Kentucky Derby 2015 Notes (4-23-15)
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April 23, 2015 12:28pm
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than trying to forecast the winner of Kentucky Derby 141, probably the
most tricky thing in Louisville this time of year is trying to forecast
the weather.
It is the latter item that has participants deeply involved in former what’s going to happen the next 48 hours here with many Derby and some Kentucky Oaks work on the radar.
Two days out, the forecast calls for rain to begin late Friday night with the heaviest rain beginning at 6 Saturday morning.
“We would most likely stay on for Saturday,” said George Weaver, trainer of Tencendur. “I am bringing Manny Franco in for the work and it would be kind of a pain to have to change. I like to stay on seven days. He worked last Saturday and the Derby is next Saturday.
“The thing is, if you plan to work at 8:30 and there is lightning, it could get dangerous. If it is not dangerous out there, we will go. I am not uncomfortable with this track when it is wet.”
Owned by Philip Birsh, Tencendur galloped 1 3/8 miles after the renovation break with exercise rider Blair Golen aboard on a clear and cool Thursday morning.
“He galloped well this morning and everything looks good,” said Weaver, who arrived in Louisville Wednesday after training hours.
OTHER KENTUCKY DERBY NOTES
AMERICAN PHAROAH – Zayat Stables’ American Pharoah stood in the starting gate and galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Jorge Alvarez during the 8:30-8:45 window reserved for Kentucky Derby
and Kentucky Oaks contenders. Trained by Bob Baffert, American Pharoah is scheduled to work Sunday. Two-time Kentucky Derby winner Victor Espinoza, who was aboard California Chrome in his Derby victory last year, will have the mount in
Derby 141 on American Pharoah.
BOLD CONQUEST – The Ackerley Brothers Farm’s Bold Conquest visited the starting gate then galloped after the morning renovation break with exercise rider Abel Flores up for trainer Steve
Asmussen.
CARPEDIEM/ITSAKNOCKOUT/MADEFROMLUCKY/MATERIALITY/STANFORD – Trainer Todd Pletcher had his Kentucky Derby hopefuls going through their morning paces on two fronts Thursday. First up for Pletcher was
Cheyenne Stables and Mac Nichol’s Madefromlucky, who galloped a little more than a mile and quarter shortly after 6 o’clock with Ezequiel Perez up. At 8:30, Alto Racing’s Materiality (Carlos Cano aboard), Starlight
Racing’s Itsaknockout (Perez) and Stonestreet Stables, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s Stanford (Isabelle Bourez) all went through a similar exercise. After that, Pletcher was off to Keeneland
where he arrived shortly before 10 o’clock to watch WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stables’ Carpe Diem gallop 1 ½ miles clockwise around the main track under Patti Krotenko. Looking on with Pletcher were Kenny Troutt, owner of WinStar
Farm and Elliott Walden, WinStar’s President/CEO and Racing Manager. Pletcher’s Churchill contingent is scheduled to work Saturday and Carpe Diem Sunday at 6:30 at Keeneland, “but we are watching the weather,” Pletcher said. Riders have been confirmed
for two of the Pletcher horses; John Velazquez on Carpe Diem and Javier Castellano on Materiality.
DANZIG MOON – John Oxley’s Danzig Moon galloped 1 ½ miles after the morning break with exercise rider William Cano up. Norman Casse, assistant to his father trainer Mark Casse,
said Saturday’s planned work could be pushed back to Sunday depending on the weather. Julien Leparoux, who has ridden Danzig Moon in his past three starts, has the Derby mount.
FAR RIGHT – Trainer Ron Moquett was happy with the 1 ¾-mile gallop put in by Harry Rosenblum and Robert LaPenta’s Far Right shortly after 6 Thursday morning with Laura Moquett
aboard. “Moving like a tremendous machine …” Moquett said with a broad grin. Far Right is scheduled to work about the same time Saturday, but Moquett could wait a day if weather proves problematic.
Mike Smith, who 10 years ago rode Giacomo to victory in the Derby, will ride Far Right next Saturday.
INTERNATIONAL STAR – Louisiana Derby (GII) winner International Star galloped 1 ¼ miles at the Trackside training center under exercise Joel Barrientos. Trainer Mike Maker plans to work
International Star at Churchill Downs Saturday but “probably would push it back to Sunday” if conditions warrant. Miguel Mena has the Derby mount on International Star, who is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey.
KEEN ICE – With Jerry Crawford of Donegal Racing looking on, Keen Ice galloped 1 ½ miles after the morning renovation break with Faustino Aguilar aboard. Trained by Dale Romans,
Keen Ice is scheduled to work Saturday.
MR. Z – Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said that Zayat Stables’ Mr. Z came out of his five-furlong work of 1:01 on Wednesday in good order. Mr. Z walked the shedrow Thursday and will return to the track
in the morning according to Lukas. Ramon Vazquez has the Derby mount.
MUBTAAHIJ – Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Mubtaahij (IRE) cantered one lap then jogged a second lap of Arlington’s Polytrack surface. The son of Dubawi likely will do the same Friday
before an anticipated breeze Saturday, similar to the three-eighths he did Tuesday. “All good, he’s going great,’ said Trevor Brown, assistant to trainer Michael de Kock. Christophe Soumillon has the Derby mount. Mubtaahij is scheduled
to ship on Monday, leaving after morning work is finished at Arlington. De Kock arrives in Louisville on Sunday.
WAR STORY – Loooch Racing Stables, Glenn Ellis and Christopher Dunn’s War Story walked the shedrow a day after working five furlongs in 1:02. “He came out of the work fine and
will go back to the track tomorrow to jog,” trainer Tom Amoss said.
Source: Churchill Downs
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