Kentucky Derby Update - Thursday, May 4, 2023
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Kentucky Derby Update Thursday, May 4, 2023 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ KENTUCKY DERBY, OAKS CONTENDERS A lot has been made out of the fact that Confidence Game FINALIZE PREPARATION FOR has not run since the Rebel Stakes (GII) Feb. 25 at Oaklawn this week, but the only ones not concerned are his trainer and WEEKEND RACES owner. “The answer is simple, it took the ownership a month LOUISVILLE, KY (Thursday, May 4, 2023) – Less than 48 to sober up,” Desormeaux said. “That’s the funny answer. hours remain until the first Saturday and trainers are eagerly How do you want me to make a decision when the ownership watching as their Kentucky Derby contenders log their final was still partying a month later? It was awesome. The Rebel training sessions before the Run for the Roses. was fun for those guys. The serious answer is it was 40 degrees It was an eventful morning for trainer Brad Cox with three all weekend in Hot Springs that week, he ran in that kind of of his four Derby contenders scheduled to gallop at 7:30 a.m. weather and then we shipped back to New Orleans on Sunday Two of three contenders were completing their final circuit and it’s 80 degrees. In New Orleans it was 80 degrees all week. around the racetrack when the third runner, Verifying, passed So, he went from 40 to 80. And, it zapped him. I knew I was the five-furlong marker and got loose from his rider. He was going to give him a couple of light weeks. And, right when I apprehended at the quarter pole by Outriders Greg Blasi and got him up to race readiness again, which was around Lee Lockwood. Louisiana Derby time, around Arkansas Derby time, Blue Cox reported Verifying was fine following the training Grass time, it was time to ship here. And, horses need to mishap. acclimate. He was going from New Orleans to Louisville, Moments later, Peter Miller’s filly And Tell Me Nolies changing homes, changing routine. I just didn’t think adding a reared as she was walking off the track and ran off the gap race on top of that was beneficial to what I wanted to do back to her Barn 24. Saturday, so we chose not to run and I feel very comfortable Miller stated And Tell Me Nolies was OK. with that decision. The horse is just thriving right now.” There will be special training hours on Friday and Saturday “Ten weeks, there’s been a lot of talk about this, but Keith with training from 5:30-7:30 a.m. with Friday’s 7:45-8 slot and I talked about it and we felt it was in the best interest of reserved for Oaks and Derby horses and the same time the horse,” Don’t Tell My Wife Stables Managing Partner Kirk Saturday for Derby horses. Godby said. “We wanted to have him fresh and ready to run in the Triple Crown. We felt this gives him the best chance to ANGEL OF EMPIRE/HIT SHOW/JACE’S ROAD, compete in this race and then go on from there. We’re VERIFYING – Gary and Mary West’s Hit Show went out excited.” to train at 5:15 a.m., while his other three Derby running stablemates, Albaugh Family Stables’ Angel of Empire, CONTINUAR – Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd.’s Continuar West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables’ (JPN) walked from the Quarantine Barn to the front of the Jace’s Road, and Coolmore’s Verifying went to out to train grandstand and then went to the mile chute where he warmed at 7:30 a.m. during the special training time Thursday. up during the first harrow break of the morning. Three of the four had routine 1 ½-mile gallops, but When the track reopened for training at 7:30, Continuar Verifying had a little more eventful training session. He cantered a mile with trainer Yoshito Yahagi looking on. dumped his exercise rider and had to be caught by outrider Ryusei Sakai will be aboard Continuar for his first Derby Greg Blasi and Lee Lockwood. About an hour later, Cox mount and will break from post 20. reported Verifying was “fine.” In addition to the four horses in the Kentucky Derby, Cox DERMA SOTOGAKE – Hiroyuki Asanuma’s Derma also has three fillies in the Kentucky Oaks as he seeks his third Sotogake (JPN) walked from the Quarantine Barn to the win in that race. When asked how he was holding up from the front of the grandstand and then went to the mile