JC / Railbird - Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby

2019 Kentucky Derby

Prep schedule: Includes leaderboard, charts, replays, speed figures

Visions of Roses

– Court Vision, wearing blinkers, breezed four furlongs in :46.20 at Churchill this morning, and even though Steve Haskin didn’t catch the work, he saw something special:

This is when the roses began to burst. Court Vision went a half in :46 1/5 breezing, galloping out five-eighths in about 1:00 3/5 under exercise rider Neil Poznanski. The work was the fastest of 25 at the distance and a full second faster than the second fastest work. Another clocker caught him in :45 and change. When a horse of this quality undergoes such a dramatic change, especially at Churchill Downs, where he has already won a grade II stakes, it is exactly what you’re looking for.

Garrett Gomez rides Court Vision and has no plans to pursue another Derby horse, reports Dick Powell. “Despite all the rumors, agent Ron Anderson stated that his rider, Garrett Gomez, will stay aboard … and not switch to Pyro, as many were speculating.” Are many speculating because Shaun Bridgmohan is about to be replaced on Pyro following the Blue Grass disappointment? Powell doesn’t say.
– Tale of Ekati worked four furlongs in :49.20 at Keeneland. Trainer Barclay Tagg said Eibar Coa would ride the Wood winner in the Derby and that Javier Castellano would ride Big Truck, #20 on the graded earnings list and still pointing to the race despite his 11th-place finish in the Blue Grass.
– Trainer Larry Jones could have two fillies in the Derby.

Posted in Racing on April 17, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / 2 comments

Wednesday Evening Notes

– Edgar Prado chooses to ride Adriano in the Kentucky Derby over Monba and Tale of Ekati. “Obviously I’m thrilled, not only that Edgar’s riding him, but that, in doing so, he’s endorsing the horse,” said trainer Graham Motion (DRF). Ramon Dominguez picks up the mount on Monba.
– So true: “The Derby is so popular that everybody wants to participate,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “The whole earnings thing has so much more focus that people no longer feel like they have to justify being there, that the graded earnings justify it for the horse” (Courier-Journal). Maybe there should be another way, like standings or a committee.
– Stakes-placed Little Cliff narrowly avoids a gruesome fate.

Posted in Racing on April 16, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / 4 comments

This Isn’t Derby Fever …

It’s madness:

Trainer Eric Guillot was refreshingly candid during an April 15 teleconference hosted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, calling his horse “one of the 15 who might not belong,” but saying a trip to the Kentucky Derby … is definitely under consideration for Salute the Sarge.

Guillot further said Salute the Sarge — a fine sprinter who’s won 4 of 7 starts at distances ranging from 5 to 6 1/2 furlongs — could be used as a rabbit, and that he just wants to find out how good his horse is in a route:

“Even though he’s bred to go a mile at best, we had to take the opportunity — especially with the Derby coming up.”

Salute the Sarge has $258,940 in graded earnings, enough for a Derby post, and is expected to start on Saturday in the Lexington Stakes. Should he show up in the Derby, I’ll take no pleasure in tossing this one while handicapping. He’s too good a horse to be ruined by such foolishness.

Posted in Racing on April 15, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / 1 comment

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