Improbable gets Smith aboard for possible Preakness run

Associated PressMay 8, 2019, 4:55 PM EDT

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BALTIMORE — Improbable will have Triple Crown-winning jockey Mike Smith aboard if the colt runs in the Preakness on May 18.

Trainer Bob Baffert said Wednesday that he was making the switch from Irad Ortiz Jr. because “Mike and I have a little luck together.”

Baffert and Smith teamed with Justify to win the Triple Crown last year.

Ortiz rode Improbable to a fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday and the colt was moved up to fourth following Maximum Security’s disqualification for interference.

Baffert said Improbable will train Monday at Churchill Downs, and then he will make a final decision on the colt’s status for the Preakness, a race the trainer has won seven times. If Improbable joins the field for the middle leg of the Triple Crown, he would arrive in Baltimore three days ahead of the race.

The rest of the maximum 14-horse field for the Preakness has begun taking shape. Neither Maximum Security nor Derby winner Country House will run it.

War of Will, squeezed when Maximum Security drifted out at the Derby as the leaders were coming out of the final turn, was back training Wednesday. The colt had his right front shoe removed and his foot soaked in Epsom salts after experiencing discomfort, trainer Mark Casse said.

War of Will finished eighth – 4+ lengths behind the first-place finisher – and was moved up to seventh via the DQ.

Trainer Mike Trombetta said he will decide by Friday whether Win Win Win runs in the 1 3/16-mile race. The colt ended up ninth in the Derby and emerged unscathed from the race, which was run on a sloppy track for the second straight year.

Also under consideration is Bodexpress, moved up to 13th after finishing 14th in the Derby. The colt is 0 for 6 in his career.

Among fresh prospects are Bourbon War, who would be ridden by Ortiz, Alwaysmining, Anothertwistafate, Laughing Fox, Owendale and Signalman.

Thirteen 3-year-olds are late nominees to Triple Crown races

Associated PressMar 31, 2023, 6:14 PM EDT

Syndication: El Paso Times

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wild On Ice, winner of the Sunland Park Derby, is among 13 3-year-old colts that were made eligible to compete in this year’s Triple Crown series with a late payment of $6,000.

There are now 382 horses eligible to compete in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. The late payment was due Monday. The Triple Crown opens May 6 with the Derby.

Wild On Ice won the Sunland Park Derby at 35-1 odds. The other late nominees are: Ireland-bred Brave Emperor, El Camino Real Derby winner Chase the Chaos, Coffeewithchris, Empirestrikesfast, Eye Witness, Henry Q, Interlock Empire, King Russell, Kolomio, Mr. Peeks, Nautical Star, and Ninetyprcentmaddie.

Any horse not nominated during the early or late phases can become eligible through a supplemental fee due at the time of entry for each Triple Crown race. The Kentucky Derby fee is $200,000, the Preakness is $150,000 and the Belmont costs $50,000.

Florida Derby 2023: How to watch, what to know ahead of race day

By Annie CoryMar 29, 2023, 1:36 PM EDT

The stakes are high on the road to the Kentucky Derby, as a field of 12 will vie for $1 million and precious qualifying points at the Curlin Florida Derby on Saturday, April 1 on CNBC and Peacock. The winner of the race will receive 100 of these points with the runner-up getting 40, the third-place runner receiving 30, the fourth-place finisher receiving 20 and the fifth-place horse receiving 10.

NBC Sports has you covered with everything you need to know about Saturday’s race, which will get underway Saturday at 6 p.m. EST, airing on CNBC and streaming on Peacock.

Who will be racing at the Florida Derby?

Jungfrau
- Bill Mott (trainer), Paco Lopez (jockey)
West Coast Cowboy
- Saffie Joseph Jr. (trainer), Sonny Leon (jockey)
Shaq Diesel
- Renaldo Richards (trainer), Miguel Vasquez (jockey)
Mage
- Gustavo Delgado (trainer), Luis Saez (jockey)
Mr. Peeks
- Saffie Joseph Jr. (trainer), Edwin Gonzalez (jockey)
Nautical Star
- Saffie Joseph Jr. (trainer), Leonel Reyes (jockey)
II Miracolo
- Antonio Sano (trainer), Jesus Rios (jockey)
Mr. Ripple
- Saffie Joseph Jr. (trainer), Edgard Zayas (jockey)
Cyclone Mischief
- Dale Romans (trainer), Javier Castellano (jockey)
Fort Bragg
- Tim Yakteen (trainer), Joel Rosario (jockey)
Forte
- Todd Pletcher (trainer), Irad Ortiz Jr. (jockey)
Dubyuhnell
- Danny Gargan (trainer), Jose Ortiz (jockey)

Who is the favorite for the Florida Derby?

All eyes will be on the reigning two-year-old champion Forte come Saturday, who has earned 90 points to date and won five of his six career starts. His 2023 campaign got off to a quick start after taking the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream by 4 1/2 lengths on March 4 in his 3-year-old debut. His other recent wins include triumphs at the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

The 4/5 morning line favorite and trainer Todd Pletcher, however, will have some obstacles in the way as they look to continue the charge to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby. As Pletcher looks to extend his streak to a record-setting seven wins, he’ll need Forte to overcome a post position 11 at Gulfstream Park.

Horses who have drawn post position 11 at the Florida Derby distance of 1 1/8 miles since Gulfstream was reconfigured in 2006 have come away with the crown a mere 2 of 50 times.

What should I look for come race day?

The unlucky post position for the favorite Forte opens the door for other contenders, such as Fort Bragg and Cyclone Mischief.

Fort Bragg, who was initially slated to race at last weekend’s Sunland Derby before re-routing to Gulfstream, will be making his second start for Tim Yakteen. The $700,000 purchase is coming off a fifth-place finish at the Fountain of Youth on March 4 and is 5-1 on the morning line for Florida under Forte.

Not far behind, however, is Cyclone Mischief, who displayed an encouraging performance at the Fountain of Youth, holding a lead for the first mile before falling to third. The three-year-old and his trainer, Dale Romans, will look to cause a bit more havoc at Gulfstream and earn valuable points to keep the hopes for Louisville alive.

Others to keep an eye on come race time include Mage, who has a total of 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and West Coast Cowboy, who currently sits with six.

How can I watch the Florida Derby?

Date: Saturday, April 1st
Time: 6 p.m. EST
TV Network: CNBC
Streaming: Peacock

When is the 2023 Kentucky Derby?

The 2023 Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 6th, and will air across the networks of NBC Sports and Peacock.

For more horse racing coverage and the latest on the road to the Kentucky Derby, visit nbcsports.com.