ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Trainer Kevin Attard worked three possible starters for the Sept. 12 Queen’s Plate Saturday, including Plate Trial Stakes winner Clayton and Merveilleux.
Under Rafael Hernandez, Clayton breezed five-eighths in 1:01.60 on the training track with Say Hey, a move that Attard said he was happy with.
“He breezed well,” Attard said. “He was nice and relaxed. He galloped-out strongly. Hernandez seemed happy. All good signs.”
DEL MAR, Calif. - There may be questions over whether Authentic can stretch his speed to 1 1/4 miles Saturday in the Kentucky Derby, but there is no question he's coming into the biggest test of his life as good as can be. This was confirmed Sunday morning at Del Mar when he completed his serious training for the Derby with a strong drill that capped off an excellent series since his victory in the Haskell.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Owner Charles Fipke announced on his Twitter account Saturday that his unbeaten 3-year-old colt Shirl’s Speight will miss next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby due to a cough.
“Unfortunately, Shirl’s Speight has come up with a minor cough today and he will not be going to the Kentucky Derby. His health is our number one concern, and we’ll look forward to his next race.”
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DEL MAR, Calif. – Honor A. P. is right where trainer John Shirreffs and jockey Mike Smith want him. In his final afternoon work here at Del Mar, his final work for the Kentucky Derby seven days hence, Honor A. P. worked a steady seven furlongs in 1:27.20, including a final quarter in 24.40 seconds, then galloped out a mile in 1:40.60.
“Really good,” Shirreffs said as Honor A. P. galloped back after the work. “I’m really happy. The only thing that could have gone wrong was to go too fast. He went nice and even all the way around.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher has confirmed plans for his 3-year-olds, with Money Moves going to next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and Dr Post, the Belmont Stakes runner-up, pointing to the Grade 2, $150,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga the same day.
Money Moves, who will be ridden by Javier Castellano, becomes the 18th confirmed starter for the Kentucky Derby. Money Moves, who has never run in a stakes race, has no qualifying points for the Derby, but points don’t matter if 20 horses or fewer are entered in the race.
Swiss Skydiver, one of the major contenders for next Friday's Kentucky Oaks, breezed a maintenance half-mile in 49.20 seconds on Saturday at Churchill Downs in her final major tune-up for the filly classic.
Swiss Skydiver, working solo during the training period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks candidates, went her opening quarter in 23.40 seconds, according to Churchill Downs clockers. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.20 under Brian Hernandez Jr.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mother Nature fought the Law and the Law won.
Before the rain came Saturday morning in upstate New York, Tiz the Law completed his major preparation for next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby by working a fast five furlongs in 58.96 seconds over a fast Saratoga main track.
The two graded stakes for 2-year-olds at Los Alamitos will be held two weeks apart for the first time in several years.
The Grade 1 Starlet Stakes for fillies at 1 1/16 miles is scheduled for Dec. 5, while the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity at 1 1/16 miles will be Dec. 19. Racing secretary Bob Moreno said last week that the position of the $300,000 Starlet two weeks before the $200,000 Futurity may allow a filly to run in both races.
Virtually all of the top jockeys in North America will be part of the daily riding colony at Kentucky Downs, the turf-only track that will host a six-day meet Sept. 7-16.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sole Volante, whose last start resulted in a distant sixth-place finish in the June 20 Belmont Stakes, was scheduled to arrive by van Sunday at Churchill for the Kentucky Derby after sizzling five furlongs in 57.80 seconds over turf Friday at the Palm Meadows training center in south Florida.
