Kentucky Derby hopes at Santa Anita

Kentucky Derby hopes line up at Santa Anita


Preview: USA, Saturday

Santa Anita: Santa Anita Derby (Grade 1) 1m 1f all weather 3yo



KENTUCKY DERBY clues are likely to be gained on Saturday when Pioneerof The Nile and The Pamplemousse, California's top two three-year-olds, meet in the Santa Anita Derby.

The journey for each to this point could not have been more different, though.

Pioneerof The Nile, who began his career for Bill Mott before going to his trainer Bob Baffert, made his debut at Saratoga in August and broke his duck in his second start there prior to finishing third in the Breeders' Futurity on the all-weather at Keeneland.

He then was fifth, beaten less than three lengths in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita, before concluding the season with a scintillating late run to win the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park

This season Pioneer0f The Nile has won the Robert B Lewis and San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.



The Pamplemousse by contrast took three starts last season to register his first victory - at Hollywood Park inDecember - then reeled off a pair of dominating successes since that time, both at Santa Anita and including the San Rafael and Sham Stakes.

While Pioneerof the Nile can race close to the pace, The Pamplemousse appears to insist on being on the lead.

Baffert said of getting Pioneerof The Nile dropped in his lap: "It's unfortunate for Bill Mott, but that's the nature of the game. I was just fortunate that (champion juvenile) Midshipman leaves and this horse comes in there before the stall got cold."

Some were less than impressed with Pioneerof The Nile's most recent win, one coming over lightly-regarded opposition.

"The race got all pluggged up at the half-mile pole when everything slowed down," explained Baffert. "It really took him out of his rhythm. We're going to have a nice, honest pace here, and we'll see how it works out. It's going to make for a true-run race."

Julio Canani, trainer of The Pamplemousse, says it may not be his horse to ensure the pace Baffert is predicting.

"He doesn't have to be on the lead," hesaid. "We don't ask this horse for nothing. He does everything on his own."

The Santa Anita Derby may not be a two-horse race. Chocolate Candy is in the hands of a very capable trainer in Jerry Hollendorfer and he is in very good form having won four of his last five races.

He most recently won the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields in northern California, but prior to that had established himself in Southern California with a solid third in the CashCall Futurity behind Pioneereof The Nile.

"We're trying to prove he belongs with the best three-year-olds in southern California," said Hollendofer's assistant Dan Ward.

Santa Anita Derby
Coral: 6-4 The Pamplemousse, 7-4 Pioneerof the Nile, 11-2 Chocolate Candy, 8-1 Mr. Hot Stuff, 14-1 Feisty Suances, 33-1 Gallant Son, 40-1 Unbridled Roman, Cape Truth, 50-1 Z Day

I Want Revenge shows class in Wood Memorial


Report: USA, Saturday
Aqueduct: Wood Memorial (Grade 1) 1m1f, dirt, 3yo

I WANT Revenge is challenging for Kentucky Derby favouritism with British bookmakers after a remarkable performance on Saturday in one of the most reliable trials.

Although Pioneer of The Nile continued his unflappable progress towards Churchill Downs by completing a four-timer in the Santa Anita Derby, it was fellow Californian-trained I Want Revenge who left the biggest impression after crossing the country to New York for the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

The race has been won by 11 subsequent Kentucky Derbywinners, four of them Triple Crown winners - andI Want Revenge is now only 4-1 with Ladbrokes to add his name to that list. Other firms go 6-1, with Florida Derby winner QualityRoad just shading favouritism.

I Want Revenge, a Jeff Mullins-trained son of Stephen Got Even, was so impressive in winning his debut over a dirt surface in the Gotham Stakes on his previous start.

On Saturday, though, he had to show another dimension or two - great patience and courage.

Having lost about five lengths at the gate when he fluffed the break, he appeared hopelessly trapped behind a wall of horses in mid-straight.

But the 1-2 favourite found running room under jockey Joe Talamo and ran on to a one-and-a-half-length decision over West Side Bernie.

"At the break he kind of reared up a little bit," said Talamo.
"But he actually had a great trip," he added, making light of traffic problems.

"He was on the rail the whole way and saved ground. I found an opening and he kicked down like a real nice horse.

"You can't panic - you just have to go with plan B. Can't rush him. Just stay relaxed and let the race go like it is."

