Flavien Prat and John Sherriffs are on the outside looking in at the Kentucky Derby.
Prat, the Eclipse Award-winning jockey, and Sherriffs, the trainer of 50-1 Derby winner Giacomo (2005) and the champion Zenyatta, hope Baeza manages to get into the Derby field limited to 20 starters.
Baeza is No. 23 on the Kentucky Derby qualifying points leaderboard (as of April 21) and needs three defections to work his way into the race.
Sherriffs has been training Baez as if he’ll make the field since the 3-year-old colt’s runner-up finish to likely Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 5.
Baeza worked 7 furlongs in 1:28.00 at Santa Anita on Sunday (April 20), his second work since the Santa Anita Derby.
“Because his morning gallops have been a little on the easy side, I wanted to give him a longer work to put a little more air in him and with a good finish,” said Shirreffs, who won the 2005 Kentucky Derby with Giacomo in the second biggest upset in the race at the time.
Shirreffs said Baeza will leave for Kentucky mid-week.
Final Gambit and Built, both above Baeza on the leaderboard, were listed as possible contenders by Churchill Downs (as of April 21).
Up to 24 horses can be entered during the draw on April 26, leaving room for those outside the top 20 to move up with any withdrawals during the Kentucky Derby week.
The track was sealed and good early Monday at the Downs, with Derby contenders American Promise and Built going out for gallops.
As the morning progressed, the rain subsided, and the track was upgraded to fast.
Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street first appeared on the main track. Others out for light training included UAE Derby (G2) winner Admire Daytona, Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Burnham Square, Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Coal Battle, Blue Grass runner-up East Avenue, Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Final Gambit, Jeff Ruby runner-up Flying Mohawk, Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Tiztastic, Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman, Arkansas Derby runner-up Publisher, and Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Sovereignty.
Baeza is No. 23 on the Kentucky Derby qualifying points leaderboard (as of April 21) and needs three defections to work his way into the race.
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