Title: "Top Contenders for the Kentucky Derby: A Closer Look at the Derby Dozen"
- Sovereignty
Owner/Trainer: Godolphin/Bill Mott
Into Mischief—Crowned, by Bernardini
Breeder: Godolphin (KY)
The second favorite at 5-1 for the Kentucky Derby (G1), Sovereignty may be a late runner, but he has led from start to finish in the Derby Dozen rankings this year. The Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner, second in the Florida Derby (G1) most recently as the favorite, needs to elevate his game somewhat to beat Journalism and outrun all the other talented 3-year-olds in the field. Signs point to him being set for a career-best effort, having trained with enthusiasm at Churchill Downs.
- Journalism
Owner/Trainer: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Bob LaPenta, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor/Michael McCarthy
Curlin—Mopotism, by Uncle Mo
Breeder: Don Alberto (KY)
Beyond his stellar race record—he’s 4-for-4 in routes since a debut third in a sprint—he is bred for success at a classic distance, being by Curlin. Quick on speed figures, he is also seemingly well drawn in post 8 and training smoothly.
- Luxor Cafe
Owner/Trainer: Koichi Nishikawa/Noriyuki Hori
American Pharoah—Mary’s Follies, by More Than Ready
Breeder: Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt & Westerberg Ireland (KY)
Riding a four-race win streak in Japan and having a stellar pedigree, he is a formidable presence in this year’s Kentucky Derby. Luxor Cafe possesses the tactical speed necessary to secure a good position in the Derby and also the kick to be a threat over the race’s demanding final quarter-mile stretch.
- Grande
Owner/Trainer: Repole Stable/Todd Pletcher
Curlin—Journey Home, by War Front
Breeder: KatieRich Farms (KY)
A winner of two of three starts, Grande has made a nice appearance with his gallops at Churchill since arriving from Keeneland. He had every right to quit when carried wide and shuffled into the first turn of the Wood Memorial Stake (G2) but kept grinding away to finish second.
- Sandman
Owner/Trainer: D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables/Mark Casse
Tapit—Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor
Breeder: Lothenbach Stables (KY)
A draw in post 17 should give jockey Jose Ortiz a better opportunity to place this long-striding Arkansas Derby (G1) winner in the clear. He descends a smidge this week, owing to a disappointing effort from Arkansas Derby fourth-place finisher Cornucopian.
- Burnham Square
Owner/Trainer: Whitham Thoroughbreds/Ian Wilkes
Liam’s Map—Linda, by Scat Daddy
Breeder: Whitham Thoroughbreds (KY)
He appears to be of quality, having beaten the now-sidelined Tappan Street in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and also winning the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) in his final prep in early April.
- Coal Battle
Owner/Trainer: Norman Stables/Lonnie Briley
Coal Front—Wolfblade, by Midshipman
Breeder: Hume Wornall and Jay Adcock (KY)
Small in size but not in heart, Coal Battle tends to go through the motions in his breezes, needing encouragement from his rider. He is a middle-distance runner and perhaps a cut below the top dozen 3-year-olds in this year’s Derby.
- Chunk of Gold
Owner/Trainer: Terry Stephens/Ethan West
Preservationist—Play for Gold, by Cairo Prince
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones (KY)
A $2,500 yearling purchase, Chunk of Gold is one of the Cinderella stories of this year’s race. His workouts at Turfway Park were encouraging, pointing to him approaching this race in top condition.
- Tiztastic
Owner/Trainer: Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith/Steve Asmussen
Tiz the Law—Keesha, by Tapit
Breeder: Capital Bloodstock (KY)
Having won the longest domestic Kentucky Derby prep, the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby, he is not as much of a question mark at the 1 1/4-mile distance that others in the field appear to be.
- American Promise
Owner/Trainer: BC Stables/D. Wayne Lukas
Justify—Tapella, by Tapit
Breeder: Candy Meadows (KY)
He smoked around the oval, covering 1 1/8 miles in a track record 1:46.41. He shows an encouraging speed-figure pattern and has yet to challenge in two graded stakes.
