The 147th Kentucky Derby, presented by Woodford Reserve, will post at 6:57 pm ET on Saturday, 5/1/21, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. Twenty, three-year old, colts are entered. The race is Grade 1 with a purse of $3 million dollars. It is the 12th race on a card of 14. The distance is 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) on dirt.
King Fury won the Lexington Stakes. He is in the 147th Kentucky Derby. 
Essential Quality is a favorite for the 147th Kentucky Derby! 
Highly Motivated was a very close second in the Blue Grass Stakes. He will be hard to beat in the Kentucky Derby! 
Hidden Stash picked up points in the Blue Grass Stakes for an entry to the Kentucky Derby. 
Keepmeinmind struggled in the Blue Grass but is looking to shine in the Kentucky Derby.
Traditions include fancy hats, high fashion, celebrity attendance, parties, mint juleps, a garland of roses, a spectacular gold and jade trophy and the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home”. Churchill is known for its large and colorfully lit Twin Spires and the plaques hanging throughout, depicting the names of 146 prior KY Derby winners.
Attendance is limited again this year. NBCSN will cover the races at Churchill on 5/1 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm ET. Then, NBC will broadcast the races from 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm ET. TVG will cover racing, as usual. Facebook and YouTube will have live options from 4:30 pm to 7 pm ET.
The line up is as follows by: post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/morning-line odds/and (KY Derby prep race points):
- Known Agenda/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd Pletcher/St. Elias Stable/6-1/(102)
- Like the King/Drayden Van Dyke/Wesley Ward/M Racing Group, LLC./50-1/(104)
- Brooklyn Strong/Umberto Rispoli/Daniel Velazquez/Mark Schwartz/50-1/(10)
- KeepMeInMind/David Cohen/Roberto Diodoro/Spendthrift Farm, LLC., Cypress Creek Equine, and Arnold Bennewith/50-1/(18)
- Sainthood/Corey Lanerie/Todd Pletcher/CHC, Inc. and WinStar Farm, LLC./50-1/(40)
- O Besos/Marcelino Pedroza/Gregory Foley/Bernard Racing, LLC., Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, LLC., and Terry L. Stephens/20-1/(25)
- Mandaloun/Florent Geroux/Brad Cox/Juddmonte/15-1/(52)
- Medina Spirit/John Velazquez/Bob Baffert/Zedan Racing Stables/15-1/(74)
- Hot Rod Charlie/Flavien Prat/Doug O’Neill/Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, LLC., William Strauss and Gainesway Throughbreds, LLC./8-1/(110)
- Midnight Bourbon/Mike Smith/Steven Asmussen/Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC./20-1/(66)
- Dynamic One/Jose Ortiz/Todd Pletcher/Repole Stable, Phipps Stable, and St. Elias Stable/20-1/(40)
- Helium/Julien Leparoux/Mark Casse/D.J. Stable., LLC./50-1/(50)
- Hidden Stash/Rafael Bejarano/Victoria Oliver/BBN Racing, LLC./50-1/(32)
- Essential Quality/Luis Saez/Brad Cox/Godolphin, LLC./2-1/(140)/(140)
- Rock Your World/Joel Rosario/John Sadler/Hronis Racing, LLC./5-1/(100)
- King Fury/Brian Hernandez, Jr./Kenneth McPeek/Fern Circle Stables, Three Chimneys Farm, LLC. and Magdalena Racing/20-1/(20)
- Highly Motivated/Javier Castellano/Chad Brown/Klaravich Stables, Inc./10-1/(50)
- Super Stock/Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steven Asmussen/Erv Woolsey and Keith I. Asmussen/30-1/(109)
- Soup and Sandwich/Tyler Gaffalione/Mark Casse/Live Oak Plantation/30-1/(40)
- Bourbonic/Kendrick Carmouche/Todd Pletcher/Calumet Farm/30-1/(100)
This is my dispatch on the Kentucky Derby. I hope to have provided you with the information you may need. If you want more details, please, read on as I break down each thoroughbred by name (state of breeding) sire – dam: (career starts:wins-2nds-3rd place finishes) and more.
Known Agenda (KY) Curlin – Byrama: (6:3-1-1) raced three times at two different tracks in New York and three times at two different tracks in Florida. He earned his first KY Derby points finishing second in the Remsen as a two-year old. After a disappointing fifth place finish in the Sam F Davis he dropped down to an allowance optional claiming race. Fortunately, he won that race and went on to get more KY Derby points in his last start, winning the GI Florida Derby! His trainer, Pletcher, has won the KY Derby twice. He has four entries this year alone, Bourbonic, Dynamic One and Sainthood share Pletcher. Known Agenda’s owner, St, Elias Stable has won the KY Derby prior. Dynamic One also share owner, St. Elias.
Like the King (KY) Palice Malice – Like a Queen: (6:3-2-1) has not raced at Churchill yet but has spent his career racing in the general area. He raced twice at Belterra Park, once at my home track, Keeneland, and three times at Turfway Park. He earned Derby points with a second place finish in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes and a win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks.
Brooklyn Strong (NY) Wicked Strong – Riviera Chic: (5:3-0-1) is a gelding who broke his maiden in his first start, at Delaware Park. He then raced twice at Belmont Park and twice at Aqueduct. He won the Remsen and earned his KY Derby points at age two. With one start this year, in the Wood Memorial, he finished fifth.
Keepmeinmind (KY) Laoban – Inclination: (6:1-2-1) comes with Churchill winning experience. He has raced Churchill twice, Keeneland three times and Oaklawn once. He got Derby points in three of his races. He was second in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and first in the Kentucky Jockey Club all at age two. His two Derby prep races at age three did not lead to wins or points, finishing sixth and fifth. Part owner, Spendthrift Farm won the KY Derby last year.
