Derby Daily | Insight on horses, trainers and connections for Kentucky Derby 151 | Derby News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The road to the Kentucky Derby 151 ends at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3.

Twenty horses will earn their spot in the starting gate, and the WDRB team of experts, including Eric Crawford, Rick Bozich, Tom Lane and Stephen Andress, will update this blog to arm racing fans with background on the horses, trainers and connections.

Don't forget the fillies! We'll also share details on the Kentucky Oaks horses and the 14 fillies hoping to win the coveted Garland of Lilies. Happy Derby!

Owen Almighty back in for the Derby

Owen Almighty is back on the Kentucky Derby trail. Connections of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner confirmed Wednesday that the Speightstown colt will run in the 151st Run for the Roses on May 3, reversing course after initially pointing to the Pat Day Dirt Mile.

“We’re going to give it a shot,” Hunter Rankin, president of Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing, told The Daily Racing Form. “He’s earned a spot. We're going to use it and take a shot.”

Trained by Brian Lynch, Owen Almighty disappointed in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), finishing in a dead heat for sixth after tracking front-runner East Avenue before fading. Rankin said the colt is simply better on the lead — a lesson learned in both the Blue Grass and his earlier second-place finish in the Sam F. Davis. He will, however, be facing the early speed of East Avenue again in the Derby.

Owen Almighty moved from Keeneland to Churchill Downs on Monday. He owns two wins at Churchill, including his debut and a runner-up finish in the Iroquois (G3) at a mile.

A jockey has not been named. Irad and Jose Ortiz have previously ridden the colt but are booked elsewhere.

Owen Almighty’s inclusion pushes other hopefuls like Built, Neoequos, and Santa Anita Derby runner-up Baeza down the bubble list as connections wait for potential defections. The field is capped at 20 runners, with 24 horses allowed to be entered when Derby posts are drawn April 26.

- Eric Crawford

Bless the Broken puts in final major work Oaks

Wednesday, April 16

Bless the Broken breezed 5 furlongs in company in 1:00.80 over a fast track at Keeneland on Wednesday morning with John Velazquez aboard.

“This is the first time I have worked her, and she worked nice,” said Velazquez, who will have the mount on the fillie kin the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 2.

Trainer Will Walden said Bless the Broken is scheduled to work a half-mile here April 23, walk the following day and then jog on the morning of April 25 before vanning to Churchill Downs that afternoon.

Bless the Broken secured her spot in the Kentucky Oaks starting gate with a 2¾-length victory in the Bourbonette Oaks (L) at Turfway Park on March 22 with Velazquez aboard for the first time.

Sandman, Coal Battle clock works at Churchill

As the three-week countdown to Kentucky Derby 151 continues, two key contenders put in timed workouts beneath a chilly Louisville sky, while updates on major West Coast hopefuls offered clarity on their next moves.

At Churchill Downs, Arkansas Derby winner Sandman breezed a half-mile in :49.60 seconds during the 7:15 a.m. training window under Froylan Garcia, longtime exercise rider for trainer Mark Casse. Working with early splits of :13.60 and :26.40, Sandman galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.80 and six furlongs in 1:15.

“It looked perfect,” said Casse, who watched remotely from Ocala, Fla. “I asked the rider to go between 49 and 50 seconds and he did just that.”

Allen Hardy, Casse’s assistant at Churchill, praised the veteran hand aboard: “That’s Froy for you – always doing exactly what you ask. He’s a great horseman and rider.”

Sandman, a son of Tapit owned in partnership by D.J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables, showed his best form stretching out in the Arkansas Derby. “We’re going to do our best to keep him happy and healthy while enjoying the ride he’s taking us on,” Hardy added.

Shortly after Sandman’s breeze, Coal Battle, trained by Eric Foster for Norman Stables, posted a five-furlong move in 1:01.20 under assistant Bethany Taylor. Clockers noted sharp early fractions of :12.20, :23.80 and :36.40.

Currently, 10 Derby contenders within the Top 20 in qualifying points are stabled at Churchill Downs: Admire Daytona (JPN), Burnham Square, Coal Battle, East Avenue, Final Gambit, Flying Mohawk, Publisher, Sandman, Sovereignty and Tiztastic.

Florida Derby winner Tappan Street, trained by Brad Cox, remains in South Florida and is scheduled for one more workout at Payson Park before shipping to Churchill for his final Derby prep.

- Eric Crawford, April 15

Journalism, Baeza tune up in California

Out west, Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism is expected to return to the work tab this weekend at Santa Anita, according to Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free.

Trainer Michael McCarthy said Journalism is “doing very well” and “in a good groove at the moment” as connections weigh the timing of a flight to Kentucky. The undefeated colt is 4-for-4 around two turns and widely regarded as the likely Kentucky Derby favorite.

His final Derby workout is expected to take place at Churchill Downs following the ship.

Meanwhile, Baeza, runner-up to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby, remains on the outside looking in. Ranked 24th on the Derby points leaderboard, he’ll need defections to secure a spot in the starting gate.

Still, trainer John Shirreffs is proceeding as if the colt will make the field. Baeza worked a leisurely half-mile in :50 Monday morning under exercise rider Camille Lafaye. It was his first timed move since earning a 101 speed figurein the Santa Anita Derby.

Baeza, whose work was moved up to accommodate flight logistics, is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on April 24, where he would complete his final Derby workout, if eligible.

A McKenzie colt, Baeza is a half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont winner Dornoch. Despite his pedigree and impressive rise, Baeza earned just 37.5 points for his Santa Anita Derby runner-up finish because only five went to post for the major Derby prep.

Had one more horse started, Baeza’s points total would’ve jumped to 50 — enough to qualify outright.

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