The Kentucky Derby goes off Saturday night on or about 6:57 p.m., and by the time the clock strikes 7 p.m., we should know who the winner is.
But after weeks of watching prep races, analyzing post positions, and seeing who’s in and who’s out, it’s time to try and figure out for ourselves who will become the 149th Kentucky Derby champion ahead of time.
The 20-horse field includes Forte, last year’s juvenile champion who’s won four straight starts; Angel of Empire, the fast-closing Arkansas Derby winner; Tapit Trice, the blossoming threat and Blue Grass Stakes champion; Kingsbarns, the Louisiana Derby winner looking to steal the roses on the lead; and Derma Sotogake, the intriguing UAE Derby champion from Japan looking to make all sorts of history.
But the complexion of the field was seriously upended Thursday with three scratches, including Lord Miles, the Wood Memorial winner trained by Saffie Joseph Jr.
On Thursday afternoon, Churchill Downs management announced Joseph’s indefinite suspension following the sudden deaths of two other horses which he trains at the facility earlier this week. All of his horses scheduled to run at the track this weekend have been scratched.
Bill Mudd, president and CEO of Churchill Downs, said in a statement that the company had concerns about the safety and conditioning of the equines in Joseph’s care; the track has experienced two other horse fatalities this week, marring what’s normally an upbeat week ahead of the Kentucky Derby.
Lord Miles’ scratch from the Kentucky Derby opened the door for the also-eligible Mandarin Hero, who finished second in the Santa Anita Derby, to enter the race. He’ll get the 22 saddlecloth and break from the farthest-outside post.
Earlier on Thursday, Practical Move, the Santa Anita Derby champion, was scratched by trainer Tim Yakteen after spiking a fever, according to the Daily Racing Form. That moved Cyclone Mischief, third in the Florida Derby, into the Kentucky Derby field as…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply