Weekly Update Friday, March 31, 2017 ______

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RAMPS UP #TRENDING WITH FLORIDA, LOUISIANA DERBYS 1. Juvenile champion was re-routed Tuesday to the LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, March 31, 2017) – The Road to the April 15 (GI). Classic Empire was originally targeting Presented by TwinSpires.com heats up Saturday with the April 8 Blue Grass (GII) but has been quite the handful for trainer the $1 million (Grade I) at and $1 Mark Casse ’s team, refusing to work twice in a month and now million TwinSpires.com (GII) at Fair Grounds. Both making his final Derby preparations at the Winding Oaks Training races will award 100 points to the winner and 40 points to the runner- Center in Ocala, Fla. up, which is an almost-guaranteed spot in the starting gate for America’s greatest race on the first Saturday in May. 2. The Florida Derby has been a key stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby. The race has produced 23 Kentucky Derby winners, including Orb Nyquist The Louisiana Derby will go as Race 11 of 15 at Fair Grounds with a two in the last four years: (2013) and (2016). post time of 6:21 p.m. (all times EDT) while the Florida Derby is Gulfstream Park’s finale on a 14-race card at approximately 6:40 p.m. In 3. Seven of the last 14 Kentucky Derby winners were based during the addition to first two finishing positions, both 1 1/8-mile races will winter in South Florida. Six were stabled at Palm Meadows Training Funny Cide Barbaro Big award 20 and 10 points, respectively, to the third and fourth-place Center: (2003), (2006), (2007), Brown Super Saver Orb finishers. (2008), (2010) and (2011). (2013) was based at Payson Park. The top point earners in the 37-race Road to the Kentucky Derby series Patch Brad Kelley will have preference to compete in the 20-horse Grade I, $2 million 4. Louisiana Derby entrant hopes to give owner ’s Calumet Farm Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands. Six races with 100 points their sixth horse on Road to the Kentucky Derby Hence Sonneteer to winner remain to be run. Leaderboard: No. 5 (50 points), No. 17 (20), No. 20 Wild Shot Term of Art True Timber (17), No. 25 (11) and No. 34 (6). Following an impressive two-length victory in the Feb. 25 Risen Star Calumet holds the record for the most Kentucky Derby victories by an Forward Pass (GII), is the 8-5 morning line-favorite in the field of nine 3-year- owner (eight), but hasn’t won the race since in 1968. olds for the Louisiana Derby. The son of Tale of Ekati is attempting to secure the first Kentucky Derby berth for owner Brad Grady and 32- 5. One of the key faces behind the success of Louisiana Derby morning Girvin Rosie Napravnik year-old trainer Joe Sharp . line favorite is former – Girvin’s Joe Sharp regular exercise rider who is married to his trainer . Girvin will tackle eight rivals including Risen Star third-place finisher J Boys Echo Local Hero , who looks to give trainer Steve Asmussen a record- 6. Gotham winner is expected to be the first Kentucky breaking fourth win in the race, and William S. Farish and Lora Jean Derby probable entrant to be stabled at . J Boys Echo Kilroy ’s gelding Guest Suite , the Lecomte (GIII) winner who was a will fly from Florida to Kentucky on Sunday to make his final troubled fourth in the Risen Star for two-time Louisiana Derby-winning preparations for the April 8 Blue Grass at Keeneland. He is expected to trainer Neil Howard . arrive at Barn 4 on Sunday between 3:30-4 p.m., according to Churchill Steve Hargrave Downs Stable Director .

