Kentucky Derby 2018 Daily: Espinoza aims to improve Bolt

Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 5 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.

Already a Hall of Famer with a Triple Crown to his name, Victor Espinoza stands to add to his lore in the 2018 Kentucky Derby. While on a horse defeated last out, the jockey, as they often say on the Churchill Downs backside, wouldn’t trade places with anybody.

Espinoza said Wednesday that he’s excited because when it comes to Bolt d’Oro, “I think it’s the right horse to be on in the Kentucky Derby.”

“Hopefully I can improve him just a little bit more than what he’s been performing,” Espinoza added. “He’s been running pretty good, but I believe if I can do something a little bit different in the Kentucky Derby, hopefully he can improve so he can win the race.”

Espinoza rode California Chrome (2014) and American Pharoah (2015) to consecutive wins the first Saturday in May. Both those horses were favorites who pressed the early pace. Back in 2002, he won the Derby on the lead with War Emblem.

When it comes to Bolt d’Oro, there’s no firm plan to send or sit.

“I’ll let him run his race — let him stretch his legs and just be comfortable without doing anything to stress him out in the race,” Espinoza said.

And as for this year’s favorite, Justify?

“I’m not going to give an inch to him,” the jockey said. “If he’s going to win, he probably has to run it.”

It’s obvious that Espinoza, 45, is in a positive place having done just about everything there is to do in the sport. “At this stage in my career” — something he said more than once Wednesday morning — there may not be many attempts left at the Derby. But he’s oozing confidence when it comes to riding in America’s Greatest Race.

Espinoza inherited the mount on multiple Grade 1 winner Bolt d’Oro, who ran second last out to Justify in the Santa Anita Derby. The son of Medaglia d’Oro named after Gold Medal track star Usain Bolt had Javier Castellano in the irons in both his previous starts in 2018.

Espinoza has worked the Mick Ruis-trained charge and now with the mount follows his every move.

“I noticed something — that he’s always eating,” the jockey said. “Every time I’m watching on social media, he’s the only one eating. That’s a good thing. He’s happy, and he needs that energy.”

Other Wednesday happenings

Aside from Enticed, all Derby contenders were on track and accounted for between 7:30-7:45 a.m. ET at Churchill Downs the training window exclusive to contenders for that race along with the Kentucky Oaks. From the Kiaran McLaughlin barn, Enticed has trained at 9 a.m., as McLaughlin shares the exercise rider with his Oaks contender, Take Charge Paula.

There’s not much to say about this race that hasn’t been said — an exception, Mendelssohn is expected to make his first appearance on track Thursday — but this stuck out from My Boy Jack trainer Keith Desormeaux:

“I think he’s seasoned enough,” he said of Justify. “As far as a horsemen is concerned, he might be carrying a bit of bulk for a horse that’s about to go a mile and a quarter. Again, that leads back to the fact that we need a fast pace. If Justify gets out there and he’s comfortable and sets the pace at :48 and change, I’m in trouble. But if he’s taxed, hopefully that heavy body that he’s carrying around there will take its toll.”

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