A sun-splashed morning greeted a much larger contingent of media and fans on hand to get a closer look at the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks horses during their pre-race preparations at Churchill Downs Monday.
With temperatures still a bit on the chilly side in the mid-to-upper 40s, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and longshot Mr. Z (Malibu Moon) led the cavalry charge as the track neared its re-opening for the special training session allotted for the star sophomores.
The physically imposing duo of Firing Line (Line of David) and Danzig Moon (Malibu Moon) quickly joined the fray as the trio briefly circled by the gap shortly after 8:30 a.m.
Bolo (Temple City) had a very nice spring in his step as he made his first tour around the main oval. The handsome dark bay, third behind the mighty Dortmund (Big Brown) in his first two dirt tries in Arcadia, also visited the paddock. Dortmund had a relatively easy morning, jogging the wrong way with a pony under the supervision of Bob Baffert chief assistant Jimmy Barnes. The unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' made the trip from the Golden State Sunday afternoon.
The aforementioned GIII Sunland Derby winner Firing Line made a striking first impression beneath the Twin Spires with Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens keeping a close eye from the backstretch viewing area. The Arnold Zetcher colorbearer briefly stopped and took a inquisitive look around at his surroundings before heading off the track with good energy. Bloodstock agent Ben McElroy, who signed the slip on Firing Line for $240,000 at last year's KEEAPR sale, was on hand to watch Monday morning as well. Trainer Simon Callaghan is expected to arrive later this week from his Santa Anita base.
Bold Conquest (Curlin) continued his preparations with a good-looking five furlong breeze in 1:01.80. The flashy chestnut, trained by Steve Asmussen, is currently ranked 22nd in the standings and will need some help getting into the Derby field. Oaks contender Puca (Big Brown) appeared in good form galloping Monday a day after breezing a smart four furlongs, respectively.
Starladies Racing's Eskenformoney (Eskendereya), second in the GII Gulfstream Oaks, caused a very brief stir when unseating exercise rider Ezequiel Perez on the backstretch. Thanks to the heady work of an alert outrider, the pair were immediately reunited and no worse for the wear as they headed back to Todd Pletcher's barn.
The seven-time Eclipse Award winner held court with the press while his arsenal of Derby/Oaks horses were cleaned up outside of Barn 40 shortly after 9 a.m. Pletcher's two-time Grade I winner Carpe Diem (Giant's Causeway), meanwhile, walked the shedrow after vanning from Keeneland earlier Monday morning.
Starlight Racing's Jack and Laurie Wolf and Three Chimney's Case Clay were among the quickly growing crowd taking in the action at Pletcher's current digs.
How's this for a timely advertisement? Starlight's Itsaknockout (Lemon Drop Kid), winner of the GII Fountain of Youth S. via disqualification, was sporting a blanket promoting Saturday night's blockbuster throwdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas after his bath. It really doesn't get much better than that!
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