LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The late B. Wayne Hughes will be smiling somewhere on the first Saturday of May.
undefeated GII Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo), an $800,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream windbreaker, will sport Spendthrift Ranch’s famous orange and purple colors while just starting his career for the fourth time in the 149th GI Kentucky Derby.
“Our main business is really stallions, but when we can go to a sale and get a stallion strong enough to enter the stall, that’s what we do. I’m trying to do it,” said Ned Toffey, General Manager of Spendthrift. “And to win a race like the Derby is obviously a step in the right direction if you want to stand your ground. Kingsbarns has done everything we asked of him so far and he has done it brilliantly.”
Spendthrift Into Mischief’s all-win steed, responsible for Friday’s GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Quite mischievous (Into Mischief), there will be three chances at the third bouquet of roses with the telephoto shot naughty whirlwind (Into naughty), Missiles can (Into mischief) and Thunder (Into Adversity).
Of course, Into Mischief’s Authentic won the 2020 Kentucky Derby thanks to a high-profile partnership led by Spendthrift Farm. Into Mischief is also the father of mandalunwho was promoted first through Medina Spirit’s drug elimination in the following year’s Derby.
“That’s what breeders are looking for, to get to the Derby,” Toffey said. “Into Mischief can get you any kind of horse. He’s a great horse and keeps getting the job done.
What do you think Mr Hughes would say if he were still here to witness this day?
“I thought Wayne would say ‘I told you so,'” Toffey said with a laugh.
“I really remember him saying, ‘I think we might have the Bold Ruler on our hands.’ He said it very early in Into Mischief’s career. Now, he has become a Top Lord four times in a row and has done something that hasn’t been done since the Bold Ruler. Wayne really loves this horse. He means a lot to him.
Forte Heads ‘Strong’ Hand for Pletcher…
Hall of Fame coach Todd Pletcher has won the Kentucky Derby twice from a record 62 starts and is credited with bringing his strongest hand to this year’s 1 1/4 mile Classic . In addition to Kingsbarns, Pletcher will beat the most popular team in the morning 3-1 ‘TDN Rising Star’ forte (Violence) and colleagues ‘Rising Star’ faucet Trice (faucet).
Previous GI Breeders’ Cup winner and champion, 2-year-old foal Forte won tickets to Louisville for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable with a brave victory with less than ideal ride discussed much in HOLD make for curly Florida match. Only one street feeling And Nyquist has so far won the Juvenile-Kentucky Derby double Breeders’ Cup.
September graduates at Keeneland worth $1.3 million faucet Trice will set up a four-race winning streak following eye-popping, back-to-back wins in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby and GI Toyota Blue Grass S.
“In terms of pari-mutuel support, that’s probably going to be the strongest team we’ve brought,” said Pletcher. “I think there was only one time where we started to be liked and that was in 2017, with (Derby winner) Always dreaming. You could argue that maybe Forte and faucet Trice could be the favorite and second or close to it choice. This is the deepest roster we’ve come up with so far.
The Derby Quartet for Brad Cox…
Brad Cox will have four of the 19 Kentucky Derby starts, including the GI Arkansas Derby winner angel of the empire (Classic Empire), one of father In-match entries for the Albaugh Family Stables; Runner-up Narrow Green Grass Verification in progress (justification); GII Wood Memorial S. runner-up due to track pull impressions (candy ride {Arg}); and the third Louisiana Derby and ‘Rising Star’ Jace’s Way (Quality Sugar).
Although officially recognized as the coach who won the Kentucky Derby due to the things mentioned before mandalunCox is still looking to experience the thrill of a lifetime after winning the historic first leg of the Triple Crown.
“No Derby winning experience,” Cox said of the 2021 renewal. “It’s the thrill of victory that you want to experience. It’s no fun saying you won the Derby over a phone call saying you’ve been ranked first through DQ. There is no celebration. There is no winning image.
Cox continued, “I’m really looking forward, hoping that this year will win it. I think we got some really good shots. I’m sure it will be a feeling like no other.”
In addition to Angel of Empire, Dennis Albaugh’s activism campaigned for the third-place finisher in the Dale Romans-trained Florida Derby, Cyclone Mischief and Jace’s Road. The latter two are owned in partnership.
Outside Draw for Japanese Duo…
Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) (track 15), the overwhelming winner of the G2 UAE Derby, and HOLD Runhappy Runner-up Santa Anita Derby Mandarin Hero (Jpn) (Shanghai Bobby) (post 18) will look to continue the recent worldwide success for Japan. The Master Fencer’s sixth place finish in the 2019 Derby is the nation’s best run in Run for the Roses to date.
All the rumors about…
Who makes the best impression the morning before the main event? The ultimate GII Rebel S. winner confidence game (candy ride {Arg}) is definitely a good place to start after his visually impressive bullet training session below Twin Spiers last weekend. Disarming ‘TDN Rising Star’ (gunman), meanwhile, gave every indication he was ready to enter the race of his life for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen after a flat third place in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. GIII winner Impressive Jeff Ruby Steaks Two Phil (Spin hard) is another person who caught the eye during his morning preparations.
Stacked Derby Cards…
Starting at 10:30 a.m. with another sensational forecast calling for cloudy skies and highs of 78 degrees, the 14-race Kentucky Derby program also featured: GI Breeders’ Cup Filly heroines & Mare Sprint Good night olives (Ghostzapper) in the GI Derby City Distaff S.; GI Breeders’ Cup Winner Dirt Mile Cody’s Wish (make for curly) in GI Churchill Downs S.; and the highly anticipated return of last year’s GI Del Mar Oaks heroine spending (Karakontie {Jpn}) in the GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. The graded betting action at Churchill Downs was perfected by the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic; GII Pat Day Mile S.; GII American Turf S.; and GII Twin Spiers Turf Sprint S.
