SATURDAY

LUIS CONTRERAS TO RIDE BRAVAZO IN KENTUCKY DERBY
D. Wayne Lukas trains Awesome Again colt for Calumet Farm

Woodbine regular LUIS CONTRERAS will get the mount on BRAVAZO in next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Bravazo won the Risen Star Stakes with a 93 Beyer Figure 2 starts ago but faded in the Louisiana Derby to be 8th behind Noble Indy. The colt is a speed type but has shown a lot of grit in his big efforts.

KENTUCKY DERBY MORNING WORKOUTS

Derby and Oaks starters put on finishing touches

It is not an exaggeration to say this this year’s KENTUCKY DERBY field is one of the best we have seen in many years. The brilliance shown by some of the younger, less experienced colts to the polished runners who have more racing under their girth and the wide array of speedy and stretch running types.

It will be a 20 horse field again, no one is backing down, and that can lead to a whole lot of problems with traffic and luck but this is a super field.

The major ‘prep’ races coming into the derby were won by AUDIBLE, MAGNUM MOON, VINO ROSSI and JUSTIFY, two of which are unbeaten in their young careers (Moon and Justify). Those 2 also never raced as a juveniles, which has been known to be a drawback at the biggest race of them all. The crowd, the long stretch and big field can be intimidating for any horse, especially one that has not had a lot of racing experience.

Here is the Derby field as it currently stands with some notes from Thoroughblog

Horse   Ky Derby Points Unrestrict, Earnings  Breeding

 – Comment with last 3 Beyer Figures most recent is first number

Magnum Moon … 150 … $1,140,000 Malibu Moon – Dazzling Song by Unbridled’s Song
– Undefeated; did not race at 2; 98, 97, 88

Good Magic … 134 … $1,838,400 Curlin – Glinda the Good by Hard Spun
– Champn 2yo of 2017; trained by Chad Brown; 95, 89, 100 (in BC Juv)

Audible … 110 … $803,520 Into Mischief – Blue Devil Bel by Gilded Time
– lost just once (debut in sprint); powerful; 99, 99, 84

Noble Indy … 110 … $640,000 Take Charge Indy – Noble Maz by Storm Boot
– another Pletcher colt, 3 for 4 in his career via Lousiana 95, 91, 86

Vino Rosso … 107 … $572,500 Curlin – Mythical Bride by Street Cry (Ire)
– bred by Canadians John and Tanya Gunther; 90, 85, 98

Bolt d’Oro … 104 … $980,000 Medaglia D’oro – Globe Trot by A P Indy
– tough guy could not catch Justify in SA Derby but has speed to chase;  102, 101, 91

Enticed … 103 … $545,880 Medaglia D’Oro 0 It’s Tricky by Mineshaft
– high striding Godolphin colt  comes from off the pace; 93, 95, 76
Mendelssohn … 100 … $1,947,299 Scat Daddy – Leslie’s Lady by Tricky Creek
– said to have run a 106 Beyer in UAE Derby in Dubai on the pace
Justify … 100 … $600,000 Scat Daddy – Stage Magic by Ghostzapper
– unbeaten, untested; will get acid test in 10 fur., Derby; 107, 101, 104
Flameaway … 70 … $672,260 Scat Daddy – Vulcan Rose by Fusaichi Pegasus
– Canadian-bred is honest and hard trying but needs huge effort;l 93, 92, 93
Solomini … 54 … $716,000 Curlin – Surf Song by Storm Cat
– been chasing Magnum Moon, 92, 92, 93
Bravazo … 54 … $359,913 Awesome Again – Tiz o’ Gold by Cee’s Tizzy

– speedy type, 64 93, 89; Luis Contreras to ride

My Boy Jack … 52 … $622,000 Creative Cause – Gold n Shaft by Mineshaft

– stretch runner lured new co-owner this week in West Pt. TB; 90. 94 93
Promises Fulfilled … 52 …$256,480 Shackleford – Marquee Delivery by Marquetry

– speedster likely needs the front;  47, 96, 76
Free Drop Billy … 44 … $597,200 Union Rags – trensa by Giant’s Causeway

– steady,galloping type  83, 89, 90
Lone Sailor … 42 … $273,347 Majestic Warrior – Ambitious by Mr Greeley

– handsome fellow, late closer; 95, 78,, 72
Hofburg … 40 … $320,000 Tapit – Soothing Touch by Touch Gold

– lightly raced, 3 starts, 2 this year  95, 84, 60
Firenze Fire … 39 … $647,500 Poseidon’s Warrior – My Every Wish by Langfuhr

disappointing this year, 81, 79, 83

Combatant … 32 … $350,000 Scat daddy – Border Dispute by Boundary

– 92, 92, 85 – late runner
Instilled Regard … 29 … $246,000

– snuck into field;  901, 91, 92
AE – Blended Citizen … 22 … $129,644

KENTUCKY OAKS FIELD (14 allowed)

