Imagine a flying dismount in the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs in the moments after the Kentucky Derby?
It’s a longshot but it could happen as world renowned jockey Frankie Dettori is set to ride Society Man in the Derby on May 4.
"I'm excited to have him," trainer Danny Gargan told drf.com on Tuesday. "He's riding great. I know it's a race he wants to be in and a race he wants to win."
Dettori’s only other Derby ride came in 2000, when he finished sixth aboard China Visit, the UAE Derby winner that year owned by Godolphin.
Dettori rode primarily in Europe during the Triple Crown season. He announced his retirement last year but postponed it late in the year to ride in the United States.
At the Santa Anita meet, Dettori rode 34 winners, including six in a row on April 6.
Society Man earned his way into the Derby with a second-place finish in the Wood Memorial (G2), finishing behind Resilience at odds of 106-1. He was ridden by Luis Rivera, Jr. In the Wood.
Gargan also trains Dornoch, who will be ridden by Luis Saez.
Fierceness hits the Churchill track
Florida Derby winner Fierceness made his first appearance at the track Tuesday morning, galloping a mile under regular exercise rider Danny Wright.
Our first look of #BreedersCup champ Fierceness on track at @ChurchillDowns! pic.twitter.com/Qy1DruyOUc
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) April 23, 2024
“He looked smooth and handled it well,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.
The 2-year-old champion is the likely Derby favorite. The post-position draw is Saturday night.
Grand Mo the First worked 6 furlongs in 1:16.46 at Gulfstream Park on Tuesday for trainer Victor Barboza, Jr.
The Uncle Mo colt, who finished third in the Florida Derby, is scheduled to be shipped to Louisville on Thursday.
“It was a beautiful workout,” Barboza said.
Jockey Emisael Jaramillo was aboard for the work.
“Jaramillo has ridden for me more than 400 races in both countries, Venezuela and United States,” Barboza said. “He’s been a good jockey for me.”
Work of the Day from @GulfstreamPark—Grand Mo the First worked 6 Furlongs in 1:16.46 on April 23rd, 2024, for trainer Victor Barboza Jr. pic.twitter.com/XM54IfiXKG
— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) April 23, 2024
Catalytic (Jose Ortiz), Catching Freedom (Flavien Prat), Domestic Product (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Dornoch (Luis Saez), Encino (TBA), Endlessly (Umberto Rispoli), Fierceness (John Velazquez), Forever Young (Ryusei Sakai), Grand Mo the First (Emisael Jaramillo), Honor Marie (Ben Curtis), Just a Touch (Florent Geroux), Just Steel (Keith Asmussen), Mystik Dan (Brian Hernandez Jr.,) Resilience (Junior Alvarado), Sierra Leone (Tyler Gaffalione), Society Man (Frankie Dettori), Stronghold (Antonio Fresu), T O Password (Kazushi Kimura), Track Phantom (Joel Rosario), West Saratoga (Jesus Castanon).
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.
