Kentucky Derby Update: Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Apr 21, 2021

Six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob
Baffert indicated via text that Hozier,
sixth in the Arkansas Derby (GI) in his most recent start, is under
consideration for Kentucky Derby 147.

    Owned by the partnership
of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket
Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Golconda
Stables, Siena Farm and Robert Masterson, Hozier is No. 21 on
the Road to the Kentucky Leaderboard.

    Hozier galloped a little
bit more than a mile with Joel Osorio up over a sloppy track a little
before 9:30 on a morning in which the news of the day was … wait for it … Snow!

    Overnight Louisville
picked up an April 21 record 1.8 inches of snow that left the Matt Winn Turf
Course covered in a blanket of white inside the sloppy main track.

 

BOURBONIC, DYNAMIC ONE, KNOWN AGENDA,
SAINTHOOD – Trainer Todd
Pletcher sent his quartet of Derby 147 hopefuls
out for 1 ¼-mile gallops Wednesday morning.

    “We cut back a little
bit today and sent them straight off (as opposed to backtracking to the front
of the grandstand),” Pletcher said, “And got them
back safe and sound.”

    First to go out for Pletcher at 7:30 was Florida Derby (GI) winner Known
Agenda with Hector Ramos aboard and Wood Memorial (GII) runner-up Dynamic
One with Carlos Perez Quevedo aboard.

    At 7:50, Wood Memorial
winner Bourbonic was on the track with Ramos
aboard along with Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) runner-up Sainthood with Amelia
Green aboard.

    Pletcher
is leaning toward working all four on Friday.

    “There is potential for
rain all day Saturday and I would prefer Friday to pushing back to Monday,” Pletcher said.

    Pletcher,
who won the Derby in 2010 with Super Saver and 2017 with Always
Dreaming, has riders lined up for all but Sainthood.

    “We will wait until
after the final breezes and monitor who is available,” Pletcher
said.

 

HELIUM, SOUP AND SANDWICH – Live Oak Plantation’s Soup
and Sandwich, along with D J Stable’s Helium, jogged two
miles over the sloppy surface Wednesday at Churchill Downs.

    Helium, ridden by Paolo
Levi and Soup and Sandwich, with Gilbert Hernandez in the saddle,
were both accompanied by stable pony Jack with Isabella Leslie
aboard.

    Both horses are likely
to gallop Thursday, according to trainer Mark Casse’s assistant David Carroll.

 

HIGHLY MOTIVATED – Klaravich
Stables’ Highly Motivated galloped a mile and a half under Peter Roman during
the 7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses.

    Trainer Chad Brown
plans to work the Blue Grass Stakes (GII) runner-up Saturday, a breeze that
could be moved up a day because of weather.

 

HOZIER – Hozier, No. 21 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby
leaderboard, galloped a little more than a mile before 9:30 under exercise
rider Joel Osorio.

 

KEEPMEINMIND – Keepmeinmind
had a spirited 1 ½-mile gallop over the sloppy track with Enrique Benitez
aboard at 5:45.

    Standing at No. 23 on
the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, Keepmeinmind
is scheduled to work Friday or Saturday for trainer Robertino
Diodoro.

 

KING FURY – Lexington Stakes (GIII) winner King
Fury galloped 1 ½ miles under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. at 7:30.

    Trained by Kenny McPeek, King Fury stands at No. 22 on the Road to the
Kentucky Derby leaderboard with a work scheduled for Saturday.

 

MIDNIGHT BOURBON, SUPER STOCK – Winchell Thoroughbreds’
multiple graded stakes-placed colt Midnight Bourbon jogged one
mile at 5:30 a.m. with Wilson Fabian aboard alongside Hall of Fame
trainer Steve Asmussen.

    Erv
Woolsey and Keith Asmussen’s upset Arkansas Derby (GI) hero Super Stock
galloped about 1 3/8 miles with Juan Vargas aboard at 6:30 a.m. Super
Stock is scheduled to work Saturday while Midnight Bourbon is slated to work
Monday.

