Fulleffort

In what was no doubt a difficult decision, jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. has committed to riding GI Arkansas Derby winner Renegade (Into Mischief) in the GI Kentucky Derby. Ortiz was also the regular rider of GI Blue Grass Stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Further Ado (Gun Runner). It's possible that the two will be, in some order, the first and second choices in the Derby. The news on Ortiz's pick, as well as other jockey commitments made to other key Derby contenders, was first reported by...

Fulleffort (Liam's Map), a rallying second in both of the local preps, punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby with a powerful win in Saturday's GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. Favored at 9-5, the Leonatus S. and John Battaglia Memorial S. runner-up raced in ninth through fractions of :23.18 and :47.16. The gray began to wind up beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. on the far turn, came rolling up four wide approaching the quarter pole and kept on motoring down the stretch, finishing up in a field-best :12.99 to...

Golden Tempo (Curlin), third in the GII Fasig-Tipton Risen Star S. Feb. 14, will race with first-time blinkers in Saturday's GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. The Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable homebred and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was an eye-catching, come-from-behind winner of his first two career starts, including the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 17. He rallied from seventh to complete the trifecta in the Risen Star, finishing six lengths behind Paladin (Gun Runner). "He made a really nice run in the Risen Star and...

Springing an upset in Saturday's John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway, 15-1 longshot Great White (Volatile) came from just off the pace to earn his first stakes win over 2-1 chance Fulleffort (Liam's Map). With the victory, Great White earned 20 points toward the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby, while the runner-up collected 10 points. The race also serves as the local prep for the Mar. 21 GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series. Dual stakes winner Street Beast (Street Sense), sent off...

4th-ELP, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 2:16 p.m. ET. A $500,000 buy during Keeneland September, PIASTRI (Not This Time) gets behind the wheel for L & N Racing and Robert Zoellner. The Steve Asmussen trainee is out of SP Boule (Exchange Rate), who herself was purchased for $160,000 by Rhianon Farms at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale while in-foal with current 4-year-old filly Thorny (Violence). Boule is a half-sister to GSW Tide of the Sea (English Channel) and her own grand dam is MGISW Tates Creek (Rahy), who is responsible for...