while Fierro was once told
he’d never gallop again because of colon cancer. TwinSpires.com’s
Andrew Brown reported the remarkable story here: https://bit.ly/3dwZBlx.

 

STARRININMYDREAMS – Stewart Racing and WinStar Farm’s third-place Lexington Stakes
(GIII) finisher Starrininmydreams galloped
about 1 ½ miles at 6:30 a.m. under exercise rider Emerson Chavez.

    Starrininmydreams
sits No. 23 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

 

SHAPING
UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters
in the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford
Reserve (Grade I) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, May 1 in order of
preference (with possible jockey and trainer): Essential Quality (Luis Saez, Brad
Cox); Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat, Doug O’Neill); Super Stock (Ricardo Santana Jr.,
Steve Asmussen);
Like the King (Drayden Van Dyke, Wesley Ward); Known Agenda (Irad Ortiz,
Todd Pletcher);
Rock Your World (Joel Rosario, John Sadler); Bourbonic (Kendrick Carmouche, Todd Pletcher); Medina Spirit (John Velazquez, Bob Baffert); Midnight
Bourbon (Mike Smith, Steve Asmussen); Mandaloun (Florent Geroux,
Brad Cox); Highly Motivated (Javier Castellano, Chad Brown); Helium
(Julien Leparoux, Mark Casse); Soup and Sandwich (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Casse); Dynamic One (Jose Ortiz, Todd Pletcher); Sainthood (TBA, Todd Pletcher); Hidden Stash (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver); O Besos (Marcelino Pedroza, Greg Foley); Get Her Number (TBA, Peter Miller).

 

Possible
starters within the Top 20 on the preference list: Dream Shake (TBA,
Peter Eurton).

 

Next up
in order of preference: King Fury (Brian Hernandez Jr.); Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro); Starrininmydreams (TBA, Dallas
Stewart).

 

LONGINES
KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE – Klaravich
Stables’ undefeated Search Results, the leading point earner on the
Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard, made her first appearance on the track
beneath the Twin Spires a day after arriving from Belmont Park. 

   
Trained by Chad Brown, Search Results was partnered by Walter Malasquez in her morning gallop during the 7:30-7:45
training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses. 

   
Also, trainer Robertino Diodoro
said that David Cohen would have the mount on Cypress Creek Equine’s
Ava’s Grace in the Oaks. 

 

AVA’S GRACE – Cypress
Creek Equine’s Ava’s Grace jogged a mile
and galloped a mile under exercise rider Walter Davila at 5:45
Tuesday morning. 

    Trainer Robertino Diodoro
indicated via text that David Cohen would have the mount on Ava’s
Grace who finished second in the Fantasy (GIII) in her most recent start. 

    The date for her final
Oaks work remains to be determined. 

 

CLAIRIERE, PAULINE’S PEARL – Stonestreet
Stable’s Clairiere and Pauline’s Pearl
both returned to the track Tuesday following their Monday walk days for Hall of
Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

    Clairiere,
the runner-up to Travel Column in the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII), jogged
about one mile next to Asmussen on the pony, then
galloped about one mile. Twenty minutes later, Pauline’s Pearl came onto the
track for the same training regimen.

 

COACH, TRAVEL COLUMN – Kueber
Racing’s Rags to Riches winner Coach officially made the Top 14 on
the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard Monday afternoon following the
defection of The Grass Is Blue.

    The Brad Cox-trainee
galloped about 1 ½ miles at 7:30 a.m. with Edvin
Vargas in the saddle.

    Her stablemate, Travel
Column, one of the top choices for the $1.25 million Longines
Kentucky Oaks, galloped about 1 ½ miles at 6:20 a.m. with Fernando Espinoza
aboard.

    Both fillies are
scheduled to work Friday, according to Cox.

COMPETITIVE SPEED – John Minchello’s Competitive Speed galloped more than a mile
shortly after 9 o’clock with exercise rider Juan Vargas aboard for
trainer Javier Gonzalez. 

    Third in the Davona Dale (GII) and Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) in her
past two starts, Competitive Speed is scheduled to work Friday. 

    Gonzalez said no
decision on a rider for the Oaks has been made but that topic was to be
discussed later on Tuesday. 

 

CRAZY BEAUTIFUL – Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s Crazy
Beautiful galloped 1 ½ miles at 7:30 under Danny Ramsey for
trainer Kenny McPeek. 

    Winner of the Gulfstream
Park Oaks (GII) in his most recent start, Crazy Beautiful is scheduled to work
Saturday. 

