Kentucky Derby weekend kicks off on Friday and the action looks to get off to a strong start with undefeated Breeders’ Cup Champion AUNT PEARL (IRE) starting her three-year-old campaign in the G2 Edgewood for owners Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Michael Kisber, Peter Deutsch and Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group.
She will run just hours before COACH who goes in search of her first G1 win in the Kentucky Oaks for owner Kueber Racing. The Fasig-Tipton October yearling purchase earned a career best 86 Beyer last out in the G3 Fantasy and heads to the Oaks with some forward momentum.
Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister’s ATTACHMENT RATE will run in the G2 Alysheba on Friday after finishing a fast closing 3rd in the G3 Commonwealth Stakes last out at Keeneland.
Saturday gets started with ZOFELLE (IRE) who looks to get revenge on Got Stormy in the G2 Distaff Turf Mile after just missing behind that aforementioned foe in the G3 Honey Fox las out for owner Heider Family Stables.
SCONSIN, who was bred on a mating suggested by BSW, makes her second start of the year in the G1 Derby City Distaff. She was a winner on Derby weekend last year when running away with the G2 Eight Belles for owner Lloyd Madison Farms.
The G2 American Turf will feature three runners for our clients, including recent stakes winner EXCELLENT TIMING who makes his turf debut in this spot for Michael Dubb Madaket Stables and Wonder Stables.
Also taking part in this race will be ROYAL PRINCE, who arrives here having won two stakes in a row for owner Steve Landers as well as WINFROMWITHIN who will be looking for his third win in a row after setting a stakes record in his win in the Columbia last out for owners Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister.
WHITMORE, last year’s Champion Sprinter and Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner goes in the G1 Churchill Downs for Robert LaPenta, Head of Plains Partners and Southern Springs Stables, where he will be looking for the 16th win of his illustrious career, an achievement that would put him over $4.6 million in earnings.
Outside of Kentucky, ROCKEMPEROR (IRE) makes his five-year-old debut in the G2 Fort Marcy at Belmont for owners Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, Michael Kisber and Bethlehem Stables. the son of Holy Roman Emperor just missed in the G1 Manhattan last year before finishing a fast closing 3rd in the G1 Turf Classic at Churchill.
At Oaklawn Park SCARRED makes his stakes debut in the Oaklawn Invitational for owners Bill & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables and Spendthrift Farm and he comes into this race off a nice allowance score.