chute where pressures of the week, the Louisville native said, “I’m great. It’s he warmed up during the first harrow break of the morning. cool, it’s great. Since we got all of our works in and our gate When the track reopened at 7:30, the UAE Derby (GII) schooling in, I’m just ready for race day to get here.” winner galloped a mile and a quarter as trainer Hidetaka All four of the Cox Derby runners will school in the Otonashi and jockey Christophe Lemaire looked on. paddock during the first race Thursday. Derma Sotogake will represent the second Derby mount for Lemaire, who was aboard Crown Pride (JPN) last year CONFIDENCE GAME – Don’t Tell My Wife Stables’ when that runner finished 13th. Confidence Game walked the shedrow of barn 24 as is the normal routine for the Keith Desormeaux stable. He will return to the track Friday to gallop and is likely to also gallop Saturday morning, race day. -more-
Kentucky Derby News Update out for a good gallop at the start of the special 7:30 to 7:45 Thursday, May 4, 2023 training session Thursday morning at Churchill Downs. The Page 2 of 5 big colt by Practical Joke galloped under exercise rider Baltazar Contreras for a mile and three-eighths and schooled Lemaire rode the son of Mind Your Biscuits for the first in the starting gate as well. time in the UAE Derby, a front-running 5 ½-length victory, a At 7:55 Contreras got a leg up on Reincarnate, the Sham performance that propelled Derma Sotogake to the co-fourth Stakes (GIII) winner, and he, too, headed to the racetrack for a choice on the Derby 149 morning line at 10-1. good gallop, covering a mile and a quarter when all was said and done. DISARM – Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Disarm galloped The trainer was asked if all was good with his charges Thursday at 7:30 a.m. for Hall of Fame trainer Steve heading toward Derby 149. Asmussen. “Yes, I’m happy with where my horses are,” he said. “Everything is going well.” FORTE/KINGSBARNS/MAJOR DUDE/TAPIT Practical Move will break out of Post 10 Saturday with TRICE – As per usual, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher regular rider Ramon Vazquez aboard. Reincarnate will come had his Derby trio trackside and ready to roll for the special out of Post seven and have Hall of Fame jockey John 7:30 to 7:45 training period for Derby and Oaks runners. They Velazquez in the saddle. all went about their business by galloping about a mile and three eighths around the big Churchill oval. RAISE CAIN – Andrew and Rania Warren’s Raise Cain The threesome consisted of Derby favorite Forte (with galloped 1 ½ miles under Rene Morales for trainer Ben exercise rider Hector Ramos up), the undefeated Kingsbarns Colebrook. (Elder Flores) and the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) star Tapit “This morning was as good as he ever trained,” Colebrook Trice (Amelia Green). said. “His ears were pricked.” Green, a young English horsewoman who has worked for Raise Cain will represent the first Derby starter for the 45- Pletcher for the past six years, was asked about the possibility year-old Colebrook, who went out on his own in 2012. of her charge – the gray Tapit Trice – winning Saturday’s “The first Derby I saw in person was Thunder Gulch in Derby and what that would mean to her. 1995,” Colebrook said. “The first Derby I really remember was “Well, I’m lucky to be working in a good barn with good Alysheba (in 1987). He was my favorite horse.” horses,” she said. “All our horses are working well, including mine. But I don’t think you’re going to find anyone here this ROCKET CAN – The Into Mischief colt, owned by Frank week with a Derby horse that wouldn’t tell you their horse is Fletcher Racing Operations, was on the track Thursday training well. morning for a gallop of about a mile-and-three-eighths with “If one of the horses from our barn were to win, I’d be regular exercise rider Guelser Cardona. delighted. We’re a team here and we root for each other and “We got held up a bit, but it turned out OK,” said Hall of want the others to do well. But probably – deep in my heart – Fame trainer Bill Mott, referring to Verifying dumping his there’s a place that would feel very warm if my horse was to exercise rider and taking off. win the Derby. That would be special.” Rocket Can, who drew the No. 18 post position