Derby undercard preview
NAVAL POWER (GB) HEADLINES FIELD OF 11 FOR
$1,000,000 OLD FORESTER BOURBON TURF CLASSIC (GI)
HOIST THE GOLD TOPS FIELD OF 11 FOR
$1,000,000 CHURCHILL DOWNS (GI) PRESENTED BY FORD
ALVA STARR, VAHVA GET REMATCH IN
$1,000,000 DERBY CITY DISTAFF (GI) PRESENTED BY KENDALL-JACKSON WINERY
EVVIE JETS MAKES 2024 DEBUT IN
$750,000 LONGINES CHURCHILL DISTAFF TURF MILE (GII)
NASH TOPS FIELD OF 12 IN $600,000 PAT DAY MILE (GII) PRESENTED BY SAP
LEGEND OF TIME (GB) INVADES FOR $600,000 AMERICAN TURF (GII)
MISCHIEF MAGIC (IRE) HEADLINES
$600,000 TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT (GII) PRESENTED BY SENTIENT JET
BEST ACTOR TOPS $200,000 KNICKS GO OVERNIGHT STAKES (L) PRESENTED BY L&N FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Churchill Downs stakes previews; Susie Raisher/Coglianese Photography of Hoist the Gold winning New York’s Cigar Mile
LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, April 27, 2024) – Godolphin’s Naval Power (GB), runner-up to stablemate and Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) winner Master of The Seas in the Maker’s Mark at Keeneland on April 12, tops a field of 11 entered Saturday for the $1,000,000 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI) for 4-year-olds and up to be run May 4.
The Turf Classic is one of eight stakes on next Saturday’s 14-race program that will be highlighted by the 150th running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (GI) presented by Woodford Reserve.
Other stakes that afternoon include the $1 million Churchill Downs (GI) presented by Ford, the $1 million Derby City Distaff (GI) presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery, the $750,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GII), the $600,000 Pat Day Mile (GII) presented by SAP, the $600,000 American Turf (GII) presented by TwinSpires, the $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GII) presented by Sentient Jet and the $200,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes (Listed) presented by L&N Federal Credit Union.
The Turf Classic, run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course will go as the afternoon’s 11th race with a 5:27 p.m. (all times Eastern) post time. First post Saturday is 10:30 a.m.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, Naval Power has won six of eight career starts with his top victory coming in the Singspiel (GII) at Meydan in February. Frankie Dettori has the call Saturday from post 11.
Also expected to attract attention from the public are LSU Stables’ Far Bridge and Team Hanley, Richard Schermehorn and Paul Braverman’s I’m Very Busy.
Trained by Christophe Clement, Far Bridge has an 8-4-3-1 career record highlighted by a victory in the Belmont Derby (GI). Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 4.
I’m Very Busy enters the race off a 3 ¾-length victory in the Muniz Memorial Classic (GII) at Fair Grounds, a race that follows a runner-up effort in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (GI). Trained by Chad Brown, I’m Very Busy will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 6.
The field for the Turf Classic, with riders from the inside, is: Integration (Tyler Gaffalione), Anglophine(John Velazquez), Cellist (Luis Saez), Far Bridge (Ortiz), Program Trading (GB) (Flavien Prat), I’m Very Busy (Ortiz Jr.), Webslinger (Javier Castellano), Never Surprised (Florent Geroux), Never Explain (Joel Rosario),Siege of Boston (Junior Alvarado), Naval Power (GB) (Dettori).
HOIST THE GOLD TOPS FIELD OF 11 FOR $1,000,000 CHURCHILL DOWNS (GI) PRESENTED BY FORD – Dream Team One Racing’s Stable’s Hoist the Gold, runner-up to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wishhere last year in the Churchill Downs, heads a field of 11 4-year-olds and up for this year’s running of the seven-furlong sprint.
The Churchill Downs will go as the eighth race with a 2:46 p.m. post time.
Trained by Dallas Stewart, Hoist the Gold produced a strong finish to 2023 by winning the Phoenix (GII) at Keeneland and the Cigar Mile (GII) with a sixth-place Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) finish sandwiched in between.
John Velazquez has the mount from post 11.
