Keeneland news: Blue Prize reroutes from Doubledogdare to La Troienne
Trainer Ignacio Correas IV said Merriebelle Stable’s Blue Prize would scratch from Friday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Doubledogdare in favor of the La Troienne (G1) on May 3 at Churchill Downs.
“It was a combination of factors,” said Correas of Blue Prize, who worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Wednesday. “Weather was a concern (with rain in the forecast for Friday). When the track gets wet here, it favors speed and I had to make the decision to breeze or not.”
Other factors were the size of the purse for the Grade 1 race and the non-participation of champion Monomoy Girl. …
Tyler Servis, son of trainer John Servis, said third-place Central Bank Ashland (G1) finisher Jaywalk would have one work, April 26, here before shipping to Churchill Downs for the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1). “It is the same thing we did in 2016 with Cathryn Sophia,” Servis said of the filly, who finished third in the Central Bank Ashland before winning the Oaks four weeks later with one work here in between. …
Trainer Wesley Ward said a trip to Royal Ascot in England could be in the future for Ramon Tallaj’s Nayibeth, impressive winner of Wednesday’s fifth race in her debut. Joel Rosario rode the filly to a 4¼-length victory in the 4½-furlong race in :51.54, fastest time for the distance of the first 10 days of the Spring Meet. Nayibeth, the 3-10 favorite, is the first winner for her sire, Carpe Diem, winner of Keeneland’s 2015 Toyota Blue Grass (G1). Finishing second was stablemate Owlette.
ORTIZ ALL SMILES WHEN DISCUSSING TACITUS
Jose Ortiz has ridden in the Kentucky Derby four times and came close to grabbing the roses last year when he was aboard champion Good Magic, who finished second to eventual Triple Crown winner Justify.
This year, he is set to ride Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Tacitus, the leading point-earner on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 150 points by virtue of victories in the Wood Memorial (G2) and Tampa Bay Derby (G2).
“I have been with him all along,” Ortiz said Thursday morning at Keeneland, where he is riding for the rest of the Spring Meet before going to Churchill Downs for Derby Week. “He was green his first two races; Tampa Bay was OK and the Wood was OK. I think he will be better next time.”
Tacitus was fourth in his debut Oct. 4 at Belmont and hasn’t lost since beginning with a maiden victory Nov. 10 at Aqueduct.
Tacitus is the first foal of champion Close Hatches, a five-time Grade 1 winner.
“I did not ride her,” said Ortiz, the 2017 Eclipse Award winner as the outstanding rider in North America. “She came around in 2013 and I just had my (apprentice allowance) and wasn’t riding big horses then.”
WORK TAB
Limousine Liberal, in his first work since finishing third in the Commonwealth (G3) on April 6, worked 5 furlongs over a fast track in 1:00.20 with Jose Ortiz aboard. Fractions on the work were :23.40, :36 and :48. The move was the fastest of 18 at the distance on the morning.
Owned by Katherine Ball and trained by Ben Colebrook, Limousine Liberal is being pointed to the $500,000 Churchill Downs (G1) on May 4. He has won that race the past two years. …
Also working was undefeated Bulletin, who covered a half-mile in :49.60. Winner of the opening-day Palisades Turf Sprint, Bulletin is trained by Todd Pletcher for owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing.