Derby/Oaks Update Wednesday, April 24, 2019 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CODE OF HONOR ARRIVES FROM MASTER FENCER – Katsumi and Yasuyo Yoshizawa ’s KEENELAND FOR DERBY 145 Master Fencer (JPN) arrived in Chicago at approximately 1:45 p.m Monday and began his mandatory 42 hours of LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Wednesday, April 24, 2019) – William quarantine. S. Farish ’s Code of Honor , winner of the Fountain of Youth Trained by Koichi Tsunoda , Master Fencer finished fourth (GII) and most recently third in the Florida Derby (GI), in the Hyacinth Stakes prior to a fast-closing runner-up finish arrived at Churchill Downs early Wednesday afternoon from in the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama. Keeneland where he had been training for the past few weeks “He’s typically in the mid-pack during his best to prepare for the 145th Kentucky Derby Presented by performances,” said Japan-based Kentucky Derby Woodford Reserve (GI). representative Kate Hunter . “The Hyacinth starts on the turf Trained by Shug McGaughey , who won the 2013 Derby which can throw some off and he was closing fast in that race with Orb , Code of Honor had two works at Keeneland with and the Fukuryu Stakes, too. He’s run second on the turf in his the most recent coming over a sealed sloppy track last Saturday debut, stalking the pace.” going five furlongs in 1:01. Master Fencer is expected to train at Keeneland Friday. In Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) news, trainer Alexis Delgado said that ADR Racing Stable ’s Jeltrin is scheduled OMAHA BEACH – Fox Hill Farm ’s Omaha Beach to work Thursday morning at Gulfstream Park. Winner of the galloped a mile and half under exercise rider Taylor Cambra Davona Dale (GII) in her most recent start March 2, Jeltrin is and the watchful eyes of trainer Richard Mandella . scheduled to van to Kentucky from South Florida with a Winner of the Arkansas Derby (GI) in his most recent start Saturday arrival. and the likely Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite, Omaha Beach is scheduled to work Friday morning with jockey Mike BY MY STANDARDS – Chester Thomas ’ Allied Racing Smith aboard. Stable ’s Louisiana Derby (GII) winner By My Standards Omaha Beach will mark the seventh Derby starter for jogged one mile at 6 a.m. with regular exercise rider Simon Mandella, whose first Derby was in 1984 with Bedouin . Camacho aboard for trainer Bret Calhoun . “That was pretty optimistic,” Mandella said looking back on the 15th-place finish behind Swale . “Bedouin loved the mud, COUNTRY HOUSE/TACITUS – Mrs. J.V. Shields, but Churchill Downs doesn’t stay muddy for more than two E.J.M. McFadden Jr. and LNJ Foxwoods’ Country House hours. By the time he ran, there wasn’t much mud left.” and Juddmonte Farms ’ Tacitus walked through the paddock That Derby made quite the impression on Mandella. and then galloped a mile and a half Wednesday morning. “I remember what a big deal it was and all the excitement,” Marianne Scherer was on Country House and Juan Mandella said. “They were not paying attention to us.” Quintero was aboard Tacitus. Ironically, two other Hall of Famers in addition to Mandella Trainer Bill Mott said that no rider has been confirmed for had their Derby debuts in 1984 and both will be represented in Country House. Jose Ortiz has the mount on Tacitus. this year’s Run for the Roses. Bill Mott , who will saddle Country House and Tacitus IMPROBABLE – The Arkansas Derby and Rebel runner-up, next Saturday, finished 13th in the 1984 Derby with Taylor’s who races for WinStar Farm , China Horse Club Special while Shug McGaughe y’s initial Derby foray netted a International and Starlight Racing spent a quiet morning on sixth-place finish from Pine Circle and a 16th from the Churchill Downs track Wednesday under exercise rider Vanlandingham . McGaughey will saddle Code of Honor in Jose Contreras preparing for the May 4 Kentucky Derby. this year’s Derby. “We jogged to the gate, and galloped maybe three-quarters of a mile, it was a relatively light day today,” said Jimmy PLUS QUE PARFAIT – UAE Derby (GII) winner Plus Barnes , assistant to trainer Bob Baffert . Que Parfait galloped about 1 ½ miles with exercise rider Barnes said Improbable’s Derby stablemates, Game Winner Tom Molloy aboard Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs. and Roadster , is scheduled to arrive from Southern California Owned by Imperial Racing , Plus Que Parfait broke his Saturday, April 27. Irad Ortiz Jr . has the mount on maiden on Oct. 7 at Keeneland and finished second in the Improbable in the Derby. Nov. 24 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at Churchill Downs. The Point of Entry ridgling began his 3-year-old campaign with a LONG RANGE TODDY – Rebel (GII) winner Long fifth-place effort in the Lecomte Stakes (GIII) and an th Range Toddy jogged about one-mile Wednesday morning for enigmatic 13 in the Risen Star (GII) at Fair Grounds. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen . -more- Kentucky Derby and Oaks Update Roadster (Florent Geroux), Spinoff (Manny Franco), Tacitus Wednesday, April 24, 2019 (Jose Ortiz), Tax (Junior Alvarado), Vekoma (Javier Page 2 of 5 Castellano), War of Will (Tyler Gaffalione), Win Win Win (Julian Pimentel). “I don’t want to say he really surprised us when he got out Next up in order of preference: Bodexpress (undecided), to Dubai and did so well because he’s always been a good Signalman (Brian Hernandez Jr.), Sueno (undecided) and horse,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “I think the Risen Star Bourbon War (undecided). was the only race he really didn’t run well in. He definitely proved it to us on multiple occasions that he fits in this year’s ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY Derby field.” LEADERBOARD PRESENTED BY WOODFORD RESERVE TAX – Wither Stakes (GIII) winner and Wood Memorial (GII) runner-up Tax is scheduled to breeze at Belmont Park # Horse Trainer Points Thursday, according to the NYRA publicity department. 1 Tacitus Bill Mott 150 Trained by Louisville native Danny Gargan , Tax is 2 Omaha Beach Richard Mandella 137.5 scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs Monday and will be 3 Vekoma George Weaver 110 based in Barn 39. 4 Plus Que Parfait Brendan Walsh 104 5 Roadster Bob Baffert 100 WAR OF WILL – Gary Barber ’s Risen Star Stakes (GII) 6 By My Standards Bret Calhoun 100 winner War of Will arrived at Churchill Downs at 12:30 p.m. 7 Maximum Security Jason Servis 100 Tuesday and galloped during the 7:30 a.m. Derby training 8 Game Winner Bob Baffert 85 9 Code of Honor Shug McGaughey III 74 session Wednesday. 10 Haikal Kiaran McLaughlin 70 Trained by Mark Casse , War of Will is tentatively scheduled 11 Improbable Bob Baffert 65 to breeze on Saturday. Casse is expected to arrive to Louisville 12 War of Will Mark Casse 60 Thursday afternoon and be at the track Friday. 13 Long Range Toddy Steve Asmussen 53.5 14 Tax Danny Gargan 52 ALSO ELIGIBLES: 15 Cutting Humor Todd Pletcher 50 16 Win Win Win Mike Trombetta 50 SIGNALMAN (No. 22) – Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) 17 Country House Bill Mott 50 winner and Blue Grass (GII) third Signalman galloped about 18 Gray Magician Peter Miller 42 19 Spinoff Todd Pletcher 40 1 ½ miles Wednesday morning with exercise rider Danny 20 Master Fencer (JPN) Koichi Tsunoda Japan Ramsey in the saddle. 21 Bodexpress Gustavo Delgado 40 Signalman is a massive son of General Quarters out of the 22 Signalman Kenny McPeek 38 Trippi mare Trip South. 23 Sueno Keith Desormeaux 32 “He’s a cool horse to look at,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. 24 Bourbon War Mark Hennig 30 “He’s about 17 hands and has really filled out well.” Ramsey, a veteran exercise rider, has noticed some vast BARN LIST – KENTUCKY DERBY similarities between Signalman and his grand-sire Sky Mesa. Horse Trainer Barn “I first got on Signalman at Saratoga as a 2-year-old,” By My Standards Bret Calhoun 23 Ramsey said. “The first time I jumped off him I told Kenny Code of Honor Shug McGaughey 43 ‘this horse moves exactly like Sky Mesa.’ I was unsure of the Country House Bill Mott 19 pedigree but I knew Sky Mesa very well. I used to gallop him Improbable Bob Baffert 33 all of the time. We went into Kenny’s office and, sure enough, Long Range Toddy Steve Asmussen 38 Signlaman had Sky Mesa in his pedigree. They move exactly Omaha Beach Richard Mandella 28 the same way across the track. It will be great if we can get into Plus Que Parfait Brendan Walsh 9 the Derby but sometimes the best 3-year-olds don’t always Signalman Kenny McPeek 7 make the field.” Sueno Keith Desormeaux 24 Tacitus Bill Mott 19 SUENO (NO. 23) – Silverton Hill ’s Sueno had a regularly War of Will Mark Casse 36 scheduled walk day in Barn 23 for trainer Keith Desormeaux . SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 145th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) to be run for 3- year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, May 4: By My Standards (jockey Gabriel Saez), Code of Honor (John -more- Velazquez), Country House (undecided), Cutting Humor (undecided), Game Winner (Joel Rosario), Gray Magician (undecided), Haikal (Rajiv Maragh), Improbable (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Long Range Toddy (Jon Court), Master Fencer (JPN ) (Julien Leparoux), Maximum Security (Luis Saez), Omaha Beach (Mike Smith), Plus Que Parfait (Ricardo Santana Jr.), Kentucky Derby and Oaks Update for Derby and Oaks horses at 7:30 a.m.