and was Pletcher said “All is good so far,” when asked about his listed at morning-line odds of 30-1, will have Junior Alvarado Derby hopefuls. He’s scheduled them for a visit to the aboard in the Derby. He’ll wear blinkers, and has trained with paddock with the horses for today’s Race six and indicated his them on. runners would be ready to train again Friday in the special 7:45 to 8 a.m. training session for Derby and Oaks runners. SKINNER – Following a pattern he set on his first Churchill training morning this past Monday, trainer John Shirreffs sent LORD MILES – Vegso Racing Stable’s Wood Memorial his colt Skinner to the racetrack at 9 a.m. for his morning (GII) winner walked the shedrow Thursday morning. exercise. The Curlin colt, a $510,000 2-year-old-in-training purchase MAGE – The Good Magic colt, runner-up to Forte in the by owners C R K Stable, had exercise rider Donnie Florida Derby (GI), galloped Thursday with regular exercise Balthazar up and a stable pony alongside as they came rider J.J. Delgado. through the six-furlong gap and backtracked to the finish line “Today he was schooling at the gate, and he looked really, and up into the paddock. The rider then took the bay onto the really good on the track,” said trainer Gustavo Delgado. racetrack from there for a strong mile and one-half gallop, “There wasn’t any problem when the horse (Verifying) got moving smartly in the middle of the racetrack. Skinner was on loose. Today he’s probably going to the paddock, too.” the bit and wanting to run. “The talent he’s showing is very great,” Delgado added “Oh, yeah, happy with that strong move,” said Shirreffs, after lightly raced Mage galloped a strong mile-and-a-half. who watched he drill from a viewing stand on the backside. Javier Castellano will ride the colt, owned by OGMA Skinner was escorted by veteran pony lady Monnie Goetz. Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC She has taken Shirreffs previous Kentucky Derby winner, and CMNWLTH, out of post eight. He’s listed at 15-1 on the Giacomo, to the post for the 2005 Kentucky Derby. She was morning line. asked if she had happy memories of that. PRACTICAL MOVE/REINCARNATE – Trainer Tim Yakteen sent his Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move -more-
Kentucky Derby News Update Thursday, May 4, 2023 ALSO-ELIGIBLES – Trainer Dale Romans is making sure Page 3 of 5 Cyclone Mischief is fresh, fit and ready to step into the 20th starting gate on Saturday, if a horse is scratched from the “Oh, yes,” she said. “That’s always fun when you’re Derby field. working with a winner. I’ve had a couple of others that I took “He went out to school in the gate, and will stand in the to the post, too – Orb in 2013 and California Chrome in paddock today,” Romans said Friday following a gallop of 2014.” about a mile-and-three-eighths with exercise rider Faustino Who, it was wondered, would she be taking postward for Herrarte. “He galloped super today.” Derby 149? Hiroaki Arai’s Mandarin Hero galloped two miles under “Don’t know yet,” she noted. “I’ve been working with Yuji Horita. about 13 of them leading up to the race. I’ll wind up with one Brereton C. Jones and Naber Racing’s King Russell of them.” galloped 1 ½ miles Thursday at 7:30 a.m. Made aware of the special training hours in place for Friday because of the Kentucky Oaks card, Shirreffs indicated that he LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE would send his charge out during the special 7:45 to 8 a.m. training period set aside for Derby and Oaks runners. The AFFIRMATIVE LADY – AMO Racing USA’s Affirmative track closes for training after that. Lady had an eventful mile and a half gallop under Kevin Lundie. SUN THUNDER – Trainer Kenny McPeek had his colt “She had an interrupted mile and a half,” trainer Graham back on the track Thursday with regular exercise rider Martin Motion said. “She had to pull up because of the loose horse. Vargas, galloping slightly more than a mile. It’s ironic, really, with the special training time and there is On Oaks Day, McPeek plans to send Sun Thunder out in supposed to be no drama.” the first set when the track opens at 5:15 a.m. Winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) in her most Riding Sun Thunder in his breeze was his Derby jockey, recent start, Affirmative Lady will exit