Kentucky Derby 2018 Daily: Greyvitos ‘definitely' not out of it

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Trainer Adam Kitchingman said this week that a try at the 2018 Kentucky Derby is “definitely not ruled out just yet” for Greyvitos, a multiple stakes winner who emerged as a leading contender before sidelined with knee chips.

Kitchingman said the colt, last time out a winner of Remington Park’s Springboard Mile, returned to the track for light training a week ago.

“He’s doing everything great,” the trainer added. “We’ll X-ray him later this month just to see how the progress is looking. His knees are doing fantastic right now.”

Greyvitos has been nominated to the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby run April 14, the final Saturday of Derby prep season. Kitchingman referred to that as “a backup plan” in case the horse isn’t ready for a West Coast prep. The Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby is set for April 7.

With 10 points already banked from a victory last out in Remington Park’s Springboard Mile, it’s possible even a third-place finish off the shelf in a major prep — good for an additional 20 points — could qualify the Malibu Moon colt for the Derby.

Greyvitos won the Springboard Mile in stakes-record time, backing up a 19-1 upset of the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes last November at Del Mar. In that race he defeated Mourinho, who went on to win Oaklawn Park’s Smarty Jones stakes convincingly in his own two-turn debut.

“It’s definitely encouraging, that’s for sure,” Kitchingman said of Mourinho’s next-out victory.

A workout schedule isn’t yet set for Greyvitos, who’s campaigned by Triple B Farms. Notably, the horse escaped the Lilac Fire that hit the San Luis Rey Downs training center in early December before going on to win the Springboard Mile.

“He’s the same, if not more aggressive,” Kitchingman said with surgery needed to remove bone chips from both Greyvitos’ knees. “He’s a happy horse. Every good horse I’ve ever been around, they’ve shown their dominance.”

Top Derby hopefuls assemble in Tampa Bay

This is not a case of Catholic Boy and the rest. Saturday’s Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs drew seven runners, with a good many of them dreaming bigger than Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 race.

Flameaway is a multiple stakes winner already, Vino Rosso’s credentials are similar to what Grade 2 Holy Bull winner Audible sported this time last week; Hollywood Star needs little introduction as a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner; and Vouch hit the board in the Grade 2 Remsen in just his second start, for a moment looking like a winner at the top of the stretch.

• Get full-field analysis for the weekend’s lone points-paying prep.

Ax Man tested in San Vicente

The son of trainer Bob Baffert’s 2010 Santa Anita Handicap winner, Misremembered, debut winner Ax Man will find competition from his own barn Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes. Nero, a high-priced colt who can be quirky at times, managed to break his maiden last out and will be in the field of six.

The San Vicente doesn’t pay Derby qualifying points, but it's noted for in 2016 launching the campaigns of eventual Derby winner Nyquist and Preakness winner Exaggerator. After running second to McKinzie in the Grade 3 Sham, All Out Blitz cuts back in distance for trainer Simon Callaghan in this spot, as he’s not Triple Crown nominated, while Kris’ Rocket Kat and Kanthaka exit maiden victories.

• We’ll have full-field analysis for this one as well. Check back for it.

The works

Combatant — His latest tuneup toward the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes on Feb. 19 was a good one, with clockers catching him getting 5/8 of a mile in 1:02.20 (4/18) at Oaklawn Park. Both his works since a runner-up Smarty Jones Stakes finish have come over the track in Arkansas.

Gleason — One who’s likely looking for an allowance, and then possibly a stakes start for trainer Todd Pletcher, he posted his second work back from an impressive debut on Wednesday, getting four furlongs in 50.40 seconds at Palm Beach Downs. This son of Algorithms won at first asking by an easy 5 1/2 lengths.

Mourinho — Is he ready to stretch out? Trainer Bob Baffert’s certainly hoping so, with Wednesday’s workout measuring seven furlongs at Santa Anita Park. The anticipated Southwest Stakes favorite finished up in 1:26.00, fastest of two at the distance, in his third work since winning Oaklawn’s Smarty Jones.

Nero — Ticketed for the San Vicente, he blew out three furlongs Wednesday in 36.80 seconds (7/32) at Santa Anita. That, along with his five-furlong bullet last week, can be taken as a positive that this quirky horse is coming around. In his maiden win, Nero wasn’t ridden aggressively by jockey Victor Espinoza out of fear the horse would stop in the lane, as Espinoza says he tends to do.

In case you missed it…

Tuesday’s Derby Daily report focused on Mendelssohn, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner expected to attempt the Derby trail. But where might he run?

• Catch up with all the latest Derby news by reading past editions of HRN’s Derby Daily report.