Wandering Eyes

When Jon Court swings his leg over Long Range Toddy and heads out for the post parade in the May 4 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the 58-year-old will make history as the oldest jockey to ever start in the Run for the Roses. View the full article

A 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds, the first running of the Oaklawn Invitational offers an added bonus tied to the Triple Crown as the winner will receive a guaranteed spot in the Preakness (G1), provided the horse is nominated to the Triple Crown. View the full article

Louisville native George Weaver was bitten by the horse racing bug at an early age. Coming up May 4, Weaver will top off his homecoming by taking his shot with Vekoma in the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). View the full article

Precieuse, who secured her first United States win when opening the season with a victory in the Honey Fox Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the $400,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2T). View the full article

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that Monmouth Park has earned re-accreditation from the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance. View the full article

The Keeneland Association has continued its long-standing philanthrophic relationship with the University of Kentucky, and announced a $1.3-million gift to the Keeneland Endowed Chair in Equine Veterinary Science Wednesday. The latest gift will increase the fund to $3 million and will allow UK’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Gluck Equine Research Center to launch a world-class equine drug research and testing program under the direction of Scott Stanley. Stanley joined UK in late 2018, having previously served as as director of the K.L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at University of California, Davis. “This wonderful gift will help our college make new advances as we strive to serve the industry in all aspects of safety,” said Nancy Cox, dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “The research capability afforded by this gift will allow a robust effort to develop new tests. This research will serve the new commercial testing laboratory that will be led by Dr. Stanley in partnership with the U.S. Equestrian Federation. We greatly appreciate the association’s support of the college.” The laboratory at UK’s Coldstream Research Campus will provide drug testing services to both the performance horse and racehorse industries–Keeneland’s gift will help fund the research side underpinning the commercial venture. “Keeneland applauds UK’s commitment to create a true center of excellence at the Gluck Center,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “In support of our mission, Keeneland has long championed UK’s goal to become an industry leader in equine safety, integrity and research. We believe the important work undertaken by Dr. Stanley will serve as a platform for change in Kentucky and beyond.” View the full article

Christina Jelm and Mike Puhich's Ms Headley scored on debut May 1 at Churchill Downs, giving her sire, The Big Beast, his first winner from his first starter. View the full article

Christina Jelm and Mike Puhich's Ms Headley scored on debut May 1 at Churchill Downs, giving her sire, The Big Beast, his first winner from his first starter. View the full article