post 13 under John Brian Hernandez Jr. The colt, owned by R.T Racing Stable Velazquez in Friday afternoon’s Oaks. and Cypress Creek Equine, has been training with blinkers “I’d like to see Johnny save some ground going into the on, and will wear them in the Derby. Sun Thunder and first turn,” Motion said. “He has done it so many times, I will Hernandez will leave the Derby starting gate from post leave it up to him.” position 13. He’s listed at 50-1 on the morning line. Motion said Affirmative Lady would not go to the track in McPeek has made headlines throughout the week sporting the morning. University of Kentucky and University of Louisville gear. However, Wednesday night McPeek and his family attended AND TELL ME NOLIES – Peter Redekop’s And Tell the Davenport Derby Dash, a benefit for the Scott Davenport Me Nolies went out to train at 7:30 a.m. with the other Foundation at Bellarmine University. Kentucky Oaks and Derby contenders and was appearing to When asked at the event his instructions to Hernandez in have a routine morning of galloping and standing in the the Derby, McPeek stated, “I’m just watching along. I’ll let starting gate until the very end of the session. As she was Brian decide what to do.” walking back to the barn, she reared and dumped her exercise rider before galloping at full speed off the track and back to TWO PHIL’S – Patricia’s Hope, Phillip Sagan, and the barn. Madaket Stable’s Two Phil’s visited the track earlier than Trainer Peter Miller, who had been watching training with usual on Thursday, galloping his standard 1 and 1/4 miles at 6 his two sons Jacob and Seth, reported the filly appears to be a.m. under exercise rider Gonzalo Gonzales. The son of Hard fine and they are moving forward to the Oaks. Spun by the General Quarters mare Mia Torri was bred by the “She just got real happy and reared up,” Miller said. father and son team of Chicago natives Philip and Anthony “Luckily, she didn’t go down or anything, so she’s OK. She Sagan, who have retained 10 percent ownership. seems OK.” One of the two eponymous Phils, Phil Sagan arrived in Louisville on Wednesday and joined son Anthony on the backside Thursday morning. “Two Phil’s is the first horse we ever bred, and nobody wanted him,” Anthony Sagan said. “His mother is a Florida- bred and we actually bought her off Michael “Bo” Yates (trainer of Oaks filly Dorth Vader). She was the first horse we ever bought. The mom is the same type of horse—relaxed, easy going, nothing bothered her, she didn't lose her mind in the paddock—so he got that from her. How many guys get involved in the game with one horse and then after she’s done racing, breed that horse, and the first horse she has is now in the Derby.” Two Phil’s has two brothers, a two-year-old by Omaha Beach and a baby by McKenzie. The chestnut colt will school in the paddock ahead of Race three on Thursday. -more-
Kentucky Derby News Update Gambling Girl will have Irad Ortiz Jr. in the tack and Thursday, May 4, 2023 break from Post three. Julia Shining may wind up in the Black- Page 4 of 5 Eyed Susan on Preakness weekend in Baltimore BOTANICAL, THE ALYS LOOK, WET PAINT – MIMI KAKUSHI – Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Trainer Brad Cox sent Botanical and The Alys Look to the Maktoum’s Mimi Kakushi jogged a mile alongside a pony track together first set at 5:15 a.m. along with Derby runner and then galloped a mile under Xavier Ziani. Hit Show for their Thursday training and they both galloped a Trainer Salem bin Ghadayer said Mimi Kakushi could go 1 ½ miles. Kentucky Oaks morning line favorite Wet Paint to the track in the morning or be hand-walked in the went out to train at 7:30 with three of her stablemates running Quarantine Barn. in the Kentucky Derby, Angel of Empire, Jace’s Road and Mimi Kakushi will represent bin Ghadayer’s first starter in Verifying, and she also galloped 1 ½ miles. the United States and the trainer is optimistic about his filly. “They’re really good,” Cox said. “They just had regular “She has improved every race and I think she has a good gallops. They all schooled yesterday and were great. They’ll just chance,” bin Ghadayer said of the UAE Oaks (GIII) winner. walk tomorrow.” “It is a very open race, but we came here to win and not to turn around and go back home.” DEFINING PURPOSE – The Ashland Stakes (GI) winner took to the track Thursday morning during the period reserved PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS – With trainer Brendan Walsh for Oaks and Derby horses, with regular exercise rider Shelby on pony overseeing the preparations, Pretty Mischievous Spalding aboard, for the usual gallop of about a mile-and- galloped her regular distance of one mile and a half during the three-eighths. 