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Gormley (photo by Benoit Photo).
Trainer John Shirreffs said Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby champ Gormley and show finisher Royal Mo will have all of their serious preparations for the Grade 1Kentucky Derby at Santa Anita and ship to Churchill Downs as late as possible for the May 6 race.
- Spendthrift Farm announced that Gormley will stand there for stallion duty once his racing career concludes.
- Jerry Moss, who co-owns Gormley and Royal Mo with his wife, Ann, said Gary Stevens will retain the mount on the latter in the Kentucky Derby.
- Battle of Midway, who was second in the April 8 Santa Anita Derby, is likely to make his next start in the Kentucky Derby.
- Santa Anita Derby fourth-place finisher Reach the World came out of the race well and will be pointed to the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 10 at Belmont Park.
- Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes hero Irap will remain at Keeneland following his April 8 surprise score at the track and train there until moving to Churchill Downs to run for the roses.
- Despite not yet having won around two turns, Blue Grass runner-up Practical Joke will move on to the Kentucky Derby.
- McCraken, who suffered the first loss of his career when third in the Blue Grass, will ship to Churchill Downs on April 10 to prepare for his start in the first leg of the Triple Crown.
- Conditioner Ian Wilkes said he has not given jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. a time frame yet on when he must decide whether to retain the mount on McCraken or stick with Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby winner Girvin, for whom he is also the regular rider.
- J Boys Echo, a non-threatening fourth in the Blue Grass, is expected to target the Kentucky Derby for his next race.
- Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby victor Tapwrit, came out of his fifth-place effort in the Blue Grass in fine shape and will train at Churchill Downs for a probable start in the Kentucky Derby.
- Grade 2 Wood Memorial winner Irish War Cry returned to the Fair Hill training center in Maryland following his victory at Aqueduct and will likely remain there until the week of the Kentucky Derby.
- Trainer Graham Motion plans to work Irish War Cry just once before the Derby.
- Vinnie Viola, owner of Wood Memorial runner-up Battalion Runner said after the race that he was inclined to skip the Derby with the colt but has yet to make a final decision.
- Conditioner Chad Brown stated that he is unlikely to make a decision about sending Wood Memorial third-place finisher Cloud Computing for at least a week.
- Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin called it doubtful that True Timber, who completed the Wood Memorial superfecta, would run in the Kentucky Derby if he could get in the gate with his 16 qualifying points.
- Horses under consideration for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 15 at Oaklawn Park include Blueridge Traveler, Classic Empire, Conquest Mo Money, Lookin At Lee, Malagacy, One Liner, Petrov, Rockin Rudy, Silver Dust, Sonneteer, Untrapped and Warrior’s Club.
- Conditioner Steve Asmussen said Luis Contreras has the mount on Lookin At Lee for the Arkansas Derby, while Mike Smith will ride Untrapped.
- Calumet Farm’s Dilettante is no longer in consideration for the Arkansas Derby and could race during the current Keeneland meet.
- Horses being considered for Keeneland’s Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes on April 15 are Convict Pike, Egyptian Hero, No Dozing, Resiliency, Time to Travel and West Coast.
- Time to Travel, an impressive Gulstream Park maiden winner on April 1 for trainer Rachel Halden, has been transferred to Michael Matz’s barn.
- Mulitple graded stakes champion Gunnevera will depart Antonio Sano’s Gulfstream Park West base on April 22 for Churchill Downs, where he will have his final Kentucky Derby preparations.
- Group 2 UAE Derby runner-up Master Plan will join his stablemates preparing for the Kentucky Derby at Todd Pletcher’s Churchill Downs barn.
- Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes winner Guest Suite has officially been removed from Kentucky Derby consideration after a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby.
- Triple Crown nominee Timeline, a romping winner of an Aqueduct allowance optional claiming contest on April 6, could return in Belmont Park’s Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes on May 13.
- Big Score, who captured Keeneland’s opening day Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes on the turf, is probable for Churchill Downs’ Grade 2 American Turf on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