The last couple of anticipatory days prior to the GI Kentucky Derby can seem like a longer wait than the entire six-month prep season that preceded it. Here are the final TDN rankings, listed in “likeliest winner” order: 1) OMAHA BEACH (c, War Front—Charming, by Seeking the Gold) O-Fox Hill Farms, Inc. B-Charming Syndicate (KY). T-Richard Mandella. Sales History: $625,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-3-3-1, $1,121,800. Last Start: 1st, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 13 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 137.5. Meet the deserving and legitimate favorite for the Derby. The best horse doesn’t always win America’s most important horse race, but no other contender matches the credentials and momentum Omaha Beach has accrued. This powerful War Front colt breaks running, asserts himself with authority, then settles into a rhythmic cadence with at least three (that we’ve seen) in-race gears that have yet to be tested under all-out torque. Omaha Beach has won three straight races over increasing distances while swatting away length-of-stretch challenges from the No. 2 and No. 5 contenders on this list, and he seems to relish each new fight. The female side of his pedigree resonates with dirt stayers. Speed-figure disciples say Omaha Beach’s numbers are legit, and every Beyer rating he’s earned has been faster than his previous effort. Mike Smith, the nation’s most reliable big-money rider, chose Omaha Beach over ‘TDN Rising Star’ Roadster (Quality Road), the GI Santa Anita Derby winner. Mud won’t be an issue (he’s 2-for-2 if it comes up wet), and the post position gods were kind to Omaha Beach with a 12-hole draw. While all these metrics align to make Omaha Beach the likeliest winner, he is by no means invincible. This colt has been racing and training with a patched quarter crack since February, and will probably drift down to 3-1 from his 4-1 morning-line ranking. That price point will be crucial in determining whether you back him or try to beat him. 2) GAME WINNER (c, Candy Ride {Arg}—Indyan Giving, by A.P. Indy) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-Gary & Mary West. B-Summer Wind Equine (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $110,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 6-4-2-0, $1,846,000. Last Start: 2nd, GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 85. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Game Winner will march into Louisville attempting to do something no horse has done before: Win both the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby without having won a single start in between. Sure, two horses in 34 years have turned the Juvenile/Derby double. But both Street Sense (2007) and Nyquist (2016) won at least one prep, and this $110,000 KEESEP Candy Ride (Arg) bay has been second at 1-2 odds in both his 2019 starts. Those runner-up races have to be viewed in the proper context though, because trainer Bob Baffert doesn’t over-crank his Derby contenders, instead preferring to prep his top guns for the rigors of the entire Triple Crown series So that GII Rebel S. stretch duel in which first-off-the-layoff Game Winner finished a nose behind then-upstart Omaha Beach could have a different outcome in May than it did in March, and Game Winner did lead between stretch calls in the Santa Anita Derby before galloping out stronger and longer than winning stablemate Roadster. Baffert has often used the word “fighter” when describing Game Winner, and this professional grinder fits that assessment based on his imposing stalk mode and willingness to tough it out in late-race confrontations. A bet on the juvenile champ at 5-1 is essentially a gamble that the wily Baffert has timed his unique brand of Derby training right yet again. 3) WAR OF WILL (c, War Front—Visions of Clarity {Ire}, by Sadler’s Wells) O-Gary Barber. B-Flaxman Holdings Limited (KY). T-Mark Casse. Sales History: $175,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP; €250,000 2yo ’18 ARQMAY. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 8-3-1-1, $501,569. Last Start: 9th, GII Louisiana Derby, Mar. 23 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on War of Will. KY Derby Points: 60. A few days ago, my biggest concern about War of Will was that too many pari-mutuel wiseguys were going to climb aboard and depress what I thought would be 12-1 fair-value odds in the Derby. Then the post draw dealt this €250,000 ARQMAY War Front colt the dreaded one hole. While I don’t agree that breaking from the rail torpedoes War of Will’s chances in the Derby, it certainly does make the task more difficult. But at 20-1, I still see enough upside. As a 2-year-old, War of Will was touted by trainer Mark Casse as a potential Derby winner (not something Casse usually does), then this colt signaled over the course of three transitional turf-to-dirt races that he has the athleticism to create his own opportunities by breaking alertly, settling into high-speed cruise mode, and responding with a nice reserve of power that has yet to be fully unleashed. A misstep at the start of the GII Louisiana Derby tarnished War of Will’s form, but three straight bullet works have this colt again building on his early-season prowess. Casse said after the post draw that War of Will could be on the lead in the Derby, and in a race that lacks standout speed, that could be a sensible strategy. War of Will has ample experience racing in crowded fields (none of his eight races have drawn fewer than 11 entrants), and the lone time he drew the rail (in the 13-horse GIII Bourbon S.), he broke fluidly and led until the final call when favored as a maiden against winners. Rain in the forecast? War of Will won his lone slop start by five lengths at Churchill. 4) TACITUS (c, Tapit—Close Hatches, by First Defence) O/B-Juddmonte Farms, Inc. (KY). T-Bill Mott. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 4-3-0-0, $653,000. Last Start: GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 150. The most tantalizing aspect about Tacitus is his aura of untapped potential. This Tapit homebred for Juddmonte out of a distance-loving distaff champion showed a battling spirit when engaging in shoulder-to-shoulder roughhousing through the first turn of the GII Wood Memorial S., and Tacitus was visually intimidating when running down a determined rival in deep stretch over nine furlongs. Prior to that, in the GII Tampa Bay Derby, this first-time-Lasix colt rated willingly, secured a nice midpack stalking spot, and responded to a rousing ride by slipping through an inside path through traffic to win at 8-1 off a four-month layoff. Tacitus is a large-framed horse who sometimes waits on horses when he makes the lead, and while he is responsive to cues form his rider he seems to need active encouragement to stay engaged. Tacitus will get a gut check in terms of class in the Derby, because he’s yet to face Grade I competition and his two Derby preps in 2019 both drew fields on the softer side. Sire First Defence was another Juddmonte homebred whose lone Grade I stakes win was at seven furlongs. But First Defence was out of a Seattle Slew mare, providing a Derby connection in Tacitus’s not-too-distant bloodlines. 5) IMPROBABLE (c, City Zip—Rare Event, by A.P. Indy) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International Ltd. & Starlight Racing. B-St. George Farm LLC & G. Watts Humphrey Jr. (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $110,000 Wlg ’16 KEENOV; $200,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-2-0, $619,520. Last Start: 2nd, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 13 Equineline PPs. Caulfield on Improbable. KY Derby Points: 65. Versatility and athleticism are on ‘TDN Rising Star’ Improbable’s side heading into the Derby. This long-striding, $200,000 KEESEP City Zip chestnut hasn’t won since his big white blaze flashed home first in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity last December, but his pair of second-place efforts in two sophomore preps this season are both better foundation-building races than they might seem on paper. Improbable was four wide on both turns of the GII Rebel S., only beaten a neck, then he came up one length shy of No. 1-ranked Omaha Beach after a length-of-stretch hookup in which Improbable exhibited better focus (not cocking his head to the grandstand like in previous works and races). This colt did get hot and bothered pre-race and in the gate prior to his last Oaklawn start, and a check of his temperament in the Churchill paddock and post parade on Derby day is a must before backing him. Note that Improbable’s wet-track ability is also better than the second-place try in the Oaklawn slop that appears in his PP cut. On the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Churchill last November, he romped by 7 1/4 lengths in the Street Sense S. Although Equibase lists that surface as “fast,” the track condition had just been upgraded for that race after a two-inch deluge of rain, and it still held considerable moisture. 6) ROADSTER (c, Quality Road—Ghost Dancing, by Silver Ghost) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-Speedway Stable LLC. B-Stone Farm (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $525,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 4-3-0-1, $706,200. Last Start: 1st, GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 100. The horses ranked Nos. 3, 4 and 6 on this list all have something in common: As 2-year-olds, their trainers all identified them as potential Derby threats. Roadster, though, had quite a detour in his career arc. After breaking his maiden with flair, this $525,000 KEESEP Quality Road gray ran a non-threatening third in the GI Del Mar Futurity, and it was subsequently revealed he had a breathing issue that required correction by soft palate surgery. He then parlayed an allowance comeback score into a quest-for-qualifying points win over stablemate Game Winner in the Santa Anita Derby, although it’s of note that rating from well back was not the stated game plan trainer Bob Baffert had articulated before the race (Baffert had emphasized speed). So what exactly will be Roadster’s running style from post 17 on Saturday? Florent Geroux has never ridden him in a race, and Roadster himself is unfamiliar with running in large fields (outside of his 10-horse maiden race, he’s raced once in a five-horse and twice in a six-horse field). Roadster is light on his feet and is an athletic mover, and recent history is on his side: Santa Anita Derby winners have won three Kentucky Derbies this decade, in 2012, 2014 and 2018. 7) PLUS QUE PARFAIT (r, Point of Entry—Belvedera, by Awesome Again) O-Imperial Racing LLC. B-Calloway Racing LLC (KY). T-Brendan Walsh. Sales History: $24,000 RNA Wlg KEENOV ’16; $135,000 Ylg KEESEP ’17. Lifetime Record: GSW, 7-2-1-2, $1,590,400. Last Start: 1st, G2 UAE Derby, MEY, Mar. 30 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 104. If you read between the past performance lines–which in Plus Que Parfait’s case means dismissing two poor tries at Fair Grounds because trainer Brendan Walsh said he didn’t care for that surface–you can make a case for him being an intriguing overlay at 30-1 in the morning line. In five races over four other surfaces, he has never finished worse than third and has never been more than 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner. The trouble is, the G2 UAE Derby (which Plus Que Parfait won by three-quarters of a length over a field that featured only minor Group 2 and 3 winning/placed horses) is historically not a productive race for Kentucky Derby aspirants. Ten winners of the UAE Derby have gone on to compete in the Kentucky Derby, and the best finish among them was sixth, along with two DNF’s and a 20th-place try. 8) WIN WIN WIN (c, Hat Trick {Jpn}-Miss Smarty Pants, by Smarty Jones) O-Live Oak Plantation. B-Live Oak Stud (FL). T-Michael Trombetta. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP, 6-3-2-1, $367,300. Last Start: 2nd, GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 50. Win Win Win has hovered within sniffing distance of the top-tier Derby contenders for the better part of four months, and now it’s time to see if he lives up to the “under the radar” potential some sharpies have ascribed to him. His 2019 campaign so far includes a seven-furlong track-record stakes win at Tampa, a five-wide third behind Tacitus in the Tampa Derby, and an against-the-grain second when closing into a potent speed bias in the GII Blue Grass S. After riding the colt in his last two stakes, jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. vacated the Derby mount on this Hat Trick (Jpn)-sired homebred to partner with Improbable instead. So Win Win Win will be reunited with Julien Pimentel, who was aboard for all three of this colt’s prior wins at Tampa and Laurel. 