Churchill notes: Authentic, Shedaresthedevil set to breeze
Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stable and Starlight Racing’s Kentucky Derby winner Authentic along with Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing and Big Aut Farm’s Kentucky Oaks heroine Shedaresthedevil are scheduled to work Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.
Authentic has been based in the barn of trainer D. Wayne Lukas since his 1¾-length victory in the Derby and is scheduled to work at 9 a.m. EDT, according to his trainer Bob Baffert.
The Derby winner has been galloping each morning around 6 a.m. and remained in Kentucky with stablemate Thousand Words to prepare for the 2020 Preakness Stakes on Saturday, Oct. 3. Thousand Words is scheduled to work at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.
Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil also is scheduled to work at 7:30 a.m., according to trainer Brad Cox. Her next race plans remain in flux but a possibility could be the $400,000 Spinster (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 4.
Also slated to breeze Saturday is Bruce Lunsford’s Blue Grass Stakes (G2) winner Art Collector. Trained by Tommy Drury, Art Collector was forced to skip the Kentucky Derby due to a minor foot injury. The colt is pointing to the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, according to Drury.
Another horse possible to run in the Preakness is Peter Callahan’s Kentucky Oaks runner-up Swiss Skydiver. The filly is scheduled to work Saturday morning, according to trainer Kenny McPeek. Other races under consideration for the Grade 1-winner include Keeneland’s Spinster and $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) on Oct. 10.
Mena sidelined with broken ribs
Jockey Miguel Mena will miss the remainder of the September Meet after he suffered broken ribs Thursday at Churchill Downs. Mena was dismounted in Race 5 on Thursday. His agent, Joe Santos Jr., reported Mena is expected to be sidelined two-to-three weeks.
Ack Ack field taking shape
Next Saturday’s $100,000 Ack Ack (Grade 3) field continues to take shape. The race could serve as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.
Here are the current probable entries, according to Churchill Downs assistant racing and stakes coordinator Dan Bork: Bourbon Calling (trainer Ian Wilkes); Dinar (Cherie DeVaux); Ebben (Steve Margolis); Mocito Rojo (Shane Wilson); Mr. Money (Bret Calhoun); Proverb (Richard Baltas); Sagaponack (D. Wayne Lukas); Thirstforlife (Wes Hawley); and Warrior’s Charge (Brad Cox).
Milestone Watch
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen continued his charge to surpass all-time win leader Dale Baird. At the start of racing Friday, he trailed 9,445 wins to 8,998, according to Equibase.
Trainers Bernie Flint (498 wins) and Tom Amoss (497 wins) were both rapidly approaching 500 career victories at Churchill Downs. They do not have any horses entered Friday.
Down the Stretch
Allied Racing Stable’s Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Mr. Big News worked a half-mile in :48.80 early Friday morning at Churchill Downs. The Giant’s Causeway colt is likely to run in the Preakness, according to trainer Bret Calhoun.