LOUISVILLE — Estimates that it would take 40 points under Churchill Downs’ new system for determining which 3-year-olds qualify for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby proved to be way off the mark, as late surprise entry Fear the Kitten, with only 6 points, will complete the field of 20, according to the Daily Racing Form, when entries are taken tomorrow. The post-position draw is set for 5 p.m.
As expected, there were four defections yesterday. Trainer Bob Baffert confirmed his two remaining candidates, Code West and Govenor Charlie, would not run; Todd Pletcher said his Lexington winner, Winning Cause, would await the Preakness, Peter Pan or the Marine at Woodbine; and the connections of Tiz a Minister said he would not make the trip from California after finishing third in last Saturday’s Snow Chief at Hollywood Park.
Golden Soul, whose owner, Charles Fipke, already has Blue Grass winner Java’s War in the Derby, draws in after finishing fourth in the Louisiana Derby, while Fear the Kitten comes off a pair of fifths in the Spiral and Blue Grass.
Code West and Govenor Charlie join Flashback, Super Ninety Nine, Den’s Legacy, War Academy and Power Broker among Baffert horses once considered Derby hopefuls, marking just the fourth time in 18 years that the three-time Derby-winning trainer won’t have a starter in the race.
“Everything is meant to be,” he said. “When you get a good one, you appreciate it more.”
Baffert, with his keen eye for a horse, has a history of tabbing the true contenders while watching their works and gallops during Derby week. This year, he has high praise for Orb, the Florida Derby winner trained by Shug McGaughey.
“Man, he gets over the ground well,” Baffert said. “He really caught my eye. He’s a beautiful moving horse. His stride is so efficient.”
D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time Derby winner, worked his two Derby horses yesterday. Oxbow, with three-time Derby-winning jockey Gary Stevens aboard, sizzled five furlongs in a bullet :59 4/5, out six in 1:14 4/5. Will Take Charge went five furlongs in 1:01, out six in 1:17 2/5.
“A work’s a work,” Lukas said, “but it’s a barometer of where you’re at with a horse in a lot of ways. As a trainer you get a chance to evaluate the energy level, the soundness, all the things that go into maybe winning the darn thing.”