Horse Racing Random

[dryrunguy]

Copper finished fourth out of six, about 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner. This time he stalked the pace because the winner was just a bit faster. He tried to pass but couldn't, and ultimately he was passed by two others. He looked a bit flat to me, and his speed figure dropped 9 points to 72.

He was not claimed, so we have him for at least one more race. I haven't heard anything from Mary, so I assume he came out of the race okay.

[dryrunguy]

Just a reminder the Kentucky Derby is on Saturday. There have been a few defections--nothing major--so the composition of the field has changed a little.

The post position draw is tomorrow.

https://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses

[dryrunguy]

The Kentucky Derby post position draw was today, along with the announcement of morning line odds. I'm still looking for a similar graphic for the Kentucky Oaks.

[dryrunguy]

And here's one for the Kentucky Oaks.

[ponchi101]

Sorry. What is the Kentucky Oaks? Horsing Triple A?

[JazzNU]

And here's one for the Kentucky Oaks.

I was very disappointing reading through those boring and not very clever names for the Derby, but these are better, and I'll take what I can get since creativity seems to be an afterthought in naming the biggest contenders lately.

[dryrunguy]

Practical Move was just scratched from the Derby. (He's the Baffert horse temporarily taking shelter in Yakteen's barn.) That means the #21 also eligible horse, Cyclone Mischief, will run on Saturday.

[dryrunguy]

Sorry. What is the Kentucky Oaks? Horsing Triple A?

Sorry. I should have explained that. Everyone knows about the Derby, and the Oaks always takes a back seat because...

It's a race for 3-year-old fillies. (Fillies can enter the Derby if they qualify, but colts are not eligible for the Oaks. The Oaks is run the day before the Derby. So that happens tomorrow (Friday).

[dryrunguy]

Lord Miles has been scratched from the Derby field. There's MUCH more to this scratch. But I just heard about it.

Mandarin Hero will replace Lord Miles in the Derby field.

[ti-amie]

There's a paywall so this is the best that I can do.

The Athletic
@athletic@sportsfeed.me
Churchill Downs suspends trainer Saffie Joseph following unexpected death of 2 horses https://theathletic.com/4489862/2023/05 ... suspended/ Trainer Saffie Joseph has been suspended indefinitely and all of his horses, including Kentucky Derby entrant Lord Miles, have been scratched from future races pending further information about the death of two horses trained by Joseph.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Board of Stewards initially a...

https://sportsfeed.me/@athletic/110312698928415723

[dryrunguy]

Continuar has also scratched, which opened the door for King Russell. The Derby is now out of also-eligibles.

[dryrunguy]

There's a paywall so this is the best that I can do.

The Athletic
@athletic@sportsfeed.me
Churchill Downs suspends trainer Saffie Joseph following unexpected death of 2 horses https://theathletic.com/4489862/2023/05 ... suspended/ Trainer Saffie Joseph has been suspended indefinitely and all of his horses, including Kentucky Derby entrant Lord Miles, have been scratched from future races pending further information about the death of two horses trained by Joseph.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Board of Stewards initially a...

https://sportsfeed.me/@athletic/110312698928415723

Please forgive me. After reading up on pretty much everything, I have 5 millions reactions to this. Trying to articulate them would bust TAT's server. They range from grieving these four horses (above all else) to wondering why Saffie was singled out with no toxicology reports to the rumors I've read for a long time (mostly from angry bettors who get beat by him) to what the hell is happening at Churchill to why the hell are they actually planning to run the Oaks tomorrow and the Derby on Saturday at Churchill to Saffie's strong desire to break into the upper echelons of more prestigious tracks to the fact I used to have horses trained by him.

And those just scratch the surface.

5 million reactions. And a few of them are pretty personal, which makes it very hard to step back, take a deep breath, and look at the evidence objectively.

Meanwhile, Horse Racing Twitter is like, "Gosh, the timing really sucks." Seriously? THAT is what bothers you about all of this?

[dryrunguy]

Now Skinner has been scratched. We're down to a field of 19--no more also eligibles to draw into the race.

[dryrunguy]

The Derby favorite, Forte, has been scratched. Down to 18. Haven't found a reason why yet. Probably spiked a fever this morning--my best guess. EDIT: Forte was scratched by the state veterinarian after doing a brief morning jog.

[dryrunguy]

Pretty Mischievous won the Kentucky Oaks in a thriller. Trained by Brendan Walsh, owned by Godolphin, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.