Latest Kentucky Derby News – Saturday April 23, 2011

By Author: Lee Lane-Edgar
Total Articles: 365
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The Factor is still on course for the Derby, but his status is not definite, as trainer Bob Baffert wants to watch him breeze over the Churchill strip before a final decision is made. The Factor is currently 17th on the graded earnings list.

Should more than 20 horses be entered in the Kentucky Derby, the horses are given preference in the order of accumulated graded earnings.

Another Baffert trainee Jaycito is still being considered as a Derby possibility despite having had only one race this year. He will be trying what no other Derby horse has ever done, win it off just one race. Jaycito is 19th on the graded stakes earnings list.

Baffert has one definite Derby starter in Midnight Interlude, who collected $600,000 in graded earnings from his win in the G1 Santa Anita Derby.

The G2 Lexington Stakes this weekend might yield a Derby starter in likely favorite Silver Medallion, who is currently 24th on the list of graded earnings with $184,334 and will secure a birth in the Kentucky Derby with a win there. The Preakness is a more likely target for most of the entrants should they win.

As ...
... for Uncle Mo, his trainer Todd Pletcher has said that he has to do really well up to the Derby in order for him to be considered. In other words, if he isn’t 100 per cent, he will not be entered. He was found to have a gastrointestinal infection after being scoped following his shocking third place finish in the Wood Memorial.

If neither Uncle Mo nor the Factor run, then favoritism will surely fall to the Nick Zito trainee, Dialed In, who most recently won the Florida Derby. Dialed In is currently at the Palm Meadows Training Center.

Twice the Appeal is the winner of the Sunland Derby and worked six furlongs in 1:17 1/5 over the Churchill Downs dirt on Friday morning.

Risen Star winner Mucho Macho Man has settled in at Churchill Downs as well, and is scheduled to have a work on either Saturday or Sunday, depending on the weather conditions.

Pants on Fire, the upset winner of the Louisiana Derby, is scheduled to arrive on the premises on Tuesday.

Fountain of Youth winner Soldat is still in Florida training at the Palm Meadows Training Facility and is expected to have one more work there next Friday before he ships to Churchill Downs. Trainer Kiran McLaughlin says that he is doing great. His most recent work was a solid 112 and 3/5 second gallop going nicely. He ran a disappointing fifth as the favorite in the Florida Derby, but if he runs back to the form he has shown in the past, he could offer long shot value.