The
Sunland Derby (G3) lost a headliner when it was announced Titletown Five, part
owned by former Green Bay Packers quarterback and Churchill Downs regular Paul
Hornung, will wait for the Louisiana Derby (G2) March 30. Reasons given were
spacing of the race and the fact Derby points are double. The connections will
be without the riding services of Gary Stevens who will be in Dubai. Jon Court
picks up the mount, and was aboard the colt in Tuesday’s extended 6-furlong
breeze at Oaklawn// Sunday’s Sunland Derby currently has nine probables with a
full list found in the link below// More Spiral (G3) news with a list of
probables and a feature on Balance the Books. The colt’s Spiral start will be
his 3-year-old debut after being delayed due to a fever// Java’s War, best
known for not getting completely dominated by Verrazano in the Tampa Derby (G2),
will go next in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. Trainer Kenny McPeek thinks
he’s best on turf, but makes no bones about having Derby fever// Buried in an
article about Oxbow heading to the Arkansas Derby, which is not really breaking
news, there was a mention that D. Wayne Lukas may train Rebel (G2) winner Will
Take Charge up to the Derby instead of racing in another prep beforehand. While
the trend in recent years has been to extend the weeks between a final prep and
the Derby as much as possible, it’s a surprising tactic for the old-school
Lukas// more…
Articles:
Hornung:
Winning Kentucky Derby would be ‘greatest thrill of my life’ (Courier
Journal Blog)
Spiral notes on Uncaptured,
Capo Bastone, and Black Onyx (Turfway Park)
Java’s War opts for Blue Grass over UAE Derby (Bloodhorse)
Lukas has a hot hand after Rebel Stakes exacta (Courier Journal)
Kentucky Derby Daily: March 19 (In The Money)
Hangin’ with Haskin: Dry in the desert (Bloodhorse Blog)
Pedigree Analysis: The upside of Shakin It Up (Bloodhorse)
Where they’re going next (Downey Profile)
May Madness (Zipse at the Track)
Grab
a bite and hangout for Derby chat (Hello Race Fans)
Workouts:
Tesseron- PMM- 5F-
1:04.21- B- 3/8
Titletown Five- OP- 6F-
1.16:20- B- 1/1
Counting Days- SA- 5F-
1:00.80- H- 4/30
Quotes and Tweets:
"Looking likely
talented Sunbean will be excluded from La Derby, which is wrong. Bottom of list
(below even claimers!) cuz he's LA-bred"- Marcus Hersch via Twitter