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will ship in two recent maiden Kendall Hansen Fast and victors to the Louisiana Derby from Florida including Calumet Farm ’s 7. , owner of upset Spiral (GIII) winner Accurate one-eyed Patch and Derrick Smith , Repole Stable , Michael Tabor , , will pay the $200,000 late supplemental nomination fee for and Mrs . John Magnier ’s $1.3 million OBS March purchase Monaco . the Kentucky Derby. Hansen sold part interest in the colt to Harvey Diamond Skychai Racing Louisvillian of . Elsewhere, Fountain of Youth (GII) winner Gunnevera is the 9-5 morning line favorite for the Florida Derby. The 3-year-old son of 8. The Kentucky Derby had two prominent defections this week. El Areeb is trained by former top-Venezuelan trainer Antonio Sano . Jerome (GIII) and Withers (GIII) winner is off the Derby Epicharis (Jpn) Gunnevera has already earned three graded stakes victories in his eight- trail due to a knee injury. Japan’s is unlikely to run in race career and accrued almost $1.1 million. the Derby because of logistical quarantine issues in his homeland after running second in last weekend’s UAE Derby (GII). Gunnevera faces nine rivals including likely second-choice and improving allowance winner trained by Pletcher; 9. The final pool for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager opened Friday Three Rules , who was third in the Fountain of Youth, 6 ¼-lengths and will close Sunday at 6 p.m. Wagering is available at many racetracks behind Gunnevera; and the front running State of Honor , who and other outlets, including TwinSpires.com. removes blinkers after a runner-up effort behind the Pletcher-trained Unique Bella Tapwrit in the March 11 Tampa Bay Derby (GII). 10. The status of ’s participation in the Longines Jerry Hollendorfer Daily Kentucky Oaks (GI) is in flux. Trainer told Racing Form The Road to the Kentucky Oaks Championship Series continues on Tuesday that his filly was out of training because of Saturday at Gulfstream Park and Fair Grounds. The $250,000 sore shins, which would force her to miss the April 8 Santa Anita Oaks Don Alberto Stable Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) is scheduled for Race 11 at 4:57 p.m. while (GI) and Kentucky Oaks. However, ’s racing Fernando Diaz-Valdes Daily News the TwinSpires.com (GII) is scheduled for Race 10 manager told at 5:41 p.m. that Unique Bella could “go directly to the Kentucky Oaks.” Stay tuned. -more- Kentucky Derby Weekly Update PAST PERFORMANCES & STAKES HISTORIES Friday, March 31, 2017 Page 2 of 4 Brinset.com Triple Crown Past Performances http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/TCnoms17.pdf

‘INSIDE CHURCHILL DOWNS’ RETURNS Brisnet.com Kentucky Oaks Past Performances SATURDAYS ON ESPN 680/105.7 AT 10 A.M. http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/KYOaks17.pdf

“Inside Churchill Downs ,” co-hosted by Churchill Downs Racetrack’s Brisnet.com Florida Derby Past Performances John Asher , Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein , returns to the http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/FloridaDerby17.pdf airwaves Saturday from 10-11 a.m. (all times Eastern) on ESPN 680/105.7 . Brisnet.com Louisiana Derby Past Performances http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/LouisianaDerby17.pdf The one-hour program will air every Saturday and follows the popular Horse Racing Radio Network’s Equine Forum hosted by Mike Brisnet.com Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 4 Past Performances Penna and Jude Feld from 8-10 a.m. http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/Derby17Future4.pdf

Saturday’s show will deliver the latest news surrounding Kentucky Florida Derby History Derby 143 and a preview the Road to the Kentucky Derby and https://www.kentuckyderby.com/uploads/wysiwyg/assets/uploads/St Kentucky Oaks Championship Series stakes action around the country. akes_Histories_-_Florida_Derby__2017_.pdf

Guests include Classic Empire and State of Honor ’s assistant trainer Louisiana Derby History Norm Casse , Girvin ’s conditioner Joe Sharp and former University https://www.kentuckyderby.com/uploads/wysiwyg/assets/uploads/St of Louisville basketball player David Levitch , an avid horseplayer who akes_Histories_-_Louisiana_Derby__2017_.pdf will be onsite at the Florida Derby. TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII) Those outside the Louisville radio market can listen live online at Saturday, April 1, $1 million, 3yo, 1 1/8 M, Fair Grounds (R11), 6:21 p.m. EDT. http://www.espnlouisville.com/ . TV: TVG/TVG2.

