Fair Grounds Shippers, Led By Tiztastic And Good Cheer, Arrive in Kentucky

[Wandering Eyes]

GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) was one of several shippers who arrived at Churchill Downs early Tuesday morning from Fair Grounds.

“We thought he'd run a better race in the Louisiana Derby with the extra distance and he took the step forwarded he needed,” said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. “He has a great mind to him. I think he ran a solid race but there is more in him.”

CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's John Hancock (Constitution), who finished fourth in the Louisiana Derby, also arrived at Churchill Downs from Fair Grounds to trainer Brad Cox's Barn 22. He was joined by Godolphin's likely GI Longines Kentucky Oaks favorite Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro).

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Built (Hard Spun), who finished fifth in the Louisiana Derby, arrived at Churchill Downs from Fair  Grounds Monday to trainer Wayne Catalano's Barn 14.

Also making the trip to Kentucky, Terry Stephens' Chunk of Gold (Preservationist), the Louisiana Derby runner-up, arrived at Turfway Park 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,” said West. “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. 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 would mark Stephens' second starter in the Kentucky Derby. He previously co-owned O Besos (Orb), 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. deadline when all Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders must be on the grounds.

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