The winning trainer offered a different view, saying: "When he missed the break, I was already heading back to the barn at that point.

"But Joe was patient, and it says a lot for a young rider. He saved his horse and waited for the right time to let him go.
"He looks like a pretty nice horse for me. We've got one more show to go and if he can win that one he's a pretty special animal."

Kelly Breen, trainer of the runner-up, is also ready to see the Twin Spires.

The trainer said: "I don't want to say it's a once-in-a-lifetime shot, but it would be my first shot, knock on wood. If this horse comes out of the race good, then we're all systems go."

Disappointment of the race was the Shug McGaughey-trained Imperial Council, who could finish only fifth as the 28-10 second choice.

"Edgar Prado said he was out of horse at the three-eighths pole," said McGaughey. "There's no chance he's going to the Kentucky Derby.

Pioneer completesfour- timer at Santa Anita


Report: USA, Saturday
Santa Anita: Santa Anita Derby (Grade 1) 1m1f, AW, 3yo

PIONEEROF THE NILE completed an unbeaten passage this year to Kentucky on Saturday when he gave his trainer Bob Baffert a record fifth victory in the Santa Anita Derby, the main west-coast trial for Churchill Downs.

The winner is now generally available in Britain on the 12-1 mark for the Kentucky Derby after winning his fourth consecutive race on the all-weather in California.


However, the victory rang a bit hollow after morning-line favourite The Pamplemousse was scratched due to some heat in a tendon. If the setback is not serious, he will run in the Blue Grass Stakes over 1m1f at Keeneland on Saturday.

In the absence of the likely front-runner, the Santa Anita Derby suffered from a lack of obvious pace, which resulted in Pioneerof The Nile pulling hard under Garrett Gomez going down the backstretch.

The son of Empire Maker took the lead three wide for a spell at halfway, and when the real running began he had enough fuel in his tank to hold Chocolate Candy by a length for another victory that was solid, rather than sensational.

"I know when I have a good horse, and he's a very good horse," said Baffert, a three-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer.
"But he's not going to blaze through there and do something spectacular. Silver Charm, Real Quiet - they were sort of the same way."


Gomez said: "He's such a big-striding horse; he's in a comfortable rhythm if he's able to stretch his legs.

"The bad part about him is when he gets up there, he just lollygags on me. You're always happy to win. I'm ecstatic. But I was trying to get more preparation for the next one."

Gomez could face quite a dilemma if Coolmore's Dunkirk receives a berth in the Kentucky Derby, as he is also that horse's regular rider.

The former Bill Mott-trained Pioneerof The Nile fell into Baffert's lap in a manner not dissimilar to his last Kentucky winner War Emblem, a late purchase in 2002.

Runner-up Chocolate Candy is also headed to Kentucky, while Eoin Harty is considering the race for third-placed Mr Hot Stuff.

Also on Saturday. . .

Report: USA, Saturday
Hawthorne: Illinois Derby (Grade 2) 1m1f, dirt, 3yo

SLIGHT favourite Musket Man (Derek Ryan/Eibar Coa) is a best-priced 25-1 for the Kentucky Derby with British bookmakers after a convincing two-length victory over market rival Giant Oak.

"He placed himself in a great position and just allowed me to do whatever I needed to do," said Eibar Coa.

"He showed today that he definitely has the potential to go to the Derby."

Trainer Derek Ryan added: "He really ran a big race today. Everybody has been questioning his ability to get the distance, but they don't know the horse I do."

Musket Man had won the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on his previous start

Setback for Kentucky favourite Quality Road


USA: The participation of Kentucky Derby favourite Quality Road is in jeopardy as the Florida Derby winner is suffering from a quarter-crack in his off hind.

According to the Daily Racing Form, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said on Monday morning that he is "very concerned" about Quality Road, a best-priced 5-1 with British bookmakers for America's most celebrated race.

However, Jerkens did not rule the son of Elusive Quality out of the race. "You hope it was resolved by now, that's for sure, but he's not out of it yet," he told the Form.

A quarter-crack is a crack in the hoof wall, of varying severity. "The fact that he's not lame from it is a good thing," added Jerkens, who said the injury emerged when Quality Road beat fellow Derby hope Dunkirk in a thrilling running of the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 28.

The crack was patched before Quality Road was shipped back to the trainer's New York base to be prepared for the May 2 Classic at Churchill Downs.

