2018 Kentucky Derby News & Notes

[Treve]

I knew the points system was the main motivator.
Mendelssohn better put on his running shoes tomorrow.

[peeptoad]

http://www.drf.com/news/kentucky-derby-2018-point-standings

[PJMIII]

Seeing Some Value Going Against My Boy Jack

Top stakes on tap Saturday from Oaklawn Park and Keeneland Race Course.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... y-boy-jack

[Sparrow Castle]

He was 13th on the Derby list last I checked.

Jeremy Balan Verified account @BH_JBalan
3m3 minutes ago
Sunland Derby winner Runaway Ghost will not run in the Kentucky Derby, according to trainer Todd Fincher. Fincher is "98%" sure he has a hairline fracture in his shin. Came out of work today at Sunland sore.

Fincher: "Bad news is we're missing the big dance. Good news is there'll be no surgery and he's going to be fine."

[Sparrow Castle]

Nope, 16th.

https://www.kentuckyderby.com/uploads/wysiwyg/assets/uploads/20180414_Road_to_the_Kentucky_Derby_Leaderboard.pdf

[BaroqueAgain1]

Thanks for the updated points list. I had thought that, with Runaway Ghost's defection, that Combatant would move into 20th. Nope, still just outside the bubble in 21st. Oops.

[Tessablue]

So Hofburg is officially in, I was a little worried going into today. Wonder what choice Mott will make. Edited to say that according to this, he's running: https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Juddmonte_definitely_wants_in_Kentucky_Derby_2018_Hofburg_on_bubble_123#

Worth noting that the horse he beat in his maiden, Just Whistle, won nicely at Keeneland today.

[stark]

From DRF....

Irad Ortiz Jr., the nation’s leading rider in wins thus far in 2018, will ride Florida Derby runner-up Hofburg in the Kentucky Derby, according to his agent, Steve Rushing.

Ortiz Jr. replaces his brother Jose, who is committed to ride Good Magic, the champion 2-year-old of 2017 and recent Blue Grass Stakes winner, in the Kentucky Derby. Jose Ortiz was aboard Hofburg for his second-place finish to Audible in the Florida Derby.

Ortiz probably had a chance at several mounts for the Derby including Louisiana Derby winner Noble Indy, Promises Fulfilled _ whom Ortiz rode to victory in the Fountain of Youth _ and Free Drop Billy, whom Ortiz rode in the Blue Grass. Ortiz had also ridden Firenze Fire to victory in the Grade 1 Champagne last year. The aforementioned quartet did not have confirmed riders as of Sunday.

[Sparrow Castle]

Solomini to train in CA next two weeks before Ky Derby; two Derby works slotted for Justify

Solomini, third in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday, is scheduled to fly back to California on Monday and will train over the next two weeks at Santa Anita before a scheduled start in the Kentucky Derby on May 5, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday.

Baffert said Solomini likely would fly to Kentucky either on April 28 -- one week before the Derby -- or April 30.

As for Justify, the unbeaten winner of the Santa Anita Derby and current favorite for the Kentucky Derby, he is scheduled to have two works prior to the Derby, the first of them slotted for later this week at Santa Anita, Baffert said.

http://live.drf.com/nuggets/41928-solomini-to-train-in-ca-next-two-weeks-before-ky-derby-two-derby-works-slotted-for-justify

[PJMIII]

First look at horses on the bubble for 2018 Kentucky Derby

Now that the Kentucky Derby (G1) scoring races are over, and all the points have been tabulated, the field has crystallized. We now know the top 19 on the final leaderboard plus the European Road invitee (Gronkowski), making for the capacity field of 20. Thus we also know those contenders just shy of the threshold – the “bubble horses” – on watch for defections.

http://www.brisnet.com/content/2018/04/ ... cky-derby/