- Final Gambit
Owner/Trainer: Juddmonte/Brad Cox
Not This Time—Pachinko, by Tapit
Breeder: Juddmonte (KY)
With the question looming if he can replicate his best form on dirt in the Kentucky Derby, he has won over some support after solid in-company works over the Churchill Downs strip.
- Citizen Bull
Owner/Trainer: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Bob Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan/Bob Baffert
Into Mischief—No Joke, by Distorted Humor
Breeder: Robert and Lawana Low (KY)
Baffert felt Citizen Bull was short of fitness when he faded to fourth in the Santa Anita Derby. He has given him a series of fast workouts since, and with an alert break, he might be able to dare the field to catch him.
![Title: "Rocky Mountain Turf Club Celebrates 30 Years of Racing in Lethbridge"
The Rocky Mountain Turf Club returns Saturday for the 30th year of racing in Lethbridge. Turf Club CEO Max Gibb says it was 30 years ago he was approached to take over the race track for what he says at the time was supposed to be “a couple of years” after the Lethbridge and District Exhibition closed the racetrack for economic reasons.
“We started with 0 purses and 30 days [of racing]. This year we will have 32 days with an average purse of over ,000 and our derby purse will be ,000,” Gibb says.
The Rocky Mountain Turf CEO explains there are over 300 people employed by the racing industry on the local backstretch and in Southern Alberta, there is a 0 million economic benefit that is a direct result of horse racing. This benefit includes hay and grain purchases, transportation, and tourism.
“Horse racing has been going for over 130 years here in Southern Alberta and it used to be that every town, Tabor, Cardston, Sterling, Vulcan would have a two-day rodeo and a two-day race meet… I’m just thrilled that the history and the economics can still keep happening in Southern Alberta and Lethbridge.”
Those involved in the local horse racing industry come from around the world, with jockeys traveling to Lethbridge from places such as Jamaica and Mexico. The horsemen taking part come from all over including Grande Prairie, Raymond, and Montana.
“An interesting part is 35 percent of our horsemen are First Nations and the horse to them is a spiritual and a positive, meaningful thing. We’re so happy that horse racing and the horse industry is still thriving and doing well.”
Rocky Mountain Turf Club horse racing gets underway on Saturday, May 3rd, the same day as the Kentucky Derby. Saturday will be the only day races run the first weekend and then will run Saturday and Sunday every open weekend followed in May, June, September, and October.](https://i3.wp.com/www.mylethbridgenow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_4966-scaled.jpg?w=696&resize=696,0&ssl=1 "Title: \"Rocky Mountain Turf Club Celebrates 30 Years of Racing in Lethbridge\"
The Rocky Mountain Turf Club returns Saturday for the 30th year of racing in Lethbridge. Turf Club CEO Max Gibb says it was 30 years ago he was approached to take over the race track for what he says at the time was supposed to be “a couple of years” after the Lethbridge and District Exhibition closed the racetrack for economic reasons.
“We started with 0 purses and 30 days [of racing]. This year we will have 32 days with an average purse of over ,000 and our derby purse will be ,000,” Gibb says.
The Rocky Mountain Turf CEO explains there are over 300 people employed by the racing industry on the local backstretch and in Southern Alberta, there is a 0 million economic benefit that is a direct result of horse racing. This benefit includes hay and grain purchases, transportation, and tourism.
“Horse racing has been going for over 130 years here in Southern Alberta and it used to be that every town, Tabor, Cardston, Sterling, Vulcan would have a two-day rodeo and a two-day race meet… I’m just thrilled that the history and the economics can still keep happening in Southern Alberta and Lethbridge.”
Those involved in the local horse racing industry come from around the world, with jockeys traveling to Lethbridge from places such as Jamaica and Mexico. The horsemen taking part come from all over including Grande Prairie, Raymond, and Montana.
“An interesting part is 35 percent of our horsemen are First Nations and the horse to them is a spiritual and a positive, meaningful thing. We’re so happy that horse racing and the horse industry is still thriving and doing well.”
Rocky Mountain Turf Club horse racing gets underway on Saturday, May 3rd, the same day as the Kentucky Derby. Saturday will be the only day races run the first weekend and then will run Saturday and Sunday every open weekend followed in May, June, September, and October.")