 

MALATHAAT – Shadwell Stable’s undefeated Malathaatgalloped 1 3/8 miles under Amelia
Green for trainer Todd Pletcher during the
7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Oaks horses. 

    Malathaat
is scheduled to work Friday according to Pletcher. 

 

MARACUJA – Beach Haven Thoroughbreds’ Marajuca is scheduled to work Saturday at Belmont Park and then
van to Churchill Downs the following day according to trainer Rob Atras. 

 

MILLEFEUILLE – Juddmonte
Farms’ Millefeuille galloped 1 1/8 miles under Ailsa
Morrison for trainer Bill Mott at 7:30. 

    The date for the final
pre-Oaks work for Millefeuille is to be
determined. 

 

SEARCH RESULTS – Klaravich
Stables’ Search Results, who arrived from New York on Monday, galloped
under Walter Malasquez for trainer Chad
Brown at 7:30. 

    Search Results is
scheduled to work Friday. 

 

WILL’S
SECRET – Willis Horton’s Honeybee
(GIII) winner Will’s Secret galloped about 1 ½ miles Tuesday at
Churchill Downs under exercise rider Emerson Chavez.

 

SHAPING
UP: THE KENTUCKY OAKS – Likely starters in the 147th
running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on
Friday, April 30 in order of preference (with possible jockey and trainer): Search
Results (Irad Ortiz Jr., Chad Brown); Travel Column (Florent Geroux, Brad
Cox); Crazy Beautiful (Jose Ortiz, Kenny McPeek); Pauline’s Pearl (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen);
Malathaat (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher); Clairiere (Tyler Gaffalione, Steve Asmussen); Will’s Secret (Jon Court, Dallas Stewart); Millefeuille (Joel Rosario, Bill Mott); Moraz (Umberto Rispoli, Michael McCarthy); Ava’s Grace (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro); Pass
the Champagne (Javier Castellano, George Weaver); Maracuja
(Kendrick Carmouche, Rob Atras); Competitive Speed (TBA, Javier Gonzalez); Coach
(Luis Saez, Brad Cox).  

 

Next up
in order of preference: Moon Swag (TBA, Brendan Walsh); Army Wife (TBA,
Mike Maker); Spritz (Chris Landeros, Rodolphe Brisset); Oliviaofthedesert (TBA, Kenny McPeek).

 

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 6^th
running of the $125,000 William Walker (Listed), run on Saturday, April 24 at 5
½ furlongs on turf, entries close Wednesday, April 21: Bodenheimer
(trainer Valorie Lund); Cees Get Degrees
(Michelle Lovell); Charles Chrome (Reeve McGaughey);
Field Day (Brad Cox); Gagetown (Brad Cox); The Wolfman (Phil Schoenthal). Possible:
Unitedandresolute (Tom Amoss)

 

The 3^rd
running of the $120,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes presented by
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, run Tuesday, April 27 at 1 ½ miles, entries
close Thursday, April 22: Dack Janiel’s (Jack Sisterson); Plus
Que Parfait (Brendan Walsh); Ry’s the Guy (Ian Wilkes); Strong
Tide (Mike Lauer); You’re To Blame (Ron Moquett).

 

The 27^th
running of the $125,000 Kentucky Juvenile, run Wednesday, April 28 at five
furlongs, entries close Friday, April 23: Bohemian Frost (John
Ennis); Saucy Lady T (James Chapman); Shesgotattitude
(Ennis).

 

The 16^th
running of the $120,000 Opening Verse Overnight Stakes, run Thursday, April 29
at one mile on turf, entries close Saturday, April 24: Captivating Moon
(Chris Block); Epic Dreamer (Mark Casse); Sayyaaf (Mike Maker); Set Piece (Brad Cox); Spectacular
Gem (Jimmy Baker).

 

The 11^th
running of the $150,000 Unbridled Sidney, run on Thursday, April 29 at 5 ½
furlongs on turf, entries close Saturday, April 24: A Bit of Both (Mike
Maker); Ambassador Luna (James Gulick); Change
of Control (Michelle Lovell); Foxxy
Belle (Michael Ann Ewing); Into Mystic (Brendan Walsh); Lady
Grace (Mark Casse); She’sonthewarpath
(Steve Margolis); Wining Envelope (Chris Block); Yes It’s Ginger
(Greg Foley).

 

The 27^th
running of the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco (Grade II),
run Friday, April 30 at 5 ½ furlongs on turf, entries close Monday, April 26: American
Butterfly (D. Wayne Lukas); Carotari (Brian
Lynch); Classy John (Dallas Stewart): Diamond Oops
(Patrick Biancone); Firecrow
(Ron Moquett); Just Might (Michelle Lovell); Sombeyay (Peter Miller).