Sainthood (KY) Mshawish – Lemon Hero: (3:1-2-0) is lightly raced. He did not start until he was three. His first entry was at Gufstream. He broke his maiden at Fair Grounds. In his last start he won Derby points finishing second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks. He is trained by Pletcher. Owners, CHC and WinStar have won the KY Derby in the past.
O Besos (KY) Orb – Snuggs and Kisses: (5:2-0-1) began his career at Churchill. He has since raced exclusively at Fair Grounds. He earned Derby points finishing fourth in the Risen Star and third in the Louisiana Derby. Part owner, West Point Thoroughbreds have won the KY Derby before. Sire, Orb won the KY Derby in 2013.
Mandaloun (KY) Into Mischief – Brooch: (5:3-0-1) was first raced and won at Keeneland. He went on to win at Churchill next while still two years-old. He earned KY Derby points in two of his three starts this year, all of which were at Fair Grounds. He was third in the Lecomte, first in the Risen Star and unfortunately sixth in the Louisiana Derby.
Medina Spirit (FL) Prontonico – Mongolian Changa: (5:2-3-0) has been raced at two tracks in California. He broke his maiden in his first race at Los Alamitos. He picked up KY Derby points in four races, all at Santa Anita. He was second in the Sham, first in the Robert B. Lewis, second in the San Felipe and second in the Santa Anita Derby. His trainer, Baffert, is tied for the most KY Derby wins with six! The jockey, Velazquez, won the KY Derby last year for his third time.
Hot Rod Charlie (KY) Oxbow – Indian Miss: (7:2-1-2) broke his maiden in his fourth start after racing at two California tracks. He shipped to Keeneland and earned his first KY Derby points in the BC Juvenile, with a second place finish. He got more points in his next two final starts, the Robert B. Lewis and the Louisiana Derby. He finished third and first respectively. His jockey, Prat, won the 2019 KY Derby. His trainer, O’Neill has also won the KY Derby.
Midnight Bourbon (KY) Tiznow – Catch the Moon: (7:2-2-3) earned his first KY Derby points right at Churchill Downs! He was second in the Iroquois. He gathered points in a total of five races. He was third in the Champagne, first in the Lecomte, third in the Risen Star and second in the Louisiana Derby. His jockey, Smith, has won the KY Derby twice.
Dynamic One (KY) Union Rags – Beat the Drums: (5:1-2-0) broke his maiden in his fourth of 5 starts. His last race was the Wood Memorial where he was second and earned points. All of his races were at Aqueduct or Gulfstream. He is trained by Pletcher. He is also owned by former winner St. Elias as well as another former winner, Phipps Stable.
Helium (KY) Ironicus – Thundering Emilia: (3:3-0-0) is undefeated. He raced twice at Woodbine before shipping to Florida. He was the winner of the Tampa Bay Derby and snagged the points. His dam sire, Thunder Gulch, won the KY Derby in 1995.
Hidden Stash (KY) Constitution – Making Mark Money: (7:2-1-2) has hit the board twice at Churchill already! His career started at Ellis Park. He got points at Tampa Bay finishing third in the Sam F. Davis and second in the Tampa Bay Derby. His last start was at Keeneland where he earned points once again, with a fourth place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes.
Essential Quality (KY) Tapit – Delightful Quality: (5:5-0-0) is a beautiful gray, undefeated thoroughbred! He won at Churchill first. Three of his wins were at Keeneland where he won points in the Breeders’ Futurity, the BC Juvenile and the Blue Grass Stakes. He also got points in the Southwest at Oaklawn.
Rock Your World (KY) Candy Ride – Charm the Maker: (3:3-0-0) has won at Santa Anita his entire career. His points came in his last start, the Santa Anita Derby. His jockey, Rosario, has won the KY Derby in the past.
King Fury (KY) Curlin – Taris: (6:3-0-0) has raced three times at Churchill and three times at Keeneland. He has won at each track. He earned his points in his last start with a big win in the Lexington Stakes.
Highly Motivated (KY) Into Mischief – Strong Incentive: (5:2-2-1) has enjoyed racing in New York and Kentucky. He began at Saratoga. He broke his maiden at Belmont. He won a Black Type at Keeneland. He shipped North again and got his first points with a third place finish in the Gotham at Aqueduct. He returned to Keeneland and earned more points placing in the Blue Grass Stakes.
Super Stock (KY) Dialed In – Super Girlie: (8:2-2-2) has been successful in both of his starts at Churchill. He earned his first points there, where he showed in the Iroquois. He was third in Keeneland’s Breeders’ Futurity and points were awarded there too. His last two entries gave him even more points. At Oaklawn he was fourth in the Rebel and first in the Arkansas Derby.
Soup and Sandwich (FL) Into Mischief – Souper Scoop: (3:2-1-0) is another attractive gray. He has been lightly raced in Florida. He won his first two starts at Gulfstream and then Tampa Bay before winning the Florida Derby and receiving KY Derby points.
Bourbonic (KY) Bernardini –Dancing Afleet: (6:3-1-0) is visiting Churchill from a career up North. He has raced at Belmont and Aqueduct in NY and Parx in PA. His points were earned in his last race, the Wood Memorial, which he won! Owner, Calumet Farm, has the record for KY Derby wins at eight! Bourbonic is trained by Pletcher.
I have liked posting occasional stories on this year’s Road to the Kentucky Derby and I was even more elated to see some of these champions race in person. Check out my photos throughout. I hope this KY Derby is very safe and non contested. I would love to see another super star rise to the Triple Crown. Check back with Thoroughbred U for more horse racing adventures.
