Kentucky Derby 2025: Chunk of Gold will train at Turfway
Chunk of Gold, runner-up in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, arrived at Turfway Park on Sunday night and will complete most of his Kentucky Derby preparations at the Florence, Ky. racetrack, according to trainer Ethan West.
“Between the Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby, I could tell in his training that he took a step forward,” West said. “Galloping him at Turfway before the Louisiana Derby, you could tell he put on weight and was more powerful in his stride.
“I think he probably got a little tired late in the Louisiana Derby, but there’s a lot of room to build off that performance in the next five weeks," West said. "As soon as I got back to the barn Saturday night, he was in the feed tub and cooling out great. This being my first starter in the Kentucky Derby, I’ve read a lot of interviews from people like Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert, who have had success in the Derby. They all seem to have the same idea of keeping routines the same leading up to the Derby. So, we’re going to try our best to do just that.”
Chunk of Gold, a Preservationist colt owned by Terry Stephens, also won the Risen Star (G2) and has 75 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, putting him at no. 3 in the standings.
This would mark Stephens’s second starter in the Kentucky Derby. He previously co-owned O Besos, who finished fourth in Kentucky Derby 147.
“This is actually my first horse for Terry,” West said. “He had horses with my brother, Aaron West, and that’s how the connection between us was made. Terry owns a steel company in Russell Springs, Ky. It’s a really small town, but my brother and I spent several years there at a training center.”
Chunk of Gold is tentatively scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Saturday, April 26, just prior to the 11 a.m. EDT deadline when all Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders must be on the grounds.
He had his first two starts at Turfway, winning his debut and then finishing second in the Leonatus before moving on to the Kentucky Derby trail.