 

O BESOS – Barrett Bernard, Tagg Team Racing and West Point
Thoroughbreds’ O Besos was tentatively
scheduled to work Wednesday morning but trainer Greg Foley opted to move
the work to Thursday because of track conditions.

    The Orb colt jogged one
mile under rider Margarito Fierro.

    “Horses like this give
me the motivation to keep going in life,” said Fierro, who’s worked for Foley
for nearly 20 years. “He’s still a baby but what I’ve loved about his galloping
is he does it with class. He gets on the track with the pony, checks out his
surroundings and when he’s ready to start his gallop he’s all business.”

    O Besos
will work at 5:15 a.m., according to Foley.

 

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.

    “We’re still waiting to
see what shakes down,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “He looks
unbelievable out there training but you never know what can happen with the
horses in front of us. We’ll be ready.”

    Starrininmydreams
sits No. 24 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); Caddo River (TBA, 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: Hozier (TBA, Bob Baffert);
King Fury (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek);
Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro); Starrininmydreams (TBA, Dallas
Stewart).

 

LONGINES
KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE – OXO Equine’s Travel
Column, winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) in her most recent start,
paid a visit to the starting gate before galloping 1 5/8 miles on a chilly and
damp Wednesday morning.

 

AVA’S GRACE – Cypress Creek Equine’s Ava’s
Grace galloped a mile and half at 5:45 under exercise rider Walter
Davila for trainer Robertino Diodoro.

    Ava’s Grace is scheduled
to work Friday or Saturday.

 

CLAIRIERE, PAULINE’S PEARL – Stonestreet
Stable’s Clairiere and Pauline’s Pearl
trained early Wednesday morning for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen.

   

COACH, TRAVEL COLUMN – Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) winner Travel
Column had an adjusted position on trainer Brad Cox’s set list
Wednesday when she galloped about 1 5/8 miles and visited the starting gate,
which opened at 7:30 a.m. Typically, the gray filly would train before 6 a.m.

    Keuber
Racing’s Coach also galloped about 1 5/8 miles for Cox.

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

COMPETITVE SPEED – John Minchello’s Competitive Speed galloped nearly two
miles under Juan Vargas for trainer Javier Gonzalez at 8:20.

    Competitive Speed is
scheduled to work Friday after which Gonzalez will finalize the process of
naming a rider for the Oaks.

    “We will wait until
after the breeze and see who is available,” the 55-year-old Gonzalez said.

 

CRAZY BEAUTIFUL – Phoenix Thoroughbred’s Crazy
Beautiful galloped a mile and a half under Danny Ramsey at 7:30 for
trainer Kenny McPeek.

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

 

MALATHAAT – Shadwell Stable’s undefeated Malathaatgalloped 1 ½ miles under Amelia
Green at 7:30 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

    Malathaat
is scheduled to work Friday.

 

MILLEFEUILLE – Juddmonte
Farms’ Millefeuille galloped a mile and a quarter
at 7:30 under Ailsa Morrison for trainer Bill Mott.

 

SEARCH RESULTS – Klaravich
Stables’ undefeated Search Results galloped 1 ½ miles at 7:30 under
exercise rider Walter Malasquez for trainer Chad
Brown.

    Search Results is
scheduled to work Friday.

 

WILL’S
SECRET – Willis Horton’s Honeybee (GIII)
winner Will’s Secret galloped about 1 ½ miles Wednesday at Churchill
Downs under trainer Dallas Stewart’s exercise rider and longtime friend Lee
Guidry.

   
“I’ve known him since we were 5-years-old and we lived across the street from
one another in New Orleans,” Stewart said. “He’s a great hand on a horse.”

   
Guidry had a 19-year career as a jockey and tallied 915 victories in 9,596
races.

   
Will’s Secret is slated to work Friday, according to Stewart. 

 

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 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); Winning 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
VIA COADY PHOTOGRAPHY FTP – For the latest Kentucky Derby and Kentucky
Oaks photos from Coady Photography visit: http://gofile.me/52JOy/B6wuNvPf7.
Please credit all photos to Churchill Downs/Coady Photography.

 

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