Bourbon War's 2019 Kentucky Derby dreams still alive

Trainer Mark Hennig reported that Bourbon War was “bright, very happy and sound” Sunday morning following his fourth-place finish in the Florida Derby (G1).

The late-running Bourbon War trailed all but two horses through a half-mile while racing wide and passed horses late to wind up beaten 7 ½ lengths, three-quarters of a length behind Code of Honor in third.

“He’s doing great,” Hennig said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt [the pace] had a large impact on us at least not being third, for sure. I’m not saying we were going to win the race or anything, but I’d like to think with a little pace we could have been a little closer.

"And a little better trip, too, [instead of] having to go around the whole way. If you look at his trip versus Code of Honor’s, I think that made a big difference.”

Bourbon Lane Stable and Lake Star Stable’s Bourbon War currently stands 15th with 31 qualifying points for the 2019 Kentucky Derby. Pending the outcome of April 6 preps in California, Kentucky and New York. Hennig said the Tapit colt will be pointed to the first Saturday in May.

“We’d love to be able to get into the Kentucky Derby on points. If we [have enough] points we’d be confident going forward because he’s a horse you’d like to think leaving here would be good for him to get off a track where it’s hard to close,” Hennig said.

“Right now we don’t know what that status is,” he added. “It doesn’t look great, but we’re just going to stand pat and watch how the races run next weekend in the Santa Anita Derby, Blue Grass and Wood and see where the points stand after that.

"I think it’ll help indicate to us a little more about where we are.”