Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Daily Derby dose

Updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just three days away. The field is now set.


Final push: The Derby gods had a few final twists up their sleeves before the field for the race was finalized Wednesday morning. Todd Pletcher did indeed withdraw Interactif, saying the colt will be pointed to turf races this summer. That move allowed Backtalk into the field, and he'll be ridden by Miguel Mena. Shortly afterward, Sunland Park Derby winner Endorsement unfortunately returned from what would have been his final Derby work (a bullet half in :47.40) with a condylar fracture of the right front ankle that will keep him on the shelf for several months. His defection allowed Make Music For Me into the field and also touched off one last game of musical riders. Robby Albarado, who would have been aboard Endorsement, was snapped up by the connections of Dean's Kitten. Joel Rosario, bumped off his second mount in a week, picked up the mount on Make Music For Me. Unfortunately, the last-minute moves didn't help Pleasant Prince and Setsuko, both of whom were entered and excluded based on graded earnings.


Not so lucky: Favored Lookin at Lucky and second choice Sidney's Candy took the worst of things and Wednesday's draw. Lookin at Lucky, installed at the 3-1 morning line favorite, is stuck on the rail in the bulky 20-horse field. Sidney's Candy is at the other end of the gate in the extreme outside, post 20. The Santa Anita Derby winner is 5-1 on the morning line. Ice Box, Awesome Act and the filly Devil May Care are the co-third choices at 10-1. The field from the rail out, with morning-line odds: Lookin at Lucky (3-1), Ice Box (10-1), Noble's Promise (12-1), Super Saver (15-1), Lion of David (30-1), Stately Victor (30-1), American Lion (30-1), Deans Kitten (50-1), Make Music For Me (50-1), Paddy O'Prado (20-1), Devil May Care (10-1), Conveyance (12-1), Jackson Bend (15-1), Mission Impazible (20-1), Discreetly Mine (30-1), Awesome Act (10-1), Dublin (12-1), Backtalk (50-1), Homeboykris (50-1) and Sidney's Candy (5-1).


Last move: Champagne winner Homeboykris turned in his final work before the Derby, going an easy four furlongs in :48.15 and galloping out in 1:02.06


Weather watch: We continue to monitor the forecast as Derby and Oaks contenders are still training over a wet surface at Churchill Downs. It appears likely that they'll have to deal with a less-than-idea surface this weekend. According to Weather.com, the Louisville forecast for Thursday and Friday is partly cloudy with breezes, meaning the track could be in good shape for the Oaks. But Saturday's forecast calls for thunderstorms, with an 80 percent chance of precipitation.

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