Four OBS graduates are entered for Saturday’s $2, 000, 000 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, seeking to become the fourth horse sold by OBS draped with the garland of roses at the end of America’s most famous horse race. Lil E. Tee was the first, taking the 1992 renewal, followed by Silver Charm in 1997 and I’ll Have Another in 2012.
Kendall E. Hansen’s Fast and Accurate has drawn post three in the 20-horse field, looking to duplicate the feat of 2011 Derby winner Animal Kingdom, who won Turfway Park’s Spiral Stakes (G3) in his final start before the Run for the Roses. Fast and Accurate took command of the 2017 Spiral Stakes (G3) at the top of the stretch and held on gamely to win by three quarters of a length. It was the first stakes win for the 3-year-old colt by Hansen, who brings a 6-3-1-0 record $340,362 in earnings in to the Derby. Trained by Mike Maker, he’ll be ridden by Channing Hill. He breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 2/5 before he was purchased for $85,000 from Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, at the 2016 OBS April Sale. watch his under tack video
Michael Langford’s Untrapped will break from post four. The 3-year-old colt by Trappe Shot has been on the board in three graded stakes this spring, finishing third in Fair Grounds’ Le Comte (G3) and Risen Star (G2) and second in Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes (G2). To date, he has compiled a 6-1-3-1 record and has earned $259,658. Ricardo Santana, Jr. has the mount for trainer Steve Asmussen. Untrapped breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 prior to his purchase by Mr. Langford for $125,000 out of the Crupi’s New Castle Farm consignment at the 2016 OBS April Sale. watch his under tack video
Reddam Racing LLC’s Irap will break from post nine under Mario Gutierrez for trainer Doug O’Neill, the same connections that won the 2012 Derby with I’ll Have Another, purchased at the 2011 OBS April Sale by Dennis O’Neill. Dennis found Irap at the 2016 OBS March Sale , and purchased him for $300,000 from Bobby Dodd, Agent, after the colt by Tiznow turned in an Under Tack eighth in:10 1/5. Irap comes into the Derby after breaking his maiden in Keeneland’s $1,000,000 Blue Grass Stakes (G2), leaving him 8-1-3-1 record with $772,600 in earnings. watch his under tack video
Al Shaqab Racing, WinStar Farm LLC and China Horse Club’s world traveler Master Plan in on the also-eligible list for the Derby, entered by trainer Todd Pletcher. The 3-year-old son of Twirling Candy was a 2-1/2 length winner of the OBS Championship Stakes in January and then finished a good third in the UAE Derby (G2) on the Dubai World Cup undercard in March. Master plan was purchased by his owners for $850,000 out of the Eisaman Equine consignment at the 2016 March Sale after working an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. He’s now 5-2-1-1 and has earned $297,490. watch his under tack video