# Horse Jockey Trainer ML DOWN THE STRETCH 1. Patch Tyler Gaffalione Todd Pletcher 9-2

Sam F. Davis winner and unbeaten McCraken continued his 2. Hollywood Handsome Francisco Torres Dallas Stewart 12-1 preparation towards the April 8 Blue Grass with a six-furlong breeze in 3. Local Hero Florent Geroux Steve Asmussen 7-2 4. Senior Investment Channing Hill Kenny McPeek 12-1 1:13.40 on Monday at Keeneland with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr . 5. Monaco Rajiv Maragh Todd Pletcher 12-1 aboard. McCraken is expected to breeze at the Lexington track again on 6. Guest Suite Robby Albarado Neil Howard 4-1 Monday. … The jockey-trainer combo of John Velazquez and Todd 7. Sorry Erik* Kent Desormeaux Keith Desormeaux 30-1 Pletcher could have a record-breaking day with Florida Derby entrant 8. Girvin Brian Hernandez Jr. Joe Sharp 8-5 Always Dreaming . Velazquez and Pletcher are tied in their respective 9. Hotfoot* James Graham Joe Sharp 30-1 categories for the most wins in the Florida Derby. Velazquez could overtake Jerry Bailey , Bill Hartack , Bill Shoemaker and Mike Smith Florida Derby (GI) and for the most wins by a jockey (three). Pletcher would separate Saturday, April 1, $1 million, 3yo, 1 1/8 M, Gulfstream Park (R14), himself from John Veich and Nick Zito for the most victories by a 6:40 p.m. ET. TV: TVG/TVG2. trainer (five). … Trainers Todd Pletcher and Steve Asmussen are # Horse Jockey Trainer ML looking for a record-breaking weekend in the Louisiana Derby. Both 1. State of Honor Julien Leparoux Mark Casse 8-1 trainers are currently tied with J.B. Theall for the most wins in the 2. Talk Logistics Joe Bravo Eddie Plesa Jr. 30-1 Louisiana Derby. Pletcher sends out maiden victors Patch and 3. Charlie the Greek* Leonel Reyes Mikhail Yanakov 50-1 Monaco while Asmussen’s hope is Risen Star (GII) third-place finisher 4. Always Dreaming John Velazquez Todd Pletcher 4-1 Local Hero . … The connections of Guest Suite are very familiar with 5. Quinientos Carlos Montalvo Enrique Sanchez 50-1 his immediate family. Owners William S. Farish and Lora Jean Kilroy 6. Coleman Rocky* Jose Ortiz Gustavo Delgado 30-1 bred and owned Guest Suite’s dam Guest House and second dam 7. Holiday Nik Juarez Patrick Biancone 30-1 8. Impressive Edge* Corey Lanerie Dale Romans 12-1 Winning Party . Jockey Robby Albarado rode Guest House when she 9. Battalion Runner John Velazquez Todd Pletcher 3-1 was a maiden and trainer Neil Howard conditioned both horses. … 10. Three Rules Luis Saez Jose Pinchin 8-1 Pletcher has all but tied up the loose ends with his 3-year-old army for 11. Gunnevera Antonio Sano 9-5 the remaining Road to the Kentucky Derby races: undefeated (GII) winner Malagacy heads back to Oaklawn Park for the April 15 Arkansas Derby (GI); 3 ½-length victor One Liner ’s course will take him to Keeneland for the Blue Grass; impressive Tampa Bay Derby (GII) winner Tapwrit will fly to the Big Apple for Aqueduct’s April 8 Wood Memorial (GII); and improving allowance winner Battalion Runner is likely to scratch from the Florida Derby and will make a start in either the Wood Memorial or Arkansas Derby. … Trainer Chad Brown confirmed Tuesday that Fountain of Youth runner-up will be pointed to the April 8 Blue Grass. Practical Joke was previously undecided between the Florida Derby, Blue Grass and Wood Memorial. … NBC Sports Group earned 41 Sports Emmy Award nominations for 2016, including Outstanding Social TV Experience for its coverage of the 142 nd Kentucky Derby.