But though Quality Road trained with the patch on, it became evident that he would not put al his weight on the off-hind foot.

According to the Form, he did light exercise at Belmont on Monday but came back to the barn with blood dripping from the area.

"He galloped this morning and he was absolutely sound on it, but it did trickle a little blood, which means there's still some friction going on in there," Jerkens added. "We have to get that inflammation out before we do anything."

Jerkens reckons Quality Road, scheduled to leave for Kentucky on April 28, could still make Kentucky if he responds to treatment and is able to do a couple of strong workouts.

Quality Road setback 'isn't anything huge'


USA: Quality Road's quarter-crack "isn't anything huge" according to the specialist engaged to treat the Kentucky Derby contender's troubled hoof.

The Florida Derby winner's participation in the Run for the Roses looked to be in serious jeopardy when he returned form an easy morning workout on Monday with blood seeping from his off-hind.

However, hoof specialist Ian McKinlay suggested on Tuesday that the setback is not as serious as was at first feared.

McKinlay, noted last year for his work with dual-Classic winner Big Brown, spoke to the Blood-Horse about Quality Road's progress.

"He got patched down in Florida, and it was only for two or three days before the foot started healing up," McKinlay told senior Blood-Horse reporter Steve Haskin.

"There's no sensitivity up at the hairline so basically we just put a bar shoe on him to stablise the quarter, and then we put a set of wires in, almost a carbon copy of Big Brown, just so they could move him a little bit and keep him out of trouble.

"I figured his foot would be ice cold today (Monday), but it was a little warmer than I thought. We had planned on patching him on Wednesday, but we're going to be cautious.

"This isn't anything huge, that's for sure. It's just that I was looking for a simple one, but they never seem to be when you're dealing with good horses. This one is basically pretty easy, but I was hoping it would be really easy."

Quality Road's main market rival I Want Revenge has arrived at Churchill Downs to begin preparation for the Classic after his remarkable victory in Saturday's Wood Memorial.

Illinois Derby winner Musket Man is alsoat Churchill, while the Godolphin pair Regal Ransom and Desert Party are expected on Thursday - much earlier than they have ever arrived before.

Trainer Doug O'Neill is hoping he can get former John Best-trained Square Eddie, sidelined since early February with a cannon bone injury, to Churchill Downs without another run.

Square Eddie is back in proper work at Hollywood Park and will be shipped to Kentucky at the end of the month for a final pre-Derby workout.

Quality Road continues to make progress


USA: QUALITY ROAD continues to make progress following the setback that threatened his Kentucky Derby preparation earlier this week.

The Florida Derby winner, who has sustained a quarter-crack, went through light exercise on the Belmont Park training track on Wednesday with no ill-effects after a new patch wasapplied to his troubled off-hind hoof.

"The good thing is he has never gone lame," said trainer Jimmy Jerkens. "It's not bothering him mentally."

Quality Road is a best-priced 6-1 second favourite in Britain behind new favourite I Want Revenge.

"We took off the bar shoe," added Jerkens.

"We put it on originally to keep it tight But when you put the patch on, sometimes it will have an adverse effect with the bar shoe. So we put on a regular shoe and he seemed to be fine."

QUALITY ROAD, who has been suffering from a quarter-crack since winning the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 28, worked a half-mile in 48.60sec, and galloped out five furlongs in 1min 2sec, over the training track at Belmont Park on Friday morning without complications.


»Kentucky Derby betting www.racingpost.com/horses/popup_pricebox...pricebox_uid=2225702

"He worked well and looked good afterward," said trainer Jimmy Jerkens. "We didn't see any blood, and he was putting his foot down okay, so maybe we'll get lucky. Every day he's sound and there's nothing seeping out, the better you are, that's for sure."

Jerkens said the plan is still to ship Quality Road to Churchill Downs on the Tuesday of Kentucky Derby week.

"Tuesday would be better than Wednesday," he added. "That would be cutting it a little close."

USA: Ante-post supporters of leading Kentucky Derby contender Dunkirk can breathe

a sigh of relief as Coolmore’s Florida Derby runner-up looks certain to make the cut for the Churchill Downs Classic on May 2.

After his Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Advice won the final trial, Saturday’s Coolmore Lexington Stakes, Dunkirk stood at 17th place in the graded-stakes earning list – well inside the maximum limit of 20.

