The 149th Kentucky Derby (G1) presented by Woodford Reserve will be run on Saturday, May 6, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The purse is $3 million, with $1.86 million going to the winner. US Racing is profiling each horse in the field. The post-position draw is Monday, May 1. Profiles will be updated with post positions and odds following the draw.
By US Racing Team
Trainer Dale Romans has himself a last-minute Kentucky Derby (G1) runner in Cyclone Mischief, the top horse on the also-eligble list to replace a dropout before Saturday’s Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs.
The 20-horse Derby field changed on Thursday (May 4) after Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Practical Move was withdrawn by trainer Tim Yakteen due to an elevated temperature.
Cyclone Mischief, third in the Florida Derby (G1) behind Derby rivals Forte and Mage, gives owner Albaugh Family Stable a third horse in 1 ¼-mile race — Angel of Empire and Jace’s Road are the others.
Romans, from Louisville, is in his hometown race for the 11th time. He’s 0-for-11 with two third-place finishers — Paddy O’Prado in 2010 and Dullahan in 2012.
Cyclone Mischief has been training as if he would run in the Derby, Romans said. The Into Mischief colt worked three times over the Churchill Downs surface, most recently going 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 on April 29.
“I’m glad to be in,’’ Romans said. “He’s doing great, just glad to be participating.”
Even with the far outside post, Roman believes his colt can make a strong break and get up near the front before the first turn and stay in contention.
Cyclone Mischief also finished third behind Forte in the Fountain of Youth (G2). He broke his maiden at second asking and won an allowance/optional claimer in his fourth start – both at Gulfstream Park.
A year ago, Eric Reid-trained Rich Strike was a last-minute entry into the Derby and won at 80-1 odds; Cyclone Mischief is 30-1 on the morning-line.
Romans said he received a text from Reid: “He wished me luck. Maybe that’s a good connection.”
2023 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Cyclone Mischief
Post position: 20
Odds: 30-1
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: TBD
Owner: Albaugh Family Stable, LLC
Career record: 7-2-0-3
Career earnings: $246,350
Derby qualifying points: 45 (22nd)
Best Equibase speed figure: 101
Pedigree: Into Mischief-Aryoucominghere, by Bernardini
Color: Bay
Running Style: On or near pace
Notes: Romans has one win in a Triple Crown race – the 2011 Preakness (G1) with Shackleford … Cyclone Mischief is the second to draw into the field after the draw: Wild On Ice sustained a fatal injury on the track last week, allowing Skinner into the field … Albaugh Family Stables has run three horses in the Derby: Brody’s Cause was seventh in 2016, J Boys Echo 15th in 2017 and Free Drop Billy 16th in 2018.
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hit Show | Franco | Brad H. Cox | West, Gary and Mary | 30-1 |
| 2 | Verifying | Gaffalione | Brad H. Cox | Poulin, Jonathan, Westerberg, Magnier, Mrs. John, Smith, Derrick and Tabor, Michael B. | 15-1 |
| 3 | Two Phil’s | Loveberry | Larry Rivelli | Patricia’s Hope LLC and Sagan, Phillip | 12-1 |
| 4 | Conficence Game | Graham | J. Keith Desormeaux | Don’t Tell My Wife Stables | 20-1 |
| 5 | Tapit Trice | Saez | Todd A. Pletcher | Whisper Hill Farm, LLC and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck) | 5-1 |
| 6 | Kinkngbarns | J. Ortiz | Todd A. Pletcher | Spendthrift Farm LLC | 12-1 |
| 7 | Reincartnate | Velazquez | Tim Yakteen | SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Masterson, Robert E., Stonestreet Stables LLC, Schoenfarber, Jay A., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine | 50-1 |
| 8 | Mage | Castellano | Gustavo Delgado | OGMA Investments, LLC, Restrepo, Ramiro, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH | 15-1 |
| SCR | Skinner | Hernandez | John A. Shirreffs | C R K Stable | 20-1 |
| SCR | Practical Move | Vazquez | Tim Yakteen | Amestoy, Jr., Pierre Jean, Amestoy, Leslie A. and Beasley, Roger K. | SCR |
| 9 | Disarm | Rosario | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC | 30/1 |
| 10 | Jace’s Road | Geroux | Brad H. Cox | West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables LLC | 15-1 |
| 11 | Sun Thunder | Hernandez Jr | Kenneth G. McPeek | R.T Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine | 30-1 |
| 12 | Angel Of Empire | Prat | Brad H. Cox | Albaugh Family Stables LLC | 8-1 |
| 13 | Forte | I. Ortiz JR. | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable | 3-1 |
| 14 | Raise Can | Corrales | Ben Colebrook | Warren, Andrew and Warren, Rania | 15-1 |
| 15 | Derma Sotogake | Lemaire | Hidetaka Otonashi | Hiroyuki Asanuma | 10-1 |
| 16 | Rocket Can | Alvarado | William I. Mott | Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. | 15-1 |
| SCR | Lord Miles | Lopez | Todd A. Pletcher | Vegso Racing Stable | 30-1 |
| 17 | Continuar | Sakai | Yoshito Yahagi | Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd. | 50-1 |
| 18 | Cyclone Mischief | J. Rosario | D. Romans | Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Castleton Lyons. | 30-1 |
| 19 | Mandarin Hero | Kazushi Kimura | Terunobu Fujita | Hiroaki Arai. | 20-1 |
| 20 | King Russell | Rafael Bejarano | Ron Moquett | Hiroaki Arai. | 50-1 |
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