9) CODE OF HONOR (c, Noble Mission {GB}—Reunited, by Dixie Union) O/B-W. S. Farish (KY). T-Shug McGaughey. Sales History: $70,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 4-2-1-0, $384,820. Last Start: 3rd, GI Florida Derby, GP, Mar. 30 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 74. Code of Honor’s light-bodied, nimble frame has the potential to be an asset in a crowded Derby field, especially considering that his pedigree suggests he’ll be a stayer over longer ground. Still, Code of Honor is a May 23 foal who’s had trouble putting together back-to-back solid efforts this winter and spring, and this first-crop Noble Mission (GB) homebred needs to outrun his reputation of being an opportunist who capitalizes only under favorable circumstances. But you also have to consider the intentions of the human connections here: Neither owner/breeder W.S. Farish nor trainer Shug McGuaghey are known as gung-ho Derby chasers, so when they keep a colt like Code of Honor pointed on the Classics path, there has to be a stronger reason than what we can see on paper. And passing up 15-1 odds on a two-time Derby winning jockey like John Velazquez is a pari-mutuel risk that you shouldn’t consider lightly. 10) LONG RANGE TODDY (c, Take Charge Indy–Pleasant Song, by Unbridled’s Song) O/B-Willis Horton Racing, LLC (KY). T-Steve Asmussen. Lifetime Record: GSW, 8-4-1-1, $854,459. Last Start: 6th, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 13 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 53.5. On the plus side, this Take Charge Indy homebred enters the Derby with seven solid races of two-turn experience and some visually impressive efforts in which he remained calm under pressure while in traffic. He also has the benefit of coming from the barn of a trainer who has hit the board four times in the Derby (including twice in the past three years with decent-odds horses). But you have to wonder if Long Range Toddy already ran the race of his life when he outlasted first-off-the-layoff Improbable in the slower division of the Rebel S. Another concern is that this is a colt with no true, well-defined running style, and the Derby is a tough spot to try to figure out what might work best. “I feel like I don’t need to push him as hard early as I did in the Arkansas Derby,” said jockey Jon Court. “I just need to sit quiet, maintain my position and try to save what I can for the stretch because ultimately that’s what’s most important.” 11) TAX (g, Arch–Toll, by Giant’s Causeway) O-R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch & Corms Racing Stable. B-Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider (KY). T-Danny Gargan. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-2-1, $326,300. Last Start: 2nd, GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 52. Tax represents a betting conundrum in the Derby, but 20-1 is square value. This Arch gelding out of a Giant’s Causeway mare is bred to excel at 10 furlongs, and visually, his Aqueduct races have been encouraging because he muscles his way to contending positions and doesn’t shy away from in-race engagement. Tax will need to employ those heat-of-battle skills in trying to overcome a disadvantageous gate draw in post two, but that’s not his only Derby obstacle. Tax’s chief liability is that he has yet to mix it up with elite-level competition. He twice ran for maiden-claiming tags before taking a path of lesser resistance (the New York winter preps), and the only A-level horse he’s ever had to deal with was Tacitus. He fought resolutely but was worn down by that rival when beaten 1 1/4 lengths in the Wood Memorial. But Tax did gallop out on even terms with Tacitus after the wire, and didn’t act discouraged despite the defeat. 12) VEKOMA (c, Candy Ride {Arg}—Mona de Momma, by Speightstown) O-R. A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables. B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY). T-George Weaver. Sales History: $135,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 4-3-0-1, $788,850. Last Start: 1st, GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 6 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 110. The overachieving Vekoma has been proving critics wrong throughout his brief 3-for-4 career and will set out to do so again in the Derby. This $135,000 KEESEP Candy Ride (Arg) colt is a compact, light-framed speedster who doesn’t necessarily need the lead to win, but should be in the hunt early, pace-wise. Even in his lone defeat (third in the Fountain of Youth S.), Vekoma never stopped battling even when passed in deep stretch, signaling his willingness to chip away when others might pack it in. But Vekoma will be regarded as a suspect bet in the Derby for three reasons: 1) His Blue Grass S. win was aided by a speed-friendly Keeneland surface–seven of eight main-track winners that day were first or second at the second call; 2) Vekoma is prone to shifting and drifting through the stretch, and this lack of late-race focus has surfaced in every one of his races; 3) With 2004 champion sprinter Speightstown as his dam-sire, the bottom of his pedigree doesn’t exactly scream “10 furlongs.” 13) CUTTING HUMOR (c, First Samurai—Pun, by Pulpit) O-Starlight Racing. B-Dell Hancock & Bernie Sams (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $135,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP; $400,000 Ylg ’17 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-2-2-1, $516,967. Last Start: 1st, GIII Sunland Derby, SUN, Mar. 24 Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 50. Although 30-1 in the morning line underlays his true chances by about 20 points, this First Samurai colt has all the ingredients to be the horse who blows up the Derby trifecta/superfecta by sneaking in at a huge price. After all, this is a $400,000 FTSAUG track-record holder (GIII Sunland Derby) from the barn of a two-time Derby-winning trainer (Todd Pletcher). Ignore at your own pari-mutuel peril. 14) COUNTRY HOUSE (c, Lookin At Lucky–Quake Lake, by War Chant) ‘TDN Rising Star’. O-Mrs. J. V. Shields, Jr., E. J. M. McFadden, Jr. & LNJ Foxwoods. B-J. V. Shields, Jr. (KY). T-William I. Mott. Lifetime Record: GISP, 6-1-2-1, $260,175. Last Start: 3rd, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 13. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 50. If you have deep enough pockets, this is the type of horse you toss into your vertical exotics just for insurance based primarily out of respect for the Bill Mott barn. ‘TDN Rising Star’ Country House has run second, third, and fourth against graded stakes company in recent starts. But he’s a May 8 Lookin At Lucky foal who has been green at times during his stretch runs, so it’s tough to make the case that he’s zeroing in on a major breakthrough effort from post 20. 15) HAIKAL (c, Daaher–Sablah, by Distorted Humor) O-Shadwell Stable. B-Shadwell Farm (KY). T-Kiaran McLaughlin. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-3-1-1, $373,900. Last Start: 3rd, GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 6. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 70. Haikal has the closing kick, the speed figures, and the race record (3-1-1 from five starts) that all say he will be firing late in the Derby. But he’s never won beyond a one-turn mile and has never raced over any surface other than Aqueduct. Haikal won the Winkfield S. and the GIII Gotham S. there by capitalizing on gratuitous speed setups, and he shied from both left- and right-handed stick work when roused for the drive in that latter race. In the Wood Memorial, Haikal was a best-of-the-rest third, four lengths behind the top two. 16) MAXIMUM SECURITY (c, New Year’s Day–Lil Indy, by Anasheed) O/B-Gary & Mary West (KY). T-Jason Servis. Lifetime Record: GISW, 4-4-0-0, $649,400. Last Start: 1st, GI Florida Derby, GP, Mar. 30. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 100. I can wave away the fact that Maximum Security began his career in a $16,000 maiden-claimer because his trainer, Jason Servis, is pretty shrewd at such moves and this New Year’s Day colt subsequently ran up the score by a combined 24 3/4 lengths in a pair of optional claiming/allowance races. But convincing myself that Maximum Security’s GI Florida Derby walk-a-thon win is legitimate/repeatable in the Kentucky Derby is a little more difficult. Speed-figure adherents will tell you that back-to-back triple-digit Beyers stamp this colt as the real deal. But Maximum Security has enjoyed pressure-free sailing through the stretch in all four of his starts and wins over a track (Gulfstream) that clearly plays to his running style. The Derby is bound to be a far more challenging go. 17) SPINOFF (c, Hard Spun–Zaftig, by Gone West) O/B-Wertheimer et Frere (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Lifetime Record: MGSP, 4-2-0-0. Last Start: 2nd, GII Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 23. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 40. Just because Spinoff doesn’t have enough depth in his past performances to get a true read on him doesn’t mean he’s a Derby tossout. It’s just harder to figure out what he’ll do based off a five-furlong maiden win, a third in the GII Saratoga Special S., a gaudy 11 ¾-length Tampa allowance romp, and a trip-troubled second-place run while sparring for the lead in the GII Louisiana Derby. Sire Hard Spun was a MGSW who ran second in the very deep 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Dam Zaftig was a graded stakes dirt winner over seven furlongs and a one-turn mile. 18) GRAY MAGICIAN (c, Graydar–Burg Berg, by Johannesburg) O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Gary Barber & Wachtel Stable. B-Twin Creeks Farm (KY). T-Peter Miller. Lifetime Record: GSP-UAE, 8-1-3-2, $584,140. Last Start: 2nd, G2 UAE Derby, MEY, Mar. 30. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 41. You could make a minor case for Gray Magician to snag a minor Kentucky Derby share based on the way he closed capably to be second in the G2 UAE Derby. But this horse is a true outlier on paper as a win threat. He’s never won beyond the maiden ranks from eight tries and would need to improve his best Beyer Speed Figures by about 20 points to realistically contend. 19) BY MY STANDARDS (c, Goldencents—A Jealous Woman, by Muqtarib) O-Allied Racing Stable, LLC. B-Don Ladd (KY). T-William Bret Calhoun. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-2-1, $653,710. Last Start: 1st, GII Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 23. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 100. This Goldencents colt parlayed a maiden win into a 22-1 Louisiana Derby upset, but that race is widely regarded as a prep whose complexion completely came undone when favorite War of Will slipped leaving the starting gate and was a non-factor. By My Standards was in the right place at the right time to pick up the faltering speedsters, and will likely take back leaving post 3 to attempt another one-run swoop from off the pace. His sire was 17th in the 2013 Derby, but capped his career with back-to-back wins in the 2013 and 2014 GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. 20) MASTER FENCER (c, Just a Way {Jpn}–Sexy Zamurai, by Deputy Minister) O/B-Katsumi Yoshizawa (JPN). T-Koichi Tsunoda. Lifetime Record: SP-Jpn, 6-2-2-0, $234,392. Last Start: 2nd, Fukuryu S., NAK, Mar. 31. Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: N/A. Gained entry into the first leg of the Triple Crown after earning minor-share points in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series and the horses ahead of him declined their invitations. This son of Just A Way {Jpn) ran in a pair of 10-furlong turf races to start his career, then won a maiden and an allowance, both at nine furlongs on the dirt. Master Fencer rallied from last to finish second in his most recent race, the Fukuryu S. Mar. 31 at Nakayama, a course that is considered very sandy and deep. View the full article