The field for the Churchill Downs, with riders from the inside, is: Raise Cain (Luis Saez), Tejano Twist(Irad Ortiz Jr.), Bo Cruz (Jose Ortiz), Mr. Wireless (Rey Gutierrez), Here Mi Song (Tyler Gaffalione), Zozos(Florent Geroux), Track Mate (Keith Asmussen), Minnesota Ready (Joel Rosario), Three Technique (Javier Castellano), Gun Pilot (Cristian Torres), Hoist the Gold (Velazquez).
ALVA STARR, VAHVA GET REMATCH IN $1,000,000 DERBY CITY DISTAFF (GI) PRESENTED BY KENDALL-JACKSON WINERY – Alva Starr and Vahva, who have split their two previous meetings, headline a field of 10 fillies and mares entered for the 38th running of the $1 million Derby City Distaff (GI) presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery.
The Derby City Distaff, run at seven furlongs on the main track, will go as the sixth race with a 1:14 p.m. post time.
Owned by P. Dale Ladner and trained by Brett Brinkman, Alva Starr held off Vahva by a half-length in the Madison (GI) at Keeneland on April 6. Never worse than second in eight career starts, Alva Starr will be ridden byTyler Gaffalione from post 7.
Vahva, trained by Cherie DeVaux for the partnership of Belladonna Racing, Edward Hudson Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, Nice Guys Stables and Twin Brook Stables, overhauled Alva Starr by a half-length in their first meeting in the Raven Run (GII) at Keeneland last October.
Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount on Vahva from post 10.
The field for the Derby City Distaff, with riders from the inside, is: Three Witches (Flavien Prat), Olivia Darling (John Velazquez), Flying Connection (Florent Geroux), Chi Town Lady (Joel Rosario), Spirit Wind(Jose Ortiz), American Band (Cristian Torres), Alva Starr (Gaffalione), Sterling Silver (Javier Castellano), Red Carpet Ready (Luis Saez), Vahha (Ortiz Jr.).
EVVIE JETS MAKES 2024 DEBUT IN $750,000 LONGINES CHURCHILL DISTAFF TURF MILE (GII) – The Estate of Robert Amendola’s Evvie Jets, winner of the Ballston Spa (GII) before closing her 2023 campaign with a third-place finish in the First Lady (GI) at Keeneland, will make her 2024 debut next Saturday when she faces 11 rivals in the 39th running of the $750,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (GII) for fillies and mares.
The Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, run over the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as the seventh race with a 1:56 p.m. post time.
Trained by Mertkan Kantarmaci, Evvie Jets is a four-time stakes winner and will be making her first start at Churchill Downs. Umberto Rispoli has the mount from post 7.
The field for the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, with riders from the inside, is: Ag Bullet (Junior Alvarado), Walkathon (Brian Hernandez Jr.), Chili Flag (FR) (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Ascendancy (Rey Gutierrez), Cairo Consort(Joel Rosario), Delahaye (Tyler Gaffalione), Evvie Jets (Rispoli), Heavenly Sunday (Florent Geroux), Not So Close (Luis Saez), Infinite Diamond (Keith Asmussen), Coppice (GB) (Frankie Dettori), Mission of Joy (John Velazquez).
NASH TOPS FIELD OF 12 IN $600,000 PAT DAY MILE (GII) PRESENTED BY SAP – Godolphin’s Nash, runaway winner of the Hot Springs at Oaklawn Park in his most recent start, tops field of 12 3-year-olds for the 100th running of the $600,000 Pat Day Mile (GII) presented by SAP.
The Pat Day Mile, run on the main track, will go as the 10th race with a 4:31 p.m. post time.
Trained by Brad Cox, Nash was a 10 ¼-length maiden winner at Churchill Downs last fall and followed that up with a third-place finish in the Gun Runner and a second-place in the Lecomte (GIII) at Fair Grounds. Florent Geroux has the mount from post 12.
The field for the Pat Day Mile, with riders from the inside, is: Carbone (Cristian Torres), Beeline (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Northern Flame (Julien Leparoux), Otto the Conqueror (Joel Rosario), Seize the Grey (Jaime Torres),Guanare (Chris Emigh), Who Dey (Brian Hernandez Jr.), Top Conor (Jose Ortiz), Frosty Indulgence (Adam Beschizza), Gettysburg Address (Paco Lopez), Tuscan Sky (Edwin Maldonado), Nash (Geroux).
