The first Kentucky Derby Media Poll was completed yesterday showing Game Winner w/the most first place votes, Improbable second, War of Will third. I wonder if the media cognoscenti have been tracking their works.
Media Poll
Yesterday, Game Winner worked from the gate in company in 1:13.60; Improbable fired a 6f bullet in 1:12 flat; Instagrand worked 7f in 1:26.60 and Gunmetal Gray blitzed 5f in 59:80 a couple of days ago, all this before the track was shut down due to increasing fatalities.
Workout Videos
“In an unusual turn of events yesterday, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) released the numbers on horses fatally injured at Santa Anita between Dec. 26, when racing started, and Feb. 23. During that time, 18 horses died-6 on the dirt during racing, 5 on the turf during racing and another 7 during morning training. Another horse, a 3-year-old gelding named Charmer John, was euthanized during training hours this morning."
As Santa Anita Fatalities Rise, Officials Search for Answers
Drayden Van Dyke rode Instagrand in his first two starts but he will not take the mount moving forward; he chose Baffert’s Improbable. Hollendorfer, not to be outfoxed by Baffert, shipped in Javier Castellano to work Instagrand and will likely get the mount for the San Felipe.
Instagrand, Castellano Pair Up Appears as if Hollendorfer isn’t backin’ out one bit and is sending the Into Mischief colt and Gunmetal Gray against what some consider to be the best two colts in the country. I've read the San Felipe is shapin’ up to be the Derby before the Derby. All this in the shadow of the racetrack condition problems.
The racetrack management has taken samples, takes a couple of days to get the data, supposed to be in Thursday; they will go from there. If need be they will expedite any harrowing process. I doubt they will shut the track down before any Derby Points races, but one never knows . . . Is plan B is to ship em’ all to the Rebel Stakes? Now that would be a hoss’ race!