LOUISVILLE, KY – With the rising sun making its way through partly cloudy skies, the backstretch at Churchill Downs was buzzing on a warm and breezy Wednesday morning ahead of this weekend’s 145th GI Kentucky Derby. Two of Bob Baffert’s three Derby-bound ‘TDN Rising Stars’ Roadster (Quality Road) and Improbable (City Zip) were among the first to step foot on the freshly manicured surface during the special 15-minute training window reserved for Derby/Oaks horses at 7:30 a.m. Champion and fellow ‘Rising Star’ Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) galloped during a later Baffert set at 9 a.m. Former claimer Tax (Arch) made a very nice impression as he began to jog while Hall of Fame trainers Steve Asmussen and Bill Mott ponied their respective charges–Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy) and Tacitus (Tapit)-onto the track. Cutting Humor (First Samurai) and Spinoff (Hard Spun) made their first local appearances since shipping in from South Florida as two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher watched closely through the binoculars while standing on the track near the chute. Omaha Beach (War Front) continues to thrive beneath the Twin Spires as he looks every bit worthy of favoritism on the First Saturday in May, especially if the forecasted heavy rain arrives. By My Standards (Goldencents) is another who couldn’t be looking any better in the flesh. One quick glance at him is all it takes to see what all the buzz has been about the past few weeks since his big upset in the GII Louisiana Derby. Juddmonte’s aforementioned stunning gray Tacitus was another show stopper during training hours. With so much talk about Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg})’s awkward action since his GII Blue Grass S. win, it was interesting to see that he doesn’t display that same ‘paddle’ while galloping. Like Vekoma, it was the first day of training at Churchill for the unbeaten GI Florida Derby winner Maximum Security (New Year’s Day). Kentucky Oaks headliner Bellafina (Quality Road) caught the eye while briefly taking in her surroundings by the clubhouse turn after entering from the Lukas gap. Japanese invader Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) was pretty impossible to miss sporting those loud red-and-pink blinkers/ear muffs combo with jockey Julien Leparoux in the irons during his five-furlong breeze in a leisurely 1:05.20. Gray Magician (Graydar), runner-up in the G2 UAE Derby, was noticeably lathered during his preparations in the summer-like conditions. The streaking Oaks contender Lady Apple (Curlin) was on her toes exiting the track as she passed by the large throng of photographers hugging the rail on the backstretch. The Bob Baffert stable and Richard Mandella’s current digs at the Larry Jones barn were by far the two most popular stops on the backstretch after the special training session concluded. Mandella chatted with Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey-it was announced Tuesday that Omaha Beach will stand at B. Wayne Hughes’s farm following the conclusion of his racing career-while the GI Arkansas Derby winner was surrounded by adoring fans and media during his bath. How popular has Omaha Beach been on the backstretch this week? Even Hall of Famer and two-time Kentucky Derby- winning jockey Chris McCarron stopped by to have his picture taken with him Wednesday. View the full article