Midnight Bisou … 160 … $440,000 Midnight Lute – Diva Delite by Repent
Monomoy Girl … 154 … $506,150 Tapizar – Drumette by Henny Hughes
Sassy Sienna … 115 … $318,000 Midshipman – Tap for Gold by Pleasant Tap
My Miss Lilly … 112 … $219,400 Tapit – Wicked Deed by Harlan’s Holiday
Chocolate Martini … 100 … $240,000 Broken Vow – Nicksappealinglady by Successful Appeal
Coach Rocks … 100 … $145,700 Oxbow mexican Moonlight by El Prado (Ire)
Rayya … 90 … $600,000 Tiz Wonderful – Spread by Coronado’s Quest
Wonder Gadot … 84 … $440,002 Medaglia d’Oro – Loving Vindication by Vindication
Eskimo Kisses … 80 … $180,000 To Honor and serve – Silver Colors by Mr Greeley
Take Charge Paula … 70 … $372,720 Take Charge Indy – Perfect Pauloa by Songandaprayer
Blamed … 50 … $208,000 Blame – Salsa Star by Giant’s Causeway
Amy’s Challenge … 40 … $200,000
Patrona Margarita … 35 … $174,320 Special Rate – Margarita Mistress by Naevus
Classy Act … 30 … $56,000 Into Mischief – Acting Class by Distorted Humor
AE Red Ruby … 15 … $85,000 Tiznow – Caroni by Rubiano

If you missed the Morning Workouts show from Churchill this week, here is the show from SATURDAY AND FRIDAY  morning with plenty of Derby and Oaks workers:

SAY THE WORD JUMPS INTO QUEEN’S PLATE PICTURE

Sam-Son Farms 3-year-old gelding SAY THE WORD won a 1 3/16 mile maiden race on the grass at Keeneland on Friday and  stuck his nose into the crowded picture for the Queen’s Plate on June 30.

The son of More That Ready – Danceforthecause (3rd dam is Dance Smartly) is trained by Graham Motion. The gelding raced once at Woodbine as a 2-year-old and had speed in a sprint race but he has obviously been waiting for longer distances.

The next Woodbine ‘prep’ race heading to the Plate is the MARINE STAKES on May 13 and the race is an open event to American-breds. The nominations are below with Canadian-breds in bold:

AHEADBYACENTURY
b.c.3 by Midnight Lute(Real Quiet) – Sinful(Touch Gold)
Jack of Hearts Racing and J.R. Racing Stable Inc. John A. Ross
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE
b.c.3 by Tiznow(Cee’s Tizzy) – La Suena(Storm Cat)
Spendthrift Farm LLC and Town and Country Racing, LLC Albert M. Stall, Jr.
ARCHAGGELOS
b.r.3 by Temple City(Dynaformer) – Mien(Nureyev)
Monticule Michael W. Dickinson
BATTLE AT SEA
b.c.3 by Into Mischief(Harlan’s Holiday) – Mystery At Sea(Capote)
Three Diamonds Farm Michael J. Maker
CALIFORNIA NIGHT
dk b/.c.3 by Midnight Lute(Real Quiet) – Moon Over Malibu(Malibu Moon)
Three Diamonds Farm Michael J. Maker
COOLER MIKE
ch.g.3 by Giant Gizmo(Giant’s Causeway) – Executive Affair(Bold Executive)
Mike & Nick Nosowenko Nicholas Nosowenko
CURLIN’S HONOR
ch.c.3 by Curlin(Smart Strike) – Franscat(Stormin Fever)
John C. Oxley and Breeze Easy, LLC Mark E. Casse
ESKIMINZIN
dk b/.c.3 by Cold Harbor(Distorted Humor) – Ms. Forum(Open Forum)
Jecara Farms Corp. Carlos Grant
FOLLOW MY LEAD
dk b/.g.3 by Country Day(Speightstown) – Tale of the Fox(Tale of the Cat)
Mike & Nick Nosowenko Nicholas Nosowenko
HOME BASE
dk b/.c.3 by Street Sense(Street Cry (IRE)) – Cast Call(A.P. Indy)
Patricia’s Hope LLC Michael A. Tomlinson
HONIG
b.c.3 by Giant’s Causeway(Storm Cat) – Leaveminthedust(Danzig)
Windhaven Farms Inc. Michael J. Doyle
INGE
dk b/.g.3 by Victor’s Cry(Street Cry (IRE)) – Alexabella(Congaree)
Bruno Schickedanz Norman McKnight
MACHTREE
dk b/.c.3 by Kitten’s Joy(El Prado (IRE)) – Lady Lumberjack(Forestry)
Stonestreet Stables LLC and Aquis Farm Mark E. Casse
ROSE’S VISION
b.c.3 by Artie Schiller(El Prado (IRE)) – Essential Rose(Bernardini)
Chiefswood Stable Stuart C. Simon
SABLE ISLAND
dk b/.g.3 by Stormy Atlantic(Storm Cat) – Marigold Miss (IRE)(Marju (IRE))
Box Arrow Farm Gordon C. Colbourne
SCRAPPER
b.c.3 by Orb(Malibu Moon) – Lynnette(Johannesburg)
Sumaya U.S. Stable Todd A. Pletcher
TITOCHIP
dk b/.g.3 by Ghostzapper(Awesome Again) – Rutledge Ballado(Saint Ballado)
Claymore Barns Pat Parente
UP THE ANTE
ch.c.3 by Smart Strike(Mr. Prospector) – Ask Me When(Speightstown)
Castleton Lyons Christophe Clement
VIEWFINDER
b.g.3 by Langfuhr(Danzig) – Megavista(Medaglia d’Oro)
Gustav Schickedanz Michael Keogh
WANDOFUHR
ch.g.3 by Langfuhr(Danzig) – Sweet Bama Breeze(City Zip)
Gustav Schickedanz Michael Keogh
YEAR OF THE KITTEN
dk b/.c.3 by Kitten’s Joy(El Prado (IRE)) – Transformation(Langfuhr)
Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey Michael J. Maker