Survivalist to skip Kentucky Derby

Gotham S. (G3) winner SURVIVALIST (Danzig), a distant second to Bellamy Road
(Concerto) in the nine-furlong Wood Memorial (G1) in his last start, breezed
five furlongs in a bullet :59 3/5 over a fast track at Belmont Park on Monday,
but trainer Shug McGaughey said the colt would not run in the May 7 Kentucky
Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.

“Basically, I’m not sure we’re good enough,” McGaughey said. “I didn’t want
to just be coming for a social event. I told Mr. Phipps (owner) when I got to
talk to him this morning that ‘I can’t tell you that when we go down there and
if we take to the track and get a good trip, then we’re the horse to beat.’ We
both agreed that if we can’t say that, then we don’t want to go.”

McGaughey said Survivalist would now be pointed to Saturday’s one-mile,
$150,000 Withers S. (G3) at Aqueduct.

The move by the dark bay colt was the fastest of 16 works at the distance.

Several other three-year-olds turned in workouts on Monday in preparation for
the “Run for the Roses.”

Closing Argument was third in the Blue Grass by nine lengths  (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com) At Keeneland, Holy Bull S. (G3) winner CLOSING ARGUMENT (Successful Appeal), who finished a non-threatening third in the Blue Grass S. (G1), breezed four furlongs in :49 1/5 over the unique PolyTrack training oval. “He worked very well,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “We’re very pleased with the work. He came out of it in good shape.” McLaughlin hopes to ship Closing Argument to Churchill Downs on Friday. The colt is scheduled to gallop on Saturday and breeze five furlongs on Sunday under the Twin Spires, but with the possibility of rain later this week, McLaughlin said he had the option of staying at Keeneland for Sunday’s work. Closing Argument would then travel to the River City on Monday. Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner BUZZARDS BAY (Marco Bay) worked six furlongs in 1:12 over a fast track at Santa Anita. The move by the Jeff Mullins trainee ranked sixth among 19 at the distance. Buzzards Bay is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on May 4. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner WILKO (Awesome Again), who finished a close third to Buzzards Bay and GENERAL JOHN B (Sweetsouthernsaint) in the April 9 Santa Anita Derby, breezed seven furlongs in 1:26 4/5 over a fast track at Hollywood Park. Corey Nakatani is slated to ride the Craig Dollase trainee in the Derby. Hollywood Futurity (G1) runner-up GIACOMO (Holy Bull), fourth in the Santa Anita Derby in his last start, worked seven furlongs in a bullet 1:23 4/5 at Hollywood Park for conditioner John Shirreffs. Giacomo worked in company with five-year-old Bullistic (Holy Bull), who was timed in 1:24 3/5. “I was very pleased with the work,” Shirreffs said. “It couldn’t have gone any better. He did it very easily.” Shirreffs said Giacomo would have another breeze, either five or six furlongs, before he ships to Louisville on May 4. Mike Smith has the call.

In other Kentucky Derby news:

Arkansas Derby (G2) winner AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet) is scheduled to
breeze at Churchill Downs on Tuesday under Jeremy Rose, who will ride the colt
in the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby.

Louisiana Derby (G2) winner HIGH LIMIT (Maria’s Mon), runner-up as the
favorite in the Blue Grass, had an open gallop through the stretch at Churchill
Downs on Monday. Trainer Bobby Frankel called an audible with rain in the
forