Steve Asmussen began the week with 9,299 victories, putting him within 146 of Dale Baird’s all-time record. He has overperformed with double-digit long shots: At odds of 27.50-to-1, he finished sixth last year with Storm the Court in 2019, he finished sixth on 58.60-to-1 shot Master Fencer. Jockey Julian Leparoux has never finished in the money in the Kentucky Derby in his 12 career Derby starts (his best was fourth in 2017 on Classic Empire). Midnight Bourbon came into Derby Week having gone six weeks between starts, so Steve Asmussen gave his Louisiana Derby runner-up a little stiffer drill than normal, sending him five-eighths from the half in 24.95 seconds, 49.75 and 1:02.64 before having him gallop out six furlongs in 1:16.95. He’s doing well over this track.”Ĩ Midnight Bourbon (Steve Asmussen) LW: 8 He’s run second to some really nice horses. “I usually like to come in with a top five-type horse. “I think we’re here with a horse that’s in the top 10,” Bob Baffert said of Medina Spirit. The fifth through seventh finishers all were prior stakes winners. Rombauer ran a distant third, and Hidden Stash took fourth. Highly Motivated might not prove to welcome a mile and a quarter, but he is very talented. It was certainly the deepest, as its winner, Essential Quality, will be the morning line favorite. If he runs the Louisiana Derby race, he’s not.”Ī strong argument can be made that the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland was this year’s top Kentucky Derby prep race. “He’s definitely the question mark in the field as to if he’s going to show up. “He deserves the right to run as long as he’s doing well, and he’s doing fantastic,” Brad Cox said Friday. His best finish in the Kentucky Derby was in 2019 with Improbable, placing fourth. Ortiz has won three consecutive Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Jockey, and he leads all riders in wins in 2021 by a wide margin. is considered by many to be the best jockey in America right now, and he’ll be aboard Known Agenda. That’s not a good sign for a rigorous race like the Kentucky Derby. “There was not a lot of oomph in the gallop out,” he said. If you listen to the Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch on the April 24 clocker’s report on YouTube, you’ll hear that Essential Quality, for the second workout in a row, appeared tired. Hot Rod Charlie and Medina Spirit each have 99s on their resumes. Typically, a triple-digit Beyer is a strong barometer for Kentucky Derby champions. Rock Your World is the only entrant who has run a 100 Beyer Speed Figure. Given six weeks, he comes into the big race relatively fresh and ready to fire his absolute best.” He has a strong foundation, with plenty of solid 2-year-old form. “He has strong tactical speed to find a good position early in the race, and he can pass horses. Horse Racing Nation editor Brian Zipse was early with his Kentucky Derby wager and laid out a strong case for Hot Rod Charlie: “Maybe $3 million, maybe $4 million,” Mack said.įollowing are the top contenders for the 2021 Kentucky Derby, to be run May 1.ġ Hot Rod Charlie (Doug O’Neill/Leandro Mora) LW: 2 Renowned sports betting wagerer Mattress Mack of Houston furniture store fame said this week that on Saturday, he’ll be making the largest single wager in Kentucky Derby history, betting the favorite. Essential Quality has won, but he hasn’t delivered a big race yet. This doesn’t sound like a horse who will move forward in the Derby. But it appears that Essential Quality is ready to stop as soon as the rider stops driving him. The best thing you can see when a horse is doing his workouts is for the horse to “want more” once the rider stops asking him. His ferocious effort in the Blue Grass might have set the undefeated horse back. Lately, consensus favorite Essential Quality has not looked too strong on the workout trail. You can look at the stopwatch or you can look at the horse. Share on Reddit By Paul Bergeron Updated

Mike welsch derby clocker report