Updated profiles, with post positions and track odds for the 20 3-year-olds entered for the 151st running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs are available Saturday (May 3).
It’s not often a maiden winner goes on to win the Kentucky Derby (G1), but it’s happened enough recently to consider Chunk the Gold.
There have been three in the last six Run for the Roses: Country House in 2019, Rich Strike in 2022, and Mage in 2023.
Chunk the Gold won the first start of his career on Dec. 19 at Turfway Park. Since then, the gray colt ran second three times, the last two races on dirt in the Risen Star (G2) and the Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 22.
His two dirt races earned him 75 Kentucky Derby points, more than enough to qualify and give trainer Ethan West his first Kentucky Derby starter.
Chunk of Gold, sure to be a longshot just like Country House (65-1), Rich Strike (80-1), and Mage (15-1), staged a nice rally in the Louisiana Derby to move into second in the stretch, but was outkicked by Tiztastic.
It was Chunk of Gold’s second start on dirt, and his 5-furlong work in 59.40 at Turfway’s all-weather track on April 12 has him Kentucky Derby-bound. The colt will continue to train for the Kentucky Derby on the synthetic track at Turfway and will be shipped to Churchill Downs before the late-morning, April 26 deadline for derby horses to be on the grounds. He worked Saturday (April 19), breezing 4 furlongs in 50.00 under jockey Jareth Loveberry.
“It’s quiet here. This is home for him. Clearly, he handles shipping well,” West said. “We prepared for the Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby both at Turfway Park. No need to change what we’re doing.”
If you bet Country House in 2019 or Rich Strike in 2023, Chunk of Gold is for you. Other than a love for longshots, it’s hard to make a case for him. Toss.
Notes: Purchased for $2,500 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale by Chris Melton, who runs a training center in Columbia, Ky. ... Now owned by Terry Stephens, who paid a total of $167,000 for the colt ... Stephen, a Kentucky businessman, has one Derby starter – O Besos who finished fifth in 2021 but was moved up to fourth after first-place finisher Medina Spirit was disqualified ... Loveberry has one Derby start – second aboard Two Phil’s in 2023 ... West has one graded stakes win on his resume – the 2023 Bryan Station (G3) with Runaway Storm.
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