-more- Kentucky Derby Weekly Update KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER Friday, March 31, 2017 Page 3 of 4 Betting in the fourth and final 2017 KDFW pool opened at noon (all times Eastern) on Friday and will continue through Sunday at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) KDFW POOL 4 FIELD Saturday, April 1, $250,000, 3yo (f), 1 1/16 M, Gulfstream Park (R11), 4:57 p.m. # Horse Trainer ML EDT. TV: TVG/TVG2. 1 Always Dreaming Todd Pletcher 50-1 2 Battalion Runner Bob Baffert 30-1 # Horse Jockey Trainer ML 3 Todd Pletcher 50-1 1. Conquest Sorceror** Miguel Vasquez Rasharn Creque 50-1 4 Classic Empire Mark Casse 12-1 2. Tequilita Luis Saez Michael Matz 5-1 5 Chad Brown 15-1 3. Summer Luck Patrick Husbands Mark Casse 6-1 6 El Areeb Cal Lynch 30-1 4. Spring Mist** Javier Castellano William Deaton 30-1 7 Girvin Joe Sharp 30-1 5. Jordan’s Henny Corey Lanerie Mike Tomlinson 8-1 8 Gormley John Shirreffs 20-1 6. Salty** Joel Rosario Mark Casse 9-5 9 Guest Suite (g) Neil Howard 50-1 7. Nonna Bella John Velazquez Todd Pletcher 2-1 10 Gunnevera Antonio Sano 6-1 8. Shezaprado** Julien Leparoux Mike Maker 20-1 11 Iliad (r) Doug O’Neill 15-1 9. Modacious Nik Juarez Robert Reid Jr. 15-1 12 Graham Motion 15-1 13 J Boys Echo Dale Romans 10-1 TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) 14 Malagacy Todd Pletcher 30-1 Saturday, April 1, $400,000, 3yo (f), 1 1/16 M, Fair Grounds (R10), 5:41 p.m. 15 McCraken Ian Wilkes 6-1 EDT. TV: TVG/TVG2. 16 Mo Town Tony Dutrow 50-1 17 One Liner Todd Pletcher 10-1 # Horse Jockey Trainer ML 18 Practical Joke Chad Brown 12-1 1. Majestic Quality** Richard Eramia Keith Desormeaux 6-1 19 Reach the World Bob Baffert 50-1 2. Daria’s Angel** Robby Albarado Bret Calhoun 6-1 20 State of Honor Mark Casse 50-1 3. Wicked Lick Brian Hernandez Jr. Brendan Walsh 12-1 21 Tapwrit Todd Pletcher 10-1 4. Corporate Queen** Florent Geroux Mark Casse 5-1 22 (Ire) Saeed bin Suroor 15-1 5. Vexatious Kent Desormeaux Neil Drysdale 6-1 23 Untrapped Steve Asmussen 50-1 24 Mutuel Field 10-1 6. Farrell Channing Hill Wayne Catalano 8-5 7. Summer Luck Patrick Husbands Mark Casse 9-2 SELECT PROSPECTS 8. Queen Bernardina** Miguel Mena Bret Calhoun 20-1 Horse Trainer Next Start

