Updates for Mr. Z, Itsaknockout, Stanford and Madefromlucky
Apr 22, 2015 14:16:54 GMT -5
Post by racinggal on Apr 22, 2015 14:16:54 GMT -5
It may be dumb (Don't hell at me Wiz!) but I will probably put something small on Mr. Z - just because it's Coach,
Pletcher: Just two confirmed to enter Derby
By Jonathan Lintner
The Courier-Journal
Trainer Todd Pletcher has five horses qualified to run in this year's Kentucky Derby but said upon arriving Tuesday to Churchill Downs that just two are confirmed to enter at this point.
Florida Derby winner Materiality, who hopped off a van just after 4 p.m. after flying from the Sunshine State, is one. The other, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Carpe Diem, remains in training at Keeneland.
Also trained by Pletcher, Itsaknockout, Stanford and Madefromlucky are in the top 20 of Road to the Derby points.
"The other three, we brought in to see how they train and work over the track," Pletcher said outside of his Barn 40 on the Churchill backside.
Lukas: Mr. Z 'Has Affinity' for Churchill
By Ron Mitchell
Bloodhorse
Zayat Stables' Mr. Z breezed five furlongs in 1:01 at Churchill Downs April 22 in a final workout for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) that his Hall of Fame trainer said was "fine."
The 3-year-old Malibu Moon colt began a length behind Majestico and then finished up on even terms with his stablemate while posting fractional times of :12 4/5, :25, :37, and 48 3/5. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:15 3/5 under exercise rider Edvin Vargas.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas was in a relaxed mood as he jokingly began a post-work meeting with the media, with all the clichés usually used by trainers in his position. "We just wanted a maintenance work. He finished up strongly. I think liked the racetrack. We don't want to do too much close to the race," Lukas joked to the delight of the assembled media.
Putting it in perspective, Lukas added, "We don't get paid at 8:30 in the morning. He's run a lot. He's the most seasoned horse in the race, so we didn't want him to do a lot. He seems to have an affinity for the racetrack and that's important at this time."
The work wasn't viewed as well by owner Ahmed Zayat.
"Didn't like Mr. Z work at all," Zayat said on Twitter. " Rank in (beginning). Outworked."
Lukas was somewhat critical of the new points system that determines the 20 starters for the Derby, noting that he likely would not have started Mr. Z in the April 11 Arkansas Derby (gr. I), in which he finished third, had the colt not needed the points.
Under the previous system in which Derby starters were determined by earnings in graded stakes, Mr. Z would have already been in, Lukas said.
"We wouldn't have had to run in Arkansas were it not for the points system," said Lukas. "That's the problem with the points system. It forces everybody to run when they probably wouldn't from a trainer and owner standpoint."
With 12 starts, Mr. Z has one win and eight second- or third-place finishes to his credit, seven of those placings in graded stakes. He broke his maiden at first asking at Churchill and ranks 17th on the Derby points list and has $625,826 in earnings. Ramon Vazquez, who rode Mr. Z in the Arkansas Derby, will have the Kentucky Derby mount.
Lukas has won Derby four times, beginning in 1988 with Winning Colors, only the third filly to ever win the "Run for the Roses," and then with Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996), and Charismatic (1999).
Asked about the strength of this year's field and the top contenders, Lukas said he thinks Arkansas Derby winner American Pharoah "is lengths better" than Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Dortmund. "I haven't been that impressed with a horse in a long time," he said of American Pharoah, also owned by Zayat Stables and trained by Bob Baffert.
Pletcher: Just two confirmed to enter Derby
By Jonathan Lintner
The Courier-Journal
Trainer Todd Pletcher has five horses qualified to run in this year's Kentucky Derby but said upon arriving Tuesday to Churchill Downs that just two are confirmed to enter at this point.
Florida Derby winner Materiality, who hopped off a van just after 4 p.m. after flying from the Sunshine State, is one. The other, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Carpe Diem, remains in training at Keeneland.
Also trained by Pletcher, Itsaknockout, Stanford and Madefromlucky are in the top 20 of Road to the Derby points.
"The other three, we brought in to see how they train and work over the track," Pletcher said outside of his Barn 40 on the Churchill backside.
Lukas: Mr. Z 'Has Affinity' for Churchill
By Ron Mitchell
Bloodhorse
Zayat Stables' Mr. Z breezed five furlongs in 1:01 at Churchill Downs April 22 in a final workout for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) that his Hall of Fame trainer said was "fine."
The 3-year-old Malibu Moon colt began a length behind Majestico and then finished up on even terms with his stablemate while posting fractional times of :12 4/5, :25, :37, and 48 3/5. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:15 3/5 under exercise rider Edvin Vargas.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas was in a relaxed mood as he jokingly began a post-work meeting with the media, with all the clichés usually used by trainers in his position. "We just wanted a maintenance work. He finished up strongly. I think liked the racetrack. We don't want to do too much close to the race," Lukas joked to the delight of the assembled media.
Putting it in perspective, Lukas added, "We don't get paid at 8:30 in the morning. He's run a lot. He's the most seasoned horse in the race, so we didn't want him to do a lot. He seems to have an affinity for the racetrack and that's important at this time."
The work wasn't viewed as well by owner Ahmed Zayat.
"Didn't like Mr. Z work at all," Zayat said on Twitter. " Rank in (beginning). Outworked."
Lukas was somewhat critical of the new points system that determines the 20 starters for the Derby, noting that he likely would not have started Mr. Z in the April 11 Arkansas Derby (gr. I), in which he finished third, had the colt not needed the points.
Under the previous system in which Derby starters were determined by earnings in graded stakes, Mr. Z would have already been in, Lukas said.
"We wouldn't have had to run in Arkansas were it not for the points system," said Lukas. "That's the problem with the points system. It forces everybody to run when they probably wouldn't from a trainer and owner standpoint."
With 12 starts, Mr. Z has one win and eight second- or third-place finishes to his credit, seven of those placings in graded stakes. He broke his maiden at first asking at Churchill and ranks 17th on the Derby points list and has $625,826 in earnings. Ramon Vazquez, who rode Mr. Z in the Arkansas Derby, will have the Kentucky Derby mount.
Lukas has won Derby four times, beginning in 1988 with Winning Colors, only the third filly to ever win the "Run for the Roses," and then with Thunder Gulch (1995), Grindstone (1996), and Charismatic (1999).
Asked about the strength of this year's field and the top contenders, Lukas said he thinks Arkansas Derby winner American Pharoah "is lengths better" than Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Dortmund. "I haven't been that impressed with a horse in a long time," he said of American Pharoah, also owned by Zayat Stables and trained by Bob Baffert.
