LOUISVILLE, Ky. - When it was mentioned to trainer Chad Brown that Highly Motivated was starting to get some buzz on the backstretch at Churchill Downs leading into next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer was all smiles.
“If you’re talking about a horse having a good chance, it’s a conversation I want to be in rather than someone talking about a horse that’s not training well,” Brown said.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Rock Your World solidified his role as legitimate Kentucky Derby contender with a solid five-furlong team work Saturday morning at Santa Anita, the colt’s final work before leaving for Kentucky.
Winner of the Santa Anita Derby by more than four lengths in just his third start for trainer John Sadler, undefeated Rock Your World worked in company after the 6:30 a.m. break Saturday, under exercise rider Cerapio Figueroa.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Arkansas Derby, on April 10 this year, was the last major Kentucky Derby prep, and since Super Stock won the Arkansas Derby just two weeks ago, the tenor of his final Derby workout Saturday at Churchill Downs was relatively muted.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Essential Quality, who has won all his races and will almost certainly be the Kentucky Derby favorite, and Mandaloun, soundly defeated last out as the favorite in the Louisiana Derby, put in their final Derby works Saturday morning at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox.
Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Like the King turned in his final serious work for the Derby on Saturday morning at his Keeneland home base.
The colt, under regular work rider Julio Garcia, broke off two lengths behind stablemate Artie’s Princess, who earlier this month was named Canada’s champion female sprinter of 2020. Like the King collared his workmate easily in the stretch and was edging clear at the wire as Keeneland clockers credited him with five furlongs in 1:01. The duo galloped out in 1:15.40.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - While trainer Todd Pletcher was pleased with what he saw from all four of his 3-year-olds Friday morning when they put in their final workouts at Churchill Downs for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, there was one move in particular that seemed to stand out.
Hozier was declared out of the Kentucky Derby as the field continues to shift with one week remaining before the May 1 classic.
Hozier, who is trained by Bob Baffert for the multi-pronged partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Golconda Stable, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson, had been second in the Rebel Stakes, but sixth in the Arkansas Derby. He had worked six furlongs in "lackluster" fashion on Friday morning at Churchill Downs, in the eyes of Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch.
The Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity trials will have nine divisions at Los Alamitos on Sunday, and will be held without one of the track’s top Quarter Horse jockeys.
Oscar Andrade, Jr., 19, has relocated to Ruidoso Downs for the summer. Through the April 25 program, Andrade was tied for fifth in the standings with 8 wins since the season began on Dec. 26. At the 2020 meeting, Andrade was second in the standings behind Jesus Rios Ayala.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Vic Stauffer will be wrapping up his fifth season as the Oaklawn Park announcer on Saturday and his downtime from the mike will be jam-packed.
It gets under way the day after the meet, when Stauffer and his wife, Tina, are scheduled to move into their new home in Hot Springs.
“We not only bought a house, we bought some land and are building a house,” Vic Stauffer said. “So, we have fallen in love with Hot Springs and Arkansas.
