Revolutionary Makes Appearance at Churchill Downs
After a brief freshening at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky., Louisiana Derby (Grade II) winner Revolutionary arrived at Churchill Downs shortly after 11 a.m. EDT on Friday to be prepped for the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI).
Arriving with multiple graded stakes-winning 6-year-old Doubles Partner, Revolutionary, ranked No. 4 on the "Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by TwinSpires.com" Leaderboard, was bedded down in Stall 9 of Barn 34 for trainer Todd Pletcher.
"(Revolutionary) shipped well without any problems and he looks great," said assistant trainer Whit Beckman, who saddled Revolutionary for the Louisiana Derby. "We'll look at him tomorrow (Saturday) and watch him gallop before planning a work.
"I thought the (Louisiana Derby) was ultra impressive. He broke flat-footed, but then closed from the rear on a track no one was closing on all day. I actually was watching (Palace Malice), but when I saw he got stopped, I switched over to Revolutionary and saw he was making a serious move."
Revolutionary soon will be joined in the Pletcher barn by Wood Memorial (GI) winner Verrazano, who is scheduled to arrive from New York on Sunday. Ranked No. 2 behind Orb on the Leaderboard, Verrazano is expected to pass through the Churchill Downs stable gate at approximately 5 p.m. EDT.
Normandy Invasion, runner-up in the Wood and No. 11 on the Leaderboard, also is scheduled to be on the Sunday flight from New York. He will be stabled in Barn 42 for trainer Chad Brown.
Pletcher said earlier this week that he will be at Keeneland on Saturday to saddle Charming Kitten and Palace Malice in the Toyota Blue Grass (GI) and expects to remain in Kentucky through the First Saturday in May.
Scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Friday evening is Rose to Gold, 4 ½-length winner of the Fantasy (GIII) at Oaklawn Park on April 10. Ranked No. 2 on the "Road to the Kentucky Oaks" Leaderboard behind Beholder, Rose to Gold will be stabled in Barn 43 for trainer Sal Santoro.