Restless Rider, 3-4-0 in seven starts, has dropped her last two starts in photo finishes, making her a few inches away from being the favorite for the May 3 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

Christina Jelm was already fielding phone calls from prospective buyers just minutes after Ms Headley (The Big Beast) crossed the wire first in her debut at Churchill Downs Wednesday, with one particularly memorable text exclaiming, “The Beast has been Unleashed!” Jelm, more often buying horses for clients than herself, and Washington-based trainer Mike Puhich teamed up to buy the filly from the first crop of 2014 GI King’s Bishop S. winner The Big Beast for $20,000 at the OBS March sale. “There was a group of us shopping around and I had a short list put together that I had given to some of my clients, including Mike and [trainer] Tom VanBerg,” Jelm said. “They loved her. She went up to the ring and we couldn’t believe we got her. I expected her to cost a lot more money, but I think a lot of horses flew under the radar at that sale.” The speedy filly was expected to transition swiftly from sales horse to racehorse, according to Jelm. “We thought she was the type of filly that would be able to move right on,” Jelm said. “Our original plan was to go to Keeneland and break her maiden there. It took us just one extra work longer and so we ended up here at Churchill.” The filly is a celebration of old friends and colleagues. She was named after trainer Karen Headley and entrusted to trainer Wesley Ward. “Mike Puhich and Wesley and Karen and Tom and that whole crew, we’ve all grown up together and have been in the business a long time,” Jelm said. “And they are wonderful horsemen. So we just thought it would be special to name a horse after Karen and we thought Wesley would be the perfect trainer to get her out early. And that’s what we expected this filly to do based on what she showed us at the sale.” Watching a filly she owns race was a different experience for Jelm. “I was a nervous wreck,” Jelm admitted. “I’ve owned horses, but it was back in the day. But for the price she was purchased for, I didn’t think I could go wrong just going for the ride myself.” As for expectations for Ms Headley’s debut, Jelm said, “I expected her to put in a good run. I know she is fast, her pedigree is all speed. Hopefully she’ll show us she can stretch out as we move on. She is very level-headed and she is very professional.” Ms Headley debuted in the silks of the late Hall of Fame trainer Jack VanBerg, a mentor to Jelm, but it may be the only start she makes in those colors. “Money talks and cash screams,” Jelm said with a laugh. “Wesley has done a wonderful job with her and we are so thankful and we would love to her stay with Wesley no matter what happens. But right now, we are just enjoying the day with a whole collection of old friends and great horsemen. It was fun and amazing.”T View the full article

The Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity (CHRI) has launched a digital advertising campaign in support of the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019. “The United States lags far behind the international community in protecting horses from injuries and fatalities. Horses are injured and die at a rate of up to five times greater than other horse racing nations,” said Shawn Smeallie, executive director of the coalition. “The Horseracing Integrity Act will bring the United States up to international standards and will better protect our equine athletes.” The CHRI’s ad campaign will last for two months, and target seven million people interested in horse racing via Facebook and Twitter, encouraging them to contact their elected representatives in support of the legislation and to sign a petition of support. It will also geo-target racing audiences in the Louisville, Baltimore and New York City areas during the three Triple Crown races. View the full article

Katsumi and Yasuyo Yoshizawa's Master Fencer (JPN) worked five furlongs in 1:05.20 under jockey Julien Leparoux over a fast track on a warm Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs. View the full article

The record rain that arrived in Southern California this winter, along with the equine safety issues that followed at Santa Anita Park, forced trainers on the Triple Crown trail to make adjustments to plans. View the full article

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Chief Executive Officer Joe Harper issued a statement Tuesday night in the form of “A Letter to Our Patrons” announcing safety and welfare reforms ahead of the track’s 80th summer meet, which begins July 17. His statement was as follows: As most of you are aware, horse safety and welfare has been a topic in the news recently. As we draw closer to Del Mar’s 80th summer season, we’d like to address our ongoing efforts with industry stakeholders on reforms to ensure a safe environment for racing. Del Mar is committed to the industry’s most progressive safety and welfare protocols and has taken great strides in recent years to implement a number of procedures intended to make racing at Del Mar safer including: • Reducing race days to allow us more time to prepare our racing surfaces • Investing $12 million in state-of-the-art racing facilities and surfaces • Enhancing pre-race veterinarian inspections • Adding Mick Peterson, the pre-eminent track surface analyst in the country, to our team • Reducing the horse population in the stable area to ensure the safest possible training environment • Adjusting morning training routines to allow for surfaces to be in optimal condition I’m happy to report those changes contributed to a 70% reduction in catastrophic injuries. We believe there are even more opportunities for continued improvement. Therefore, we will be implementing additional enhanced procedures for the upcoming summer meet including: • Instituting International Federation of Horseracing Authorities medication standards–the strictest in the world • Revising training protocols including additional veterinarians to oversee workouts • Increasing out-of-competition testing • Enhancing stable security • Developing a stakeholder advisory committee We believe these enhancements will make racing at Del Mar even safer for both our equine and human athletes. Opening Day is right around the corner, and our racing team is excited to welcome you back this summer. View the full article