A $3.7 million yearling, the grey son of Unbridled’s Song is a best-priced 7-1 in Britain for the Kentucky Derby after finishing second to Quality Road in Florida on only the third start of his career.

Dunkirk worked 5f in a solid 59.72sec in Florida on Saturday and Plecther said: "I was very pleased with the way he went today.

“He relaxed well the first part, finished up good and galloped out strong."

America’s top Jockey Garrett Gomez, who rode him that day, has yet to choose his Derby mount between Dunkirk and Santa Anita Derby winner Pioneerof The Nile, the leading west-coast contender.

Godolphin’s potential Kentucky Derby runners Regal Ransom and Desert Party both posted sharp works at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

UAE Derby winner Regal Ransom went 5f in 59.8sec, while his stablemate was clocked at 1m0.2s for the same trip.

“Both of them seemed to grab the track really good,” said Rick Mettee, assistant to Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

“This is the first these two have worked over a dirt track since last fall."

One or both horses could run in the Derby and Mettee, who was speaking to the Blood-Horse, added: “Saeed and Shiekh Mohammed will go over that, and it probably won’t be that long before they make a decision.”

USA: ONE-TIME ante-post favourite Quality Road has been ruled out of the Kentucky Derby after the quarter-crack in his off-fore hoof failed to respond adequately to treatment.

The Florida Derby winner was unable to perform a crucial workout on Monday morning at Belmont Park, which meant connections decided to by-pass Saturday's race.

The quarter-crack, which emerged last week, was the second setback of its type to have afflicted Quality Road in his Derby preparations after a similar injury in his off-hind hoof earlier this month.



"We couldn't train him, so we decided we couldn't run him," said trainer Jimmy Jerkens. "He just isn't sound enough.

"It's devastating," he added. "But you're just kidding yourself if you think you can go out there and run in the biggest race in the world and haven't trained. It's a shame because he's so talented."

John Velazquez, who was to have ridden Quality Road, switches to outsider Mr Hot Stuff for Dubai World Cup-winning trainer Eoin Harty.

Jerkens had jogged Quality Road on Saturday and then galloped him on Sunday after the second crack had been re-laced with wire and patched by hoof specialist Ian McKinlay.

The son of Elusive Quality had shown a slight bit of blood after galloping, but was scheduled to work on Monday over the training track at Belmont.

"There was some tenderness in the foot this morning and he's not 100 per cent," said Chris Baker, farm manager for owner Edward Evans's Spring Hill Farm.

"Jimmy wasn't comfortable breezing him and without a work, he can't go. He's not going to make the race."

Quality Road has won three of his four career starts, most recently landing the Fountain of Youth Stakes and the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

"The good news is we have a very talented three-year-old," added Baker. "We'll get him right and go from there."

Several Kentucky Derby hopefuls put in serious works on Monday morning at Churchill Downs, none faster than Friesan Fire.

The Larry Jones-trained Louisiana Derby winner went 5f in 57.8sec after three furlongs in a spectacular 33.6s.

Other works of note included Bob Baffert's Santa Anita Derby winner Pioneerof The Nile, who went 5f in 1m01s and Lexington Stakes winner Advice, who went a half-mile in 47.2sec for trainer Todd Pletcher.

His stablemate Join In The Dance is now guaranteed a run after the defection of Quality Road and should be a major pace factor in the race.

>>Kentucky Oaks favourite Rachel Alexandra went a quick half-mile in 46.4sec for trainer Hal Wiggins.

Friesan Fire blazes in Kentucky Derby workout


USA: To some observers, Friesan Fire might have gone a bit over the top with his brisk 5f workout in 57.84s on Monday morning at Churchill Downs - butnot as far as the Kentucky Derby contender's connections are concerned.

"The work might have been perceived as a little quick based on traditional times, but Friesan Fire did it so well and within himself," said Tom Ludt, general manager of Vinery Farm, a partner with Rick Porter in the ownership of the Larry Jones-trained colt.

"Gabe (jockey Gabriel Saez) wasn't really asking him, so we're as happy as can be. Gabe thought he went in a minute. When he hooked up with Larry, he said, ‘What did I do, boss? A minute?' So he thought he was going easy."

Two years ago Hard Spun worked 5f in a blistering 57.60sec at Churchill Downs during the week of the Kentucky Derby. He went on to make the running and finish second to Street Sense.