7:30 - 7:45 a.m. Derby/Oaks training window. “My filly was off the track before it happened, so she got in “She’s had a great week, really she’s doing super,” Walsh her full gallop,” trainer Kenny McPeek said of the incident said. “She’s got a lot of class. It’s been a good couple of days with Verifying dumping his exercise rider and running off. so far, which feels good heading into a big weekend.” She’ll walk the shedrow early Friday, before the Oaks later in Walsh has saddled three winners from four entries in the the day. first three days of Churchill’s Spring Meet, including winning The filly, who races in the silks of Magdalena Racing, two maiden races on Wednesday’s card with Gloria’s Princess Collette Marie Vanmatre and James Ball, drew the No. 11 and Eddie M. post position in the field of 14. Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride 12-1 Defining Purpose Friday. PROMISEHER AMERICA – Forgoing the Derby and Oaks training window, Hoffman Thoroughbreds, Tom DORTH VADER – John Ropes’ Dorth Vader had a McCrocklin, and Medallion Racing’s Promiseher routine 1 ½-mile gallop at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. America jogged one mile at around 6:00 a.m. Thursday. “She did perfect. She’s a quiet filly. She’s not nervous at all FLYING CONNECTION – Brad King, Randy Andrews, and seems like her normal self in the new environment. (Her G. Chris Coleman, Jim Cone, Suzanne Kirby and Lee exercise rider Fernando Tapara) was really happy with the Lewis’ Flying Connection galloped a mile and a half under gallop yesterday,” assistant trainer Rodrigo Montecino Oscar Rojero. reported. “She had to pull up (because of the loose horse), but a couple minutes later I saw her around the seven-eighths pole SOUTHLAWN – Robert Masterson’s Southlawn had a 1 and see was going strong,” trainer Todd Fincher said. ½-mile gallop Thursday morning for trainer Norm Casse. Fincher said the wire-to-wire winner of the Sunland Park Jockey Rey Gutierrez was on hand watching his Oaks Oaks (Listed) in her most recent start would not go to the mount train while getting interviewed in the Kentucky Derby track Friday morning. Morning Works Show. Florent Geroux, who worked Flying Connection twice here, has the mount and will leave from post 10. WONDER WHEEL – A day after making an appearance “I’d like to see her break a length and front and have a during the Oaks and Derby training window, the Mark Casse- clean trip,” said Fincher, who is saddling his first Oaks starter. trainee Wonder Wheel returned to her routine exercise time “Then we will see how she stacks up.” of 6 a.m. on Thursday morning. Assistant trainer David Carroll led D.J. Stable’s filly through an easy gallop. GAMBLING GIRL/JULIA SHINING – Trainer Todd “If the real Wonder Wheel shows up, she’ll be tough,” Pletcher had his two Kentucky Oaks possibles trackside for Mark Casse said. “She is 2 for 2 here at Churchill. My wife the special training session between 7:30 and 7:45 Thursday brought two dresses, her fancy dress for Derby day and her morning. Exercise rider Carlos Quevedo was at the controls other dress which is nice but is for the Oaks, and I told her she for Gambling Girl, while Humberto Zamora was in the might want to reverse that. I can’t say anything better than that saddle with Julia Shining. about how she is doing.” Gambling Girl is guaranteed a spot for the 149th edition of the “Run for the Lillies,” while Julia Shining will need a couple of scratches in the race prior to 9 a.m. Friday. Both took their Thursday exercise over a mile and three eighths on a sunny Louisville morning. -more-