Christina Jelm and Mike Puhich’s Ms Headley (f, 2, The Big Beast–My Coastie, by Trippi) was sent off the even-money favorite and duly delivered a two-length victory in her debut for 2-year-old maestro Wesley Ward at Churchill Downs Wednesday. The bay filly is the first winner for freshman sire and 2014 GI King’s Bishop S. winner The Big Beast (Yes It’s True). Ms Headley broke alertly and tracked pacesetting Biddy Duke (Bayern) through fractions of :22.20 and :45.79. She overtook the pacesetter in the final furlong and cruised clear, completing the five furlongs in :59.22. Biddy Duke was second and Honorable Memory (Honor Code) was third. Ms Headley was a $20,000 OBS March acquisition and a $20,000 OBS October yearling. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $60,000. O-Christina Jelm & Mike Puhich. B-Lybby & Ronald Gay (Fl). T-Wesley Ward. View the full article

Dunaden (Fr) (Nicobar {GB}-La Marlia {Fr}, by Kaldounevees {Fr}), winner of the G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Hong Kong Vase in 2011 and the following year’s G1 Caulfield Cup, died on Tuesday at Overbury Stud due to complications following a paddock accident. David Redvers, racing manager for owner Sheikh Fahad, said, “Dunaden was a horse of iron constitution with the most exceptional will to win. He gave Sheikh Fahad some fantastic days and was largely responsible for the wider Qatari family becoming involved in horse racing. He was the most intelligent Thoroughbred I have ever been involved with and we are all incredibly saddened by his death. I would like to thank Simon Sweeting and his team at Overbury Stud for the job they have done with the horse, particularly over the last few days.” Sheikh Fahad said, “Dunaden was a horse of a lifetime. Winning the Melbourne Cup is a day I will never forget. He was pure class–consistent, strong and incredibly competitive. QIPCO’s initial increase in investment in racing is largely down to Dunaden’s success. It is a terrible loss.” Purchased privately by Sheikh Fahad’s Pearl Bloodstock at four, Dunaden would go on to win a pair of handicaps at Longchamp and Lyon Parilly that fall for trainer Richard Gibson, but it was at five for trainer Mikel Delzangles that the chestnut really sprang to life. He won the G3 Prix de Barbeville and shipped to Australia to kick off his winning sequence that saw him take the G3 Geelong Cup before besting Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) by the barest of noses in the first of the latter’s three runner-up finishes in the Melbourne Cup. The following spring Dunaden picked up placings in the G2 Jockey Club S., G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly and G2 Hardwicke S. before returning to Australia to capture his third Group 1 in the Caulfield Cup, and in 2013 he strung together an excellent campaign without winning, placing in the G1 Prix Ganay, G1 Coronation Cup, G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the Hong Kong Vase. Dunaden was in the midst of his fifth season at Overbury Stud at the time of his death, where he commanded a fee of £3,000. He has thus far left behind five winners, including the dual winner Ranch Hand (GB). Simon Sweeting, Manager of Overbury Stud, said, “It was a huge honour to have stood Dunaden at Overbury Stud. I was delighted to have been involved with him and am very sad to have lost him so early.” View the full article

The TDN has polled some of the top riders in the history of the sport and asked them to answer this simple question: If given a choice of any of the 20 starters in the GI Kentucky Derby, who would you choose to ride? Today, we ask Chris McCarron. I would have to chose Omaha Beach (War Front) and that’s because Mike Smith chose him. No one has a better gauge of all the colts running in the Derby. He’s ridden a few of them himself and he’s also ridden against a bunch of them. I have tremendous faith in his judgment I also like what I see in Omaha Beach. He’s very consistent and every report I get is that he is filling out and getting stronger. I also like the fact that he doesn’t have to be in front. He showed that in the [GI] Arkansas Derby. He was fourth coming into the first turn. Yes, he spurted up to the lead quickly, but it was a case of his showing that his speed was more tactical. I also have a lot of respect for Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}). I think he’s going to run the race of his life. But if both he and Omaha Beach both run the races of their lives I think Omaha Beach will be the winner. I know everybody is mainly talking and Omaha Beach and Game Winner, but I also like Tacitus (Tapit). He really got mugged in the early going in the [GII] Wood Memorial and he really responded. He showed a lot of heart. View the full article

Runner-up in the G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten at Cologne in October, Django Freeman (Ger) (Campanologist) emerged with the bragging rights all to himself in the G3 Bavarian Classic at Munich on Wednesday. Always travelling strongly tracking the front pair, the 9-5 favourite was just waiting for the instruction from Lukas Delozier and when given it in the straight grabbed Quest the Moon (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) a furlong from home and stretched out for a 1 1/2-length verdict. Wednesday, Munich, Germany PFERDEWETTEN.DE – BAVARIAN CLASSIC-G3, €55,000, Munich, 5-1, 3yo, 10fT, 2:12.61, gd. 1–DJANGO FREEMAN (GER), 128, c, 3, by Campanologist 1st Dam: Donna Lavinia (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger) 2nd Dam: Donna Alicia (Ger), by Highland Chieftain (Ire) 3rd Dam: Donna Regina (Ger), by Esclavo (Fr) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€4,000 Wlg ’16 ARQDEC; €5,000 RNA Ylg ’17 BBAGS). O-Hedge, Baumgarten & Holschbach; B-Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof (GER); T-Henk Grewe; J-Lukas Delozier. €32,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, €91,000. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Quest the Moon (Ger), 128, c, 3, Sea the Moon (Ger)–Questabella (Ger), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). (€32,000 RNA Ylg ’17 BBAGS; €6,000 Ylg ’17 BBAGO). O-Stall Salzburg; B-Gestut Gorlsdorf (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg. €12,000. 3–Dschingis First (Ger), 128, c, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Divya (Ger), by Platini (Ger). (€500,000 Ylg ’17 BBAGS). O-Horst Pudwill; B-Gestut Park Wiedingen (GER); T-Markus Klug. €6,000. Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 1.80, 3.70, 6.10. Also Ran: Amiro (Ger), Accon (Ger), Beam Me Up (Ger), Enjoy The Moon (Ire), Quian (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. View the full article