"As of the Monday before the Derby, we're happy," said Jones.

"He had a good, long work at Keeneland the other day, which was quite a bit faster than Hard Spun had done. Then he came back and was only a tick off what Hard Spun did here, plus I worked Hard Spun in company.

"This horse was doing it by himself," he added. "He's telling me we done right - you can look at him and tell. He's kind of glistening all over."

Jones has gone against perceived wisdom in taking Friesan Fire to the Derby after a seven-week layoff following the Louisiana Derby.

He said: "I think he's ready and, hopefully, if this works for the Derby then we're going to be in really good shape for the Triple Crown because we have a faster horse than most everybody else."

I Want Revenge: likely to start favourite for Saturday's Kentucky Derby

Atomic Rain completes KentuckyDerby field

USA: A field of 20 is assured for the Kentucky Derby when entries are taken at Churchill Downs at noon on Wednesday, as Atomic Rain will take the place vacated by Square Eddie after the ex-John Best colt was ruled out of the race with a sore shin.

Trainer Todd Pletcher could have taken that slot with Take the Points, but elected to save that horse for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico two weeks after Saturday's Kentucky Derby. Pletcher will still be represented by three Derby starters in Dunkirk, Join In The Dance and Advice.


Todd Pletcher: three in Classic

Maiden winner Atomic Rain joins stablemate West Side Bernie as the second horse in the Derby field trained by Kelly Breen. He was to be shipped to Churchill Downs from Monmouth Park immediately.

Gotham Stakes and Wood Memorial winner I Want Revenge worked four furlongs in 47.34sec Tuesday morning before rain hit Churchill Downs to complete his major preparation for the Classic.

"We got a great race track today, and we got to let him do what he normally does," said trainer Jeff Mullins. "We just wanted to see him moving forward and into the work and happy."

Jockey Joe Talamo added of I Want Revenge: "From the Gotham and even before that we knew he was a pretty good horse. Obviously, he answered a lot of questions for everyone. To overcome a trip like that is just incredible.


"He's so mature for his age. It's hard to explain - he just does everything so easy. He's definitely one that has a few gears on him, which helps in a race like the Derby because there's a lot of stop and go - hopefully not, but it does happen. But he's definitely one of the contenders."

Track oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has said that with the defection of Quality Road, who was plagued by quarter cracks, I Want Revenge now will be the morning-line favourite for the Kentucky Derby.

"He's the favourite now," said Bataglia. "Then probably Dunkirk, Pioneerof The Nile and Friesan Fire.

Derby favourite I Want Revenge handed stall 13


USA: I Want Revenge, runaway winner of the Grade 1 Gotham Stakes, is 5-2 favourite with Blue Square for the Kentucky Derby after drawing stall 13for Saturday's $2million Classic.

A maximum field of 20 are set to go post, with Dunkirk, who will race from stall 15, next in the betting at 5-1 following the draw by Churchill racing officials.

I Want Revenge's trainer Jeff Mullins was pleased with the draw. "I think we're pretty satisfied with that.

"I think we'll be fairly close to the pace, tracking the leaders. It's nice to have the favourite because they are giving us respect. Ididn't want to come back here again unless I had a good horse," said Mullins


Pioneer of the Nile, 6-1 with Blue Square, is three-from-three this year, and Bob Baffert was happy that the Eclipse Award winner will break from wide under Garrett Gomez after selecting stall 16.



"I've been thinking 16," Baffert said. "I wanted to have 16 for this horse. It takes him a little while to get going and I just didn't want him to be getting all clogged up down on the inside. I've been feeling 16 all week. I was really nervous today because I wanted to get a shot of at least having an option."

Coolmore's Dunkirk was second behind Quality Road in the Florida Derby in just his third career start, and trainer Todd Pletcher was another happy with the hand he was dealt.

"When we talked about it before the draw, 15 was my first choice, so I'm glad it was there," Pletcher told bloodhorse.com "I think the goal was to be positioned towards the outside. I would expect him to be mid-pack early on."


The centre was where everyone wanted to be during the selection process. Connections of Join In The Dance chose nine with the first pick. Saeed bin Suroor chose second for Godolphin's Regal Ransom and took stall 10. His other starter, Desert Party, will break from stall 19 after having the 17th pick.

"I am happy, content," he said. "It's a tough race, a very hard race. Our horses are doing well, and there is no excuse for them."