*Not Triple Crown Nominated Always Dreaming Todd Pletcher April 1 Florida Derby **Not Kentucky Oaks Nominated American Anthem Bob Baffert April 8 Santa Anita Derby Battalion Runner Todd Pletcher April 8 Wood Memorial or April 15 Arkansas Derby TAKING SHAPE Battle of Midway Jerry Hollendorfer April 8 Santa Anita Derby Blueridge Traveler Kenny McPeek April 15 Arkansas Derby The possible fields for Kentucky Derby Championship Series races are Classic Empire Mark Casse April 15 Arkansas Derby fluid as horsemen vie for points on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby Cloud Computing Chad Brown April 8 Wood Memorial Presented by TwinSpires.com.” Below are known horses mentioned to Dilettante D. Wayne Lukas April 15 Arkansas Derby be under consideration for each race based on published news reports Fast and Accurate Mike Maker May 6 Kentucky Derby and other sources (with Road to the Kentucky Derby point totals).: Girvin Joe Sharp April 1 Louisiana Derby Gormley John Shirreffs April 8 Santa Anita Derby APRIL 8 WOOD MEMORIAL – $750,000 Wood Memorial (GII) to be run Guest Suite Neil Howard April 1 Louisiana Derby over 1 1/8 miles on the inner track at Aqueduct in Ozone Park, N.Y.: Cloud Gunnevera Antonio Sano April 1 Florida Derby Computing (20), Irish War Cry (10), One Liner (10), Mo Town (10), Battalion Hence Steve Asmussen May 6 Kentucky Derby Runner (0), Stretch’s Stone (0). Points to Top 4 : 100-40-20-10. Iliad Doug O'Neill April 8 Santa Anita Derby Irap Doug O’Neill April 8 Blue Grass APRIL 8 BLUE GRASS – $1 million Blue Grass (GII) to be run over 1 1/8 Irish War Cry Graham Motion April 8 Wood Memorial miles at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky.: Tapwrit (54), J Boys Echo It’s Your Nickel Kenny McPeek April 8 Blue Grass (53), Practical Joke (34), McCraken (20), Wild Shot (17), Irap (13), It’s Your J Boys Echo Dale Romans April 8 Blue Grass Nickel (0). Points to Top 4 : 100-40-20-10. Lancaster Bomber Aidan O’Brien TBA Local Hero Steve Asmussen April 1 Louisiana Derby APRIL 8 SANTA ANITA DERBY – $1 million Santa Anita Derby (GI) to be Lookin At Lee Steve Asmussen April 15 Arkansas Derby run over 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.: Gormley (25), Iliad Malagacy Todd Pletcher April 15 Arkansas Derby (20), Sonneteer (20), Term of Art (11), American Anthem (4), Midnight Pleasure McCraken Ian Wilkes April 8 Blue Grass (1), Battle of Midway (0), Milton Freewater (0), Reach the World (0), So Midnight Pleasure Mick Ruis Sr. April 8 Santa Anita Derby Conflated (0), West Coast (0). Not Triple Crown Nominated : Kimbear (0). Milton Freewater Doug O’Neil April 8 Santa Anita Derby Points to Top 4 : 100-40-20-10. Mo Town Tony Dutrow April 8 Wood Memorial One Liner Todd Pletcher April 8 Wood Memorial APRIL 15 ARKANSAS DERBY – $1 million Arkansas Derby (GI) to be run Patch Todd Pletcher April 1 Louisiana Derby over 1 1/8 miles at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.: Malagacy (50), Petrov Ron Moquett April 15 Arkansas Derby Untrapped (34), Classic Empire (32), Sonneteer (20), Blueridge Traveler (20), Practical Joke Chad Brown April 8 Blue Grass Petrov (13), Lookin At Lee (12), Silver Dust (1), Battalion Runner (0), Dilettante Reach the World Bob Baffert April 8 Santa Anita Derby (0). Points to Top 4 : 100-40-20-10. Senior Investment Kenny McPeek April 1 Louisiana Derby Silver Dust Randy Morse April 15 Arkansas Derby APRIL 15 LEXINGTON – $200,000 Lexington (GIII) to be run 1 1/16 miles So Conflated Doug O’Neill April 8 Santa Anita Derby at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, KY.: TBA. Points to Top 4 : 10-4-2-1. Sonneteer Keith Desormeaux April 8 Santa Anita Derby or April 15 Arkansas Derby State of Honor Mark Casse April 1 Florida Derby Stretch’s Stone Bruce Levin April 8 Wood Memorial Tapwrit Todd Pletcher April 8 Blue Grass Term of Art Doug O’Neill April 8 Santa Anita Derby Three Rules Jose Pinchin April 1 Florida Derby Thunder Snow (Ire) Saeed bin Suroor May 6 Kentucky Derby Untrapped Steve Asmussen April 15 Arkansas Derby West Coast Bob Baffert April 8 Santa Anita Derby Wild Shot Rusty Arnold II April 8 Blue Grass