From the bottom floors to the rooftop of Churchill Downs, people attending this year's Kentucky Oaks and Derby Weekend will notice the latest upgrades at the iconic facility. View the full article

Royal Ascot has released the entries for its Group 1 races and four of its Group 2 races and, as has become customary, an international cast is expected to descend upon Berkshire on June 18 to 22. Entries have been received from nine countries: the UK, Ireland, France, the Czech Republic, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and the U.S. In addition to all the top names from Europe, the U.S.-trained contingent includes dual GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic) and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf winner Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Wesley Ward, the trainer of 10 Royal Ascot winners, has four entered thus far including previous Royal Ascot visitor and placegetter Bound for Nowhere (The Factor). Ward’s numbers are certain to increase once the juvenile race entries are revealed. Australia brings a formidable pair of sprinters in three-time Group 1 placegetter Zousain (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) and dual Group 3 winner Houtzen (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}), while Enzo’s Lad (Aus) (Testa Rossa {Aus}) would become just the second New Zealand-trained runner at the Royal meeting. He is entered for both the G1 King’s Stand S. and G1 Diamond Jubilee S. View the full article

Trainer Todd Pletcher, seeking his third victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), took an unorthodox approach to the May 4 classic, shipping his two contenders to Churchill Downs at the last possible moment. View the full article

