The Kentucky Derby (G1) is just 13 days away and horses are getting settled in at Churchill Downs. A full field of 20 is once again expected with Derby points leader EPICENTER (Gun Runner) the likely favourite for Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen.
There will be a one hour show each morning beginning Monday, April 25, from 7 to 8 a.m. EST HERE with commentary and there is a 15-minute window in that session for Derby and Oaks horses to train.
Canadian/Ontario-bred MESSIER, second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), and a graded stakes winner this year, is one of the main Kentucky Derby contenders. The Sam-Son Farms-bred son of Empire Maker – Checkered Past by Smart Strike had a major workout for the Derby at Santa Anita on April 23 (see below).
Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Messier worked 5 Furlongs in 59.80 on April 23rd, 2022, for trainer Tim Yakteen. Messier is expected to make his next start in the @KentuckyDerby. pic.twitter.com/qGkx0XRSF9
— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) April 23, 2022
Two horses born in Canada have won the Derby from 147 previous runnings, the great Northern Dancer (1964) and Sunny’s Halo in 1983.
The Derby media guide reports that there have been 12 other Canadian-bred Derby starters since 1966, with Victory Gallop finishing second in 1998.
Canadian-breds (Since 1964): 14-2-1-0
Flameaway 2018 13th
State of Honor 2017 19th
Danzig Moon 2015 5th
We Miss Artie 2014 10th
Victory Gallop 1998 2nd
Knockadoon 1995 7th
Talkin Man 1995 12th
Regal Classic 1988 5th
Granacus 1988 11th
Sunny’s Halo 1st 1983
Giboulee 1977 7th
George Lewis 1970 14th
Fleet Allied 1969 7th
Northern Dancer 1964 1st
The latest news on Derby starters is that MORELLO will not run. The Gotham Stakes winner has a minor foot injury according to trainer Steve Asmussen.
That allows PIONEER OF MEDINA, trained by Todd Pletcher, to draw into the field. The son of Pioneerofthe Nile was third on the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.
Rank/Horse/Points/Owner(s)/Trainer/Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1. Epicenter / 164 / Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (Joan & Ron Winchell) / Steve Asmussen / $940,000
2. Zandon / 114 / Jeff Drown / Chad Brown / $663,500
3. White Abarrio / 112 / C2 Racing Stable LLC (Clint Cornett) & La Milagrosa Stable LLC (Antonio Pagnano) / S Joseph
4. Mo Donegal / 112 / Donegal Racing (Jerry Crawford et al) / Todd Pletcher / $561,500
5. Tiz the Bomb / 110 / Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek et al) / Kenny McPeek / $1,012,610
6. Cyberknife / 100 / Gold Square LLC (Abraham “Al” Gold) / Brad Cox / $752,000
7. Crown Pride (JPN) / 100 / Teruya Yoshida / Koichi Shintani / $671,544
8. Taiba / 100 / Zedan Racing Stables Inc. (Amr Zedan) / Tim Yakteen / $450,000
9. Simplification / 74 / Tami Bobo / Antonio Sano / $482,150
10. Smile Happy / 70 / Lucky Seven Stable (Michael J. Mackin) / Kenny McPeek / $499,410
11. Tawny Port / 60 / Peachtree Stable (John Fort) / Brad Cox / $351,400
12. Barber Road / 58 / WSS Racing LLC (William Simon) / John Ortiz / $589,700
13. Un Ojo / 54 / Cypress Creek Equine (Kevin Moody) & Whispering Oaks Farm LLC (Carrol Castille) / Ricky Courville / $661,250
14. Early Voting / 50 / Klaravich Stables Inc. (Seth Klarman) / Chad Brown / $277,500
15. Morello / 50 / Diamond T Racing (Jason Taylor), Blue Lion Thoroughbreds (David Lyon) & Craig Taylor / Steve Asmussen / $242,500
16. Messier / 40 / SF Racing LLC (Gavin Murphy), Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf), Madaket Stables LLC (Sol Kumin), Robert E. Masterson, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC (W. Gregg Slager), Catherine M. Donovan, Golconda Stable (Ben Goldberg & Elliot Friman), Siena Farm LLC (Anthony Manganaro) / Tim Yakteen / $390,000
17. Zozos / 40 / Barry & Joni Butzow / Brad Cox / $200,000 / Career: $291,200
18. $-Summer Is Tomorrow / 40 / Michael Hilary Burke & Negar Burke / Bhupat Seemar / $200,000 / Career: $267,606
19. Charge It / 40 / Whisper Hill Farm (Amanda Pope) / Todd Pletcher / $188,000
20. Happy Jack / 30 / Calumet Farm (Brad Kelley) / Doug O’Neill / $142,000
21. Pioneer of Medina / 25 / Sumaya U. S. Stables (Oussama Aboughazale) / Todd Pletcher / $116,000
Next on points leaderboard
22. In Due Time / 24 / Edge Racing (John Moran), Medallion Racing (Phillip Shelton) & Parkland Thoroughbreds (Steve Weston) / Kelly Breen / $113,800
23. Ethereal Road / 22 / Julie Gilbert & Aaron Sones / Wayne Lukas / $231,000
24. Rich Strike / 21 / RED TR-Racing LLC (Richard Dawson) / Eric Reed / $74,500
25. Rattle N Roll / 20 / Lucky Seven Stable (Michael J. Mackin) / Kenny McPeek / $356,500
26. Skippylongstocking / 20 / Daniel Alonso / Saffie Joseph Jr. / $86,350
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