Lucky Seven For Justify in Kentucky Derby 144

[Wandering Eyes]

‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy) was assigned gate seven and was made the 3-1 favorite on Mike Battaglia’s morning line for Saturday’s 144th running of the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Owned by China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm, the $500,000 Keeneland September grad is undefeated and really untested in his three career appearances to date, including a sound defeat of Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro, 8-1) in the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 7. The strapping chestnut, who took the Churchill strip for the first time Tuesday morning, will be looking to give trainer Bob Baffert a fourth win in the ‘Run for the Roses’ and is one of two undefeateds in the race alongside fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon, 6-1). Both Justify and Magnum Moon will try to break the so-called ‘Apollo’ curse in trying to win the Derby without making the races at two. Raced by Robert and Lawana Low, the $380,000 KEESEP purchase drew in the auxiliary gate in stall 16.

Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), one of three in the race for his late sire and recent tearaway winner of the G2 UAE Derby, was made the 5-1 second choice on the morning line. The 2016 Keeneland September sales topper at $3 million drew gate 14 and it waits to be seen what sort of trip he will sit. He’s proved before he can take back and make a run, but should connections elect to go forward, he could be looking at a three- or four-wide run into the first turn. That owes to the fact that Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) and Flameaway (Scat Daddy) have drawn three and four, respectively, and even Justify could be part of the early mix.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle three runners in addition to Magnum Moon, the lowest price of which is once-beaten GI Xpressbet Florida Derby hero Audible (Into Mischief) and who will settle midfield from gate five for Javier Castellano. The two-time Derby-winning conditioner will also send out GII Wood Memorial S. winner Vino Rosso (Curlin) and GII Louisiana Derby hero Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy).

Justify most resembles Curlin entering the Derby and that stallion is also represented by three runners, led by reigning juvenile champion Good Magic, who drew gate six and was posted at a generous 12-1 on the morning line. Solomini races for the American Pharoah connections and has consistent form throughout his career. He exits a third to Magnum Moon in the GI Arkansas Derby.

KENTUCKY DERBY 144
1 Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Warrior), Lopez, Jason Servis, 50
2 Free Drop Billy (Union Rags), Albarado, Romans, 30
3 Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford), Lanerie, Romans, 30
4 Flameaway (Scat Daddy), Lezcano, Casse, 30
5 Audible (Into Mischief), Castellano, Pletcher, 8
6 Good Magic (Curlin), Ortiz, Brown, 12
7 Justify (Scat Daddy), Smith, Baffert, 3
8 Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior), Graham, Amoss, 50
9 Hofburg (Tapit), Ortiz Jr., Mott, 20
10 My Boy Jack (Creative Cause), Desormeaux, Desormeaux, 30
11 Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro), Espinoza, Ruis, 8
12 Enticed (Medaglia d’Oro), Alvarado, McLaughlin, 30
13 Bravazo (Awesome Again), Lukas, Contreras, 50
14 Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), Moore, O’Brien, 5
15 Instilled Regard (Arch), Van Dyke, Hollendorfer, 50
16 Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon), Saez, Pletcher, 6
17 Solomini (Curlin), Prat, Baffert, 30
18 Vino Rosso (Curlin), Velazquez, Pletcher, 12
19 Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy), Geroux, Pletcher, 30
20 Combatant (Scat Daddy), Santana Jr, Asmussen, 50
AE Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen), Frey, O’Neill, 50

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