 

The 37^th
Running of the $300,000 Edgewood presented by Newport Racing & Gaming
(Grade II), run on Friday, April 30 at 1 1/16 miles on turf, entries close
Monday, April 26: Aunt Pearl (IRE) (Brad Cox); I Get It
(Mark Casse); Oliviaofthedesert
(Kenny McPeek); Postnup
(Cherie DeVaux); Queen of the Green
(Jason Barkley). Possible Jouster (Todd Pletcher),
Zaajel (Pletcher).

 

The 66^th
running of the $300,000 Eight Belles presented by Smithfield (Grade II), run on
Friday April 30 at seven furlongs, entries close Monday, April 26: Abrogate
(Steve Asmussen); Dayoutoftheoffice
(Tim Hamm); Euphoric (Bernie Flint); Slumber Party (Kelly Breen);
Sun Path (Brad Cox); Windmill (Larray Jones). Possible: Joyful
Cadence (John Ortiz).

 

The 18^th
running of the $400,000 Alysheba presented by
Sentient Jet (Grade II), run on Friday, April 30 at 1 1/16 miles, entries close
Monday, April 26: Attachment Rate (Dale Romans); Chess Chief
(Dallas Stewart); Maxfield (Brendan Walsh); Roadster
(Bob Baffert): Sonneman
(Steve Asmussen); Visitant (Bill Morey).

 

The 36^th
running of the $500,000 La Troienne presented by
TwinSpires.com (Grade I), run on Friday, April 30 at 1 1/16 miles, entries
close Monday, April 26: As Time Goes By (Bob Baffert);
Dunbar Road (Chad Brown); Envoutante
(Kenny McPeek); Paris Lights (Bill Mott); Sanenus (CHI) (Michael McCarthy); Shedaresthedevil (Brad Cox). Possible: Finite
(Steve Asmussen).

 

The 30^th
running of the $500,000 American Turf presented by Derby City Gaming (Grade
II), run on Saturday, May 1 at 1 1/16 miles on turf, entries close Tuesday,
April 27: Fire At Will (Mike Maker); Holy Vow (John Ortiz); Lucky
Law (Patrick Biancone); Palazzi (Mark Casse); Winfromwithin
(Todd Pletcher).

 

The 97^th
running of the $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU, run on
Saturday, May 1 at one mile, entries close Tuesday, April 27: Excellent
Timing (Chad Brown); Gretzky the Great (Mark Casse);
Jackie’s Warrior (Steve Asmussen); Prevalence
(Brendan Walsh); Whiskey Double (Steve Asmussen).
Possible: Dream Shake (Peter Eurton); Dreamer’s
Disease (Robertino Diodoro). 

 

The 36^th
running of the $500,000 Longines Distaff Turf Mile
(Grade II), run on Saturday, May 1 at one mile on turf, entries close Tuesday,
April 27: Abscond (Eddie Kenneally); Blowout
(Chad Brown); Got Stormy (Mark Casse); Princess
Grace (Mike Stidham).

 

The 35^th
running of the $500,000 Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery
(Grade I), run on Saturday, May 1 at seven furlongs, entries close Tuesday,
April 27: Bell’s the One (Neil Pessin); Gamine
(Bob Baffert), Sconsin
(Greg Foley). Possible: Finite (Steve Asmussen);
Hibiscus Punch (Justin Nixon); Unique Factor (Peter Miller).

 

The 86^th
running of the $500,000 Churchill Downs presented by Ford (Grade I), run on
Saturday, May 1 at seven furlongs, entries close Tuesday, April 27: Charlatan
(Bob Baffert); Hog Creek Hustle (Vickie
Foley); Lexitonian (Jack Sisterson);
Tap It To Win (Mark Casse). Possible: Bango (Greg Foley); Shashashakemeup
(Peter Miller).

 

The 35^th
running of the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (Grade I), run on
Saturday, May 1 at 1 1/8 miles on turf, entries close Tuesday, April 27: Arklow (Brad Cox); Colonel Liam (Todd Pletcher); Digital Age (Chad Brown); Ivar (BRZ)
(Paolo Lobo); Masteroffoxhounds (Richard Baltas); Ride a Comet (Mark Casse);
Smooth Like Strait (Michael McCarthy). Possible: Flavius (Chad
Brown), Spooky Channel (Brian Lynch).

 

EDITORIAL PHOTOS
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Please credit all photos to Churchill Downs/Coady Photography.

 

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