Kentucky Derby News Update Kentucky Derby Museum and near the Barbaro horse statue, Thursday, May 4, 2023 starting on Friday, April 28. Page 5 of 5 Office Hours BRISNET.COM PAST PERFORMANCES – Thursday, May 4 (Thurby): 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, May 5 (Kentucky Oaks Day): 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Derby: Saturday, May 6 (Kentucky Derby Day): 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. https://www.kentuckyderby.com/uploads/wysiwyg/assets/up loads/PPs_20230429_Derby.pdf If you need to have credentials shipped to you overnight via Fed-Ex, please send an email to Oaks: Stephanie.Rogers@KyDerby.com and include your name, https://www.kentuckyderby.com/uploads/wysiwyg/assets/up address, phone number and Fed-Ex loads/PPs_20230429_Oaks.pdf account number. Any pre-approved onsite parking credentials may be picked 2023 KENTUCKY DERBY WEEK SCHEDULE up in the Parlay Media Center starting on Friday, April 28 during the same hours as the * Thursday, May 4: Thurby presented by Old Forester / Live credential pickup. racing (First of 11 races: 12:45 p.m.; Last race: 6:14 p.m.) KENTUCKY DERBY NEWSFEED MEDIA PORTAL – * Friday, May 5: Kentucky Oaks Day / Live racing (First of 13 The Kentucky Derby Newsfeed will be providing a media races: 10:30 a.m.; Last race: 7:00 p.m.) / Race 11: Kentucky portal to access high quality video and audio files. Files are Oaks (5:51 p.m.) / Fillies & Lilies at Kentucky Derby Museum 1080 HD and will be uploaded on a daily basis. (7:30-10 p.m.) / Barnstable Brown Gala (Barnstable residence) This service is available via any web browser. To / Unbridled Eve at The Galt House (7:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.) / access, type the following into your web browser address bar: Rockin' Derby Eve at Paristown Hall (7:30 p.m.) kyderby.hammondcg.com You will be sent directly to the daily folders where * Saturday, May 6: Kentucky Derby Day / Live racing (First of you can download training footage, b-roll, color, interviews 14 races: 10:30 a.m.; Last race: 8:30 p.m.) / Race 12: Kentucky and press conferences. There are no username or password Derby (6:57 p.m.) / Winner’s Party at Kentucky Derby requirements for web browser access. Museum (7:30-9:00 p.m.) Please tag your footage with the following: Courtesy: Churchill Downs MEDIA PARKING/TRANSPORTATION For further information, inquires or to report technical difficulties, please contact Jesse B. Kelsey, Vice- All onsite parking at Churchill Downs is reserved on Kentucky President of Hammond Communications Group, Inc. at (859) Derby Week. The following is where media without an onsite 492-5768 or at jkelsey@hammondcg.com. pass should park each day during Derby Week. COADY PHOTOGRAPHY MEDIA PORTAL – Media • Friday, May 5: Kentucky Exposition Center. Enter via Gate can access photos of Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders 4 off Crittenden Drive. Park in Lots E or J. Media credential training at https://www.coadyplus.com/gallery- serves as a parking pass. Shuttles with reduced occupancy to collection/149th-Kentucky-Derby/C0000xC42CcNXbHo. promote social distancing run to and from the Churchill Please use the password Derby149 to access and credit all Downs Transport Plaza in front of the Paddock Gate from 2 images to Coady Photography/Churchill Downs. a.m. to 12 a.m. • Saturday, May 6: Kentucky Exposition Center. Enter via Churchill Downs Racing Communications/Notes Team Gate 4 off Crittenden Drive. Park in Lots E or J. Media Darren Rogers | Senior Director, Communications & Media Services| credential serves as a parking pass. Shuttles with reduced (502) 636-4461 (office) | (502) 345-1030 (mobile) | occupancy to promote social distancing run to and from the Darren.Rogers@KyDerby.com | @ DerbyMedia Churchill Downs Transport Plaza in front of the Paddock Kevin Kerstein | Ky Racing Communications | (502) 635-4712 (office) | Gate from 2 a.m. to 12 a.m. (610) 420-6971 (mobile) | Kevin.Kerstein@KyDerby.com| @HorseRacingKK • Sunday, May 7: Open parking at Churchill Downs. Additional parking and entry information for all guests, Gary Yunt | Notes Team Captain | (502) 636-4460 (office) | (303) 981-5629 (mobile) | Gary.Yunt@KyDerby.com| including maps, is available at www.KentuckyDerbyParking.com. -END- BARN LIST https://www.kentuckyderby.com/uploads/wysiwyg/ass ets/uploads/BARN_LIST_-_Spring_Meet__2023_.pdf CREDENTIAL OFFICE HOURS – Kentucky Derby Week Media Credentials will be available for pickup at the Executive Gate lobby, which is located adjacent to the
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