Cork-born trainer Brendan Walsh has been ascending steadily through the U.S. ranks since taking out his license seven years ago, and the 45-year-old will reach the summit of American racing on Saturday when he saddles his first GI Kentucky Derby starter, the G2 UAE Derby winner Plus Que Parfait (Point of Entry). In 2012, his first full year with a license, Walsh sent out four winners. His tally last month at Keeneland’s three-week spring meet alone was six–good for joint fourth by winners. Walsh bagged in excess of $3-million in both 2017 and 2018, and with $2.35-million in the bank already in 2019 he is well on his way to a career-best year with a stable of 60 split currently between Keeneland and Churchill Downs. “Six winners at Keeneland is pretty good going for a stable of our size,” said Walsh, who also saddles Proctor’s Ledge (Ghostzapper) in Churchill’s GII Distaff Turf Mile, a race she won last year, on Saturday. “It’s always good to be doing well and having winners like that when you’re going into something like the Derby.” Plus Que Parfait, like his trainer, is riding a winning momentum heading into the First Saturday in May. The chestnut, a $135,000 Keeneland September yearling, will be a longshot when he exits gate nine on Saturday, but Walsh said he has blossomed since his trip to Dubai. Plus Que Parfait has started twice at Churchill Downs, placing both times including a neck second behind fellow Derby starter Signalman (General Quarters) in last November’s GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. He failed to fire in the Louisiana prep races over the winter, finishing fifth and 13th, respectively, in the G3 LeComte S. and G2 Risen Star S. He looked a different horse, however, when winning the UAE Derby by 3/4 of a length over Gray Magician (Graydar) after saving ground midpack on the rail, and the 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points he earned there ensured him a spot in the starting gate. Walsh said Dubai was always in the back of his team’s minds because owners Imperial Racing are based in the Emirate over the winter. “They have some horses with Doug Watson, I believe, out there, and of course they have a few distributed amongst different trainers [in America],” Walsh said. “A lot of it revolves around World Cup night [for Imperial Racing] and I think this is the first time that they managed to pull off a win, so they were really, really pleased, as you could imagine. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"UAE Derby Winner Plus Que Parfait and His Trainer Brendan Walsh","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/333421739.sd.mp4?s=c4af6a2bb87fb14ea9d3d162b973897549407db1&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/326780401.sd.mp4?s=04d3ff150df6a1509c53503919ebe902c5358d28&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} “When things didn’t quite work out at Fair Grounds, we diverted towards maybe giving Dubai a shot. We sent him down to Florida after the Risen Star because if he was going to Dubai, he was going to fly out of Miami anyway. We said, ‘If he’s doing really, really well, where we’d be confident he’d run a good race in Dubai, then we’d send him to Dubai.'” Walsh, who has “one or two 2-year-olds” on the way to his barn for Imperial Racing, said he laid eyes on Plus Que Parfait for the first time in Ocala about a year ago. “I loved him from the word go, and he’s always been very, very professional the whole way through,” Walsh said. “When we brought him in last year, from day one he was one of those that you just showed him what you wanted him to do, what was required, and he went ahead and did it. He’s always been very professional, and he’s got a great mind, which I think is his biggest asset. Physically, in the last two months, he’s really grown from a boy into a man. He’s gotten a lot stronger, physically, which is exactly what you want to see in a 3-year-old this time of year.” “He’s always handled Churchill well,” Walsh added. “He ran twice there last year and ran well both times. He handles the track good. He’s always worked well there, too. He’s done plenty of work there and he looks this week like he’s taken to it like a duck to water.” Plus Que Parfait’s apparent affinity for Churchill Downs is not unlike his trainer’s compatibility with the American racing scene. It can’t hurt that Walsh laid a solid international foundation before striking out on his own. His travels took him from Ireland–where he completed the Irish National Stud course before moving to Darley’s Kildangan Stud-to Dubai, where he spent nine winters as a work rider for various stables including Godolphin, where he had his hands on the likes of Daylami, Street Cry, Fantastic Light and Kayf Tara. His next stop was Newmarket, where he spent 3 1/2 years with trainer Mark Wallace, before taking up an offer to join trainer Eddie Kenneally in Kentucky. “I came over on vacation at one stage and I bumped into Eddie Kenneally, and he told me, ‘If you plan on coming back give me a call,'” Walsh explained. “I hooked up with Eddie, and did another 3 1/2 or four years with Eddie, which was great. And then I decided I’d take the plunge.” For all his global grounding, however, Walsh’s interest was sparked in his birthplace of County Cork. It is widely acknowledged that racing globally is suffering as a result of a growing disconnect between humans and the working animal– something that is being borne out in the strengthening of extreme animal rights organizations as well as rising staffing problems-and while Ireland is not immune to this, it seems that places like Cork–home of Coolmore satellites Castlehyde and Grange Studs as well as Glenview, Grove, Castletown, and Rathbarry Studs and many, many others-are some of the last remaining places where the relationship between man and beast is truly congruous. “Without a doubt,” Walsh responded when asked if growing up in Cork kick-started his career. “I was obsessed with horses from the get-go. Don’t ask me where it came from, but we were farmers at home, so you’re always around animals, and I think when you’ve got a natural thing with animals, it translates, no matter whether it’s dogs, or horses, or whatever it is. “I was always very fond of animals, and I think you learn to care for animals, and horses were my thing. My dad bought me a pony when I was eight years old, and we just went from there. But it’s difficult, when I think about it sometimes, to explain where it really came from, and how I ended up in it.” Having an unwavering familial support system didn’t hurt, either. “My dad bought me a pony, and opened the door for me, and they never stood in my way, and thankfully things worked out,” Walsh added. “There were a few bumps along the road, as there is with anybody’s career. In the end, it worked out great. I’m doing what I love to do, and there’s an awful lot to be said for that.” While he is undoubtedly nostalgic about his native land, it appears as if there was never much doubt about where Walsh would lay down new roots, and why. “America is just the land of opportunity,” he said. “It’s very hard for a young trainer to get started in Europe, unless you have a lot of money behind you, because everything is private. So you have to find yourself a yard and gallops, and you have to have the right clientele and the right connections. “It was always going to be very tough for me to get going there, and I always loved American racing. I always followed it, and it always appealed to me. There was a bit more opportunity here, so I decided I’d pursue it, and thankfully, it worked out. When I look back on it, it couldn’t have worked out any better.” American racing unfortunately rolls into its marquee event this weekend in the shadow of a national crisis that has unraveled following the deaths of 23 horses over the winter at Santa Anita. Progress to regain the public’s confidence in racing appears to be making baby steps, most notably with a 20-strong coalition of racetracks that have pledged to phase out race day medication, but deeply divided opinions, specifically on the topic of Lasix, still stand in the way of true reform. Walsh was quick to acknowledge the merits of both sides of the argument, but said he thinks a national governing body is necessary for real progress to be made. “I know I’m stating the obvious, but the main thing that needs to be done, above anything–and I don’t know how you’d even go about it–but there needs to be a national governing body in the country,” Walsh said. “Any of the major racing countries in the world has a national governing body, and I think that’s where American racing gets called out more than anything. And I think if you could do that, and everybody come together and come to an agreement, and not have one bunch saying one thing, and another saying another, I think that’s what has to be done. Everybody needs to come together and find a common ground, where everyone is reasonably happy. Hopefully, everybody can find a way to keep the whole thing going, and we don’t end up in trouble, and it’s not too late.” The rise of high-quality turf racing in the U.S. has been a much more positive talking point over the past year. Plus Que Parfait is by Point of Entry, a beautifully bred son of Dynaformer from a prolific Phipps family that won three Grade Is on the turf and was second in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf. Interestingly, this year’s Kentucky Derby includes a handful of horses with turf-themed pedigrees: GII Fountain of Youth S. winner Code of Honor is from the first crop of Frankel (GB)’s three-time Group 1-winning full-brother Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), while favoured Omaha Beach and War of Will are both by War Front. It is well known that the Claiborne stallion raced on dirt himself but has thus far carved out his lofty reputation primarily on the basis of his grass runners, although the axis looks likely to shift this year. While Omaha Beach would not have been a longshot to excel on the dirt, being a grandson of the outstanding dirt Grade I winner and broodmare Take Charge Lady (Dehere) and a half-brother to champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway), War of Will is a fascinating case, being a half-brother to the Irish champion 2-year-old Pathfork (Distorted Humor) out of the stakes-winning Sadler’s Wells mare Visions of Clarity (Ire). Walsh acknowledged that turf racing is indeed on the rise, but said he hopes that doesn’t come at the expense of dirt racing. “I think there’s an awful lot more of turf racing than what there was when I came to this country,” he said. “Why, I don’t know. Maybe with what’s going on at the moment with medication and everything it suits to have more turf type horses than dirt. But the dirt is also a very big part of American racing, and long may it continue. When you watched American racing you always associated it with dirt racing, and it’s always been very exciting.” This week, Walsh has a chance to immortalize his name in that great dirt racing history with a Kentucky Derby runner, and a win in America’s greatest race and one of its most coveted and historic sporting events would no doubt be the crowning glory of the trainer’s career. “To win it would be unbelievable,” he said. “It’s like any sport, like the golfing Majors, the Superbowl in football–this is our Superbowl. So for anybody that’s involved in a sport, this is the pinnacle of it. To win it would be unbelievable. “I just want to see the horse run well. I think that would be a great achievement in itself, to show that it can be done, that you can come back from Dubai and run a good race. Hopefully, he comes back out of it good, and he can have a good rest of his career. Because I think he can, I think he can be very good horse, as time goes along, and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet.” View the full article

1st-CD, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, 12:45 p.m. ET Wesley Ward saddles Hat Creek Racing’s LADY DELAWARE (AMERICAN PHAROAH), a half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny (Quality Road) and a $100,000 KEESEP purchase. The same owner and trainer send out the race’s other filly in entrymate Winyah Bay (Summer Front). John Oxley’s Enforceable (Tapit), trained by Mark Casse, is a full-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Mohaymen, as well as Saturday’s California Derby winner Kingly, and he is a half to GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Year’s Day (Street Cry {Ire}). TJCIS PPs 1st-BEL, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 1:30 p.m. ET Trainer Todd Pletcher saddles another firster by the Triple Crown winner in New York. SWEET MELANIA (American Pharoah) was a $600,000 KEESEP purchase by Robert and Lawana Low. She is a daughter of stakes winner and graded placed Sweet N Discreet (Discreet Cat). Trainer Wesley Ward sends out Stonestreet homebred Cambria (Speightstown), a daughter of graded stakes winner and Grade I placed Teen Pauline (Tapit). George Bolton’s Aurelia Garland, from the first crop of Grade I winner Constitution, is a half-sister to ‘TDN Rising Star’ and $1.7-million OBS March graduate Diamondsandpearls (Congrats). The $185,000 FTSAUG purchase is also trained by Ward. TJCIS PPs View the full article