LEGEND OF TIME (GB) INVADES FOR $600,000 AMERICAN TURF (GII) MISCHIEF MAGIC (IRE) HEADLINES –Godolphin’s Legend of Time (GB), a winner of four of five career starts, headlines a field of 14 3-year-olds and three also-eligibles for the 33rd running of the $600,000 American Turf (GII) presented by TwinSpires.
The American Turf, run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as the ninth race with a 3:40 p.m. post time.
Trained by Charlie Appleby. Legend of Time has won all three starts this year in Dubai. He will be ridden Saturday by Frankie Dettori from post 5.
Topping the U.S. contingent is Red, White and Blue Racing’s Neat. Trained by Rob Atras, Neat was a nose winner of the Transylvania (GIII) at Keeneland on April 5. Rey Gutierrez has the mount from post 6.
The field for the American Turf, with riders from the inside, is: Twirling Point (Florent Geroux), Trikari(Umberto Rispoli), Lagynos (Cristian Torres), Formidable Man (Luis Saez), Legend of Time (GB) (Dettori), Neat (Gutierrez), Stay Hot (Antonio Fresu), Lord Bullingdon (John Velazquez), Noted (Joel Rosario), Set (Jose Ortiz),Cugino (Javier Castellano), Abrumar (Paco Lopez), Can Group (Flavien Prat), Agate Road (Irad Ortiz Jr.). Also-eligibles: Blue Eyed George (Luis Saez), Rock’n a Halo (Ben Curtis), Dancing Groom (TBA).
MISCHIEF MAGIC (IRE) HEADLINES $600,000 TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT (GII) PRESENTED BY SENTIENT JET – Godolphin’s Mischief Magic (IRE), winner of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (GI) at Keeneland, heads a field of 14 3-year-olds and three also-eligibles in the 30th running of the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GII) presented by Sentient Jet.
The Twin Spires Turf Sprint, run at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as the fifth race with a 12:36 p.m. post time.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, Mischief Magic comes into Saturday’s race off a runner-up effort in the Shakertown (GII) at Keeneland on April 6. Frankie Dettori has the mount from post 8.
Also expected to draw attention is Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Big Invasion. Trained by Christophe Clement, Big Invasion will be making his second start of the year after finishing 2023 with a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GI). Joel Rosario will ride from post 10.
The field for the Twin Spires Turf Sprint, with riders from the inside, is: Candy Man Rocket (Junior Alvarado), Front Run the Fed (Umberto Rispoli), Coppola (Martin Garcia), Motorious (GB) (Flavien Prat), Mo Stash (Luis Saez), Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) (John Velazquez), Our Shot (Javier Castellano), Mischief Magic (IRE) (Dettori), Bad Beat Brian (Chris Emigh), Big Invasion (Rosario), Mister Mmmmm (Tyler Gaffalione), Arrest Me Red (Jose Ortiz), Eamonn (Paco Lopez), Cogburn (Irad Ortiz Jr.). Also-eligibles: Axthelm (Tyler Gaffalione), Panther Island (Julien Leparoux), Sketch (IRE) (Declan Cannon).
BEST ACTOR TOPS $200,000 KNICKS GO OVERNIGHT STAKES (L) PRESENTED BY L&N FEDERAL CREDIT UNION – Steve Moger’s Best Actor, undefeated in two starts at Churchill Downs, tops a field of 11 for the third running of the $200,000 Knicks Go Overnight Stakes (Listed) presented by L&N Federal Credit Union for 4-year-olds and up.
The Knicks Go, run at a mile on the main track, will go as the fourth race with a 12:04 p.m. post time.
Trained by Brad Cox, Best Actor has two wins at a mile here and comes into the Knicks Go off a fifth-place finish as the favorite in the New Orleans Classic (GII) in his most recent start. Flavien Prat has the mount from post 6.
The field for the Knicks Go, with riders from the inside, is: Strong Quality (Florent Geroux), Denington(Brian Hernandez Jr.), Collaborate (Edwin Maldonado), Pats Property (James Graham), Not Normal (Declan Cannon), Best Actor (Prat), Kupuna (Mitchell Murrill), Strava (Irad Ortiz Jr.), U.S. Army (Joel Rosario), FiveStar General (Tyler Gaffalione), Oscar Eclipse (Jose Ortiz).
