Isn’t He Clever was officially declared out of the Kentucky Derby by trainer
Steve Asmussen Wednesday. His spot at #21 on the graded earnings list now
belongs to D. Wayne Lukas’ Optimizer.
If he were to make the field, Optimizer would represent the trainer’s 45th
starter. A win would not only be surprising to just about everyone, but would
also make the trainer the oldest to ever claim the Roses// Liaison was the lone
worker Wednesday at Churchill Downs. The Bob Baffert trainee was urged through
6 furlongs by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan.
DRF’s clocker Mike Welsch was not impressed with the move, but noted
Baffert insists the colt is never strong in the mornings. The Grade 1 winner
won’t have many backers heading into the Kentucky Derby and with good
reason. His 3-year-old form has
been worse than sub-par, and not only was his best racing during his juvenile
campaign but also on the synthetic surface at Hollywood Park// Welsch did like
the energy level of Prospective from his morning gallop at Churchill and also
thought Dullahan was covering ground well. Both colts are tentatively scheduled for their final
pre-Derby workouts this Saturday, but that could change depending on weather//
It was reported by the Paulick Report that Santa Anita Derby winner I’ll Have
Another was recently placed on the vet list due to shockwave therapy. Trainer Doug O’Neil said the colt has
undergone the therapy on his back before and doesn’t see it being an issue for
the Derby// A minority interest of potential Derby favorite Bodemeister was
sold to Southern Equine’s Mike and Tiffany Moreno Wednesday// A healthy list of
articles and blog postings are linked with coverage on Daddy Long Legs,
Gemologist, Dullahan, Derby tips, historical data, musings, and more. Plus, Bodemeister joins a finally
updated CTD Top 5…
Works
Liaison- CD- 6F- 1.12:80- B- 1/1 (Track-Good) [under urging by Shaun Bridgmohan. Splits: 12.60,
24.80, 37, 1:00.80]
Workout Videos
Liaison 4/25 (Churchill
Downs)
Interview
with Bob Baffert (Courier Journal)
Workout Reports
Liaison: Bloodhorse
/ DRF
[with Welsch video] /
Workout/gallop
analysis through 4/25 (In The Money Blog)
Futures
Head-to-head
odds (Wynn Las Vegas)
Kentucky Derby News and Opinion
Kentucky
Derby Barn Notes 4/25 (Churchill Downs)
Kentucky
Derby report 4/26 (Brisnet)
Isn’t
He Clever to pass on Kentucky Derby (Bloodhorse)
I’ll
Have Another on vet’s list after undergoing shockwave therapy (Paulick
Report)
Daddy
Long Legs is Derby wildcard (Bloodhorse)
Trainer
D. Wayne Lukas an outside shot (Courier Journal)
5%
of Dullahan’s Derby earnings to rider fund (Bloodhorse)
Historic
year for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runners (And Down The Stretch They Come)
More
than a feeling (ESPN)
Derby time
[tips] (ESPN)
The
138th Kentucky Derby second-tiered colts (Sports Network)
TCI is
on to Louisville [with video] (Twin Spires Blog)
Turf
racing and the Kentucky Derby (Graded Stakes blog)
Kentucky
Derby time and forgetting what it means to be a fan (Pull The Pocket Blog)
A
Kentucky Derby confession (Or: Going for the gelding) (Forbes Online)
Paynter
headlines Derby Trial (Bloodhorse)
Kentucky
Derby field just about set (A Leg Up Blog)
Rankings
Top 20
(DRF)
Contender Photos and Video
Union
Rags schooling in paddock at Keeneland (Donna Brothers via Twitter)
Prospective
feature video (Courier Journal)
Behind
the scenes preview (WHAS 11 TV)
News
and Quotes from Twitter
Union Rags scheduled to ship
from Keeneland to CD on Thurs (weather permitting); Went the Day Well also vans
Thurs afternoon.- Derby Media
Trainer Michael Matz said weather will
dictate when Union Rags works next at CD hoping for Sat. but could go Fri. or
Sun- Mike Welsch DRF
