Headed by Eclipse Award winner Storm the Court and Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner King Guillermo, six OBS graduates will start in Saturday’s 146th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill. They are looking to join previous OBS graduate Derby winners Lil E. Tee (1992), Silver Charm (1997) and I’ll Have Another (2012).
David A. Bernsen LLC, Exline-Border Racing LLC, Dan Hudock & Susanna Wilson’s Storm the Court is looking to return to the form that won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and earned the Eclipse Award as 2-year-old champion. At three, he’s been third in the San Felipe (G2), third in the Ohio Derby (G3) and second last time out in the La Jolla Handicap (G3) at Del Mar. The son of Court Vision was consigned to the April Sale by Woodside Ranch, Agent, and worked an Under Tack quarter in :21 2/5 before he was purchased for $60,000 by Marette Farrell, Agent for Exline-Border Racing LLC. Trained by Peter Eurton, he comes into the Derby with a 9-2-1-3 record and earnings of $1,310,451. He’ll break from post four in the 18 horse field and be ridden by Julien Leparoux. watch his under tack video
Victoria’s Ranch’s King Guillermo, on furlough since a second place finish behind Nadal in the Arkansas Derby (G1) in May, has been working steadily at Churchill Downs under the watchful eye of trainer Juan Carlos Avila. The son of Uncle Mo, a 4-3/4 length winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) in March, comes into the Derby with a 5-2-1-1 record and $340,350 in earnings. He’ll start from post six and be ridden by Samy Camacho. He was purchased for $150,000 by retired MLB All-Star Victor Martinez at the April Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5. watch his under tack video
Robert V. LaPenta and Bortolazzo Stable LLC’s Money Moves will break from post seven under Javier Castellano for trainer Todd Pletcher. The lightly raced colt by Candy Ride (ARG) a winner at first asking at Gulfstream Park in February, has won two of three starts.. At the April Sale, he breezed an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat and was purchased for $975,000 out of the Wavertree Stables consignment by Steven W. Young, Agent. watch his under tack video
Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Peter Deutsch and Pantofel Stable LLC’s South Bend, acquired by his connections after a strong late run to just miss in the Ohio Derby (G3), was fourth in the Travers (G1) in his last start. A winner of the Street Sense Stakes over the Churchill surface at two, he brings a 12-3-2-2 record and $390,114 in earnings into the Derby. Tyler Gaffalione will ride the son of Algorithms for trainer Bill Mott. He turned in an Under Tack quarter in :21 3/5 before he was purchased for $70,000 out of the Pick View LLC consignment at the March Sale. watch his under tack video
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone’s graded stakes winner Sole Volante has been on the board in six of his seven starts and earned $323,310 to date. He won Tampa Bay Downs’ Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) in February and returned to run second to King Guillermo in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2). At two, he took Gulfstream’s Pulpit Stakes on the turf. Patrick L. Biancone will saddle the son of Karakontie (JPN), who will be ridden from post 12 by Luca Panici. He was sold for $20,000 by New Hope AB LLC at the April Sale after working an eighth in :10 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
West Point Thoroughbreds and Pearl Racing’s Winning Impression will leave from post 14 and be ridden by Joe Rocco for trainer Dallas Stewart. The son of Paynter, third in the Arkansas Derby (G1), was purchased out of the Off the Hook consignment at the April Sale for $77,000 after an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. watch his under tack video
Three OBS March graduates go to the post in Friday’s Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Mark H. Stanley and Nancy W. Stanley’s graded stakes placed Tempers Rising will leave from post two and be ridden by Julien Leparoux. The daughter of Bayern was second this spring in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and comes into the Oaks with earnings of $222,627 for trainer Dallas Stewart. Consigned to the Sale by McKathan Bros., Agent, she went through the ring after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. watch her under tack video
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables & Heider Family Stables LLC’s Speech comes into the Oaks off a victory in Keeneland’s Ashland Stakes (G1) in July. She was also second in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and third in the Santa Ysabel (G3). The Florida-bred daughter of Mr Speaker is a two time OBS graduate, purchased out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2018 Winter Mixed Sale, then resold by SBM Training & Sales, Agent, for $190,000 at the March Sale after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :10 flat. Trained by Mike McCarthy, she has compiled a 7-3-3-1 record and earned $378,240 to date. She’ll be ridden by Javier Castellano and start from post four. watch her under tack video
Miracle’s International Trading’s Dream Marie, on the board earlier this year in the Delaware Oaks (G3) and Davona Dale Stakes (G2), was fourth last time out in the Monmouth Oaks (G3) and comes into the race with $160,160 in earnings. Joe Talamo will ride the daughter of Graydar from post nine for trainer Matthew J. Williams. Consigned to the Sale by Paul Sharp, Agent she breezed an eighth in :10 3/5 at the Under Tack Show before she was sold for $25,000. watch her under tack video