Kentucky Derby Weekly Update Churchill Downs Communications Friday, March 31, 2017 John Asher | Vice President, Racing Communications | Page 4 of 4 (502) 636-4586 (office) | (502) 494-3626 (mobile) |[email protected] | @JohnAsher

LEADERBOARDS Darren Rogers | Senior Director, Communications & Media Services| (502) 636-4461 (office) | (502) 345-1030 (mobile) | ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY TOP 20 [email protected] | @ DerbyMedia # Horse Points Trainer NRSE 1 Thunder Snow (Ire)* 100 Saeed bin Suroor $1,621,063 Kevin Kerstein | Publicity Manager | (502) 635-4712 (office) | 2 Gunnevera 64 Antonio Sano $1,042,800 (610) 420-6971 (mobile) | [email protected] | 3 Tapwrit 54 Todd Pletcher $295,570 @HorseRacingKK 4 J Boys Echo 53 Dale Romans $255,000 5 Malagacy 50 Todd Pletcher $540,000 6 Hence 50 Steve Asmussen $481,129 7 Fast and Accurate** 50 Mike Maker $320,712 8 Girvin 50 Joe Sharp $249,800 9 Practical Joke 34 Chad Brown $766,000 10 Untapped 34 Steve Asmussen $210,000 11 Classic Empire 32 Mark Casse $1,493,820 12 Gormley 25 John Shirreffs $284,000 13 State of Honor 22 Mark Casse $119,564 14 McCraken 20 Ian Wilkes $285,048 15 Master Plan 20 Todd Pletcher $214,700 16 Iliad 20 Doug O’Neill $200,000 17 Sonneteer 20 Keith Desormeaux $186,000 18 Blueridge Traveler 20 Kenny McPeek $95,000 19 Cloud Computing 20 Chad Brown $60,000 20 Wild Shot 17 Rusty Arnold II $132,200

JAPAN ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY Note: One spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate is an invitation to the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” point leader. The invitation order of preference is Epicharis-JPN (50 points), Mont Saint Legame-JPN (40 points) and Adirato-JPN (20 points)

# Horse Points Trainer NRSE 1 Epicharis-JPN 50 Kiroshi Hagiwara $451,195 2 Mont Saint Legame-JPN 40 Koji Maki $90,154 3 Adirato-JPN 20 Naosuke Sugai $155,278 4 Caucus-JPN 16 Hideaki Fujiwara $35,850 5 Foggy Night-JPN 5 Noriyuki Hori $23,922

ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY OAKS TOP 20 # Horse Points Trainer NRSE 1 Farrell 70 Wayne Catalano $333,407 2 Unique Bella 70 Jerry Hollendorfer $300,000 3 Miss Sky Warrior 60 Kelly Breen $412,840 4 It Tiz Well 54 Jerry Hollendorfer $160,000 5 Ghalia 30 Todd Pletcher $120,000 6 Abel Tasman 30 Simon Callaghan $200,000 7 Daddys Lil Darling 20 Kenny McPeek $339,240 8 Benner Island 20 Brad Cox $55,823 9 Jordan’s Henny 20 Mike Tomlinson $42,160 10 Valadorna 18 Mark Casse $360,000 11 Shane’s Girlfriend 12 Doug O’Neill $268,000 12 Chanel’s Legacy 11 Lynn Chleborad $206,667 13 Summer Luck 11 Mark Casse $37,700 14 Dancing Rags 10 Graham Motion $260,000 15 Noted and Quoted 10 Bob Baffert $218,000 16 Tequilita 10 Michael Matz $179,040 17 Lockdown 10 Bill Mott $60,000 18 Elate 10 Bill Mott $30,000 19 Spooky Woods 10 Jerry Hollendorfer $25,000 20 What What What 10 Doug O’Neill $22,000

*Late Triple Crown Nominee **Owner has indicated that the $200,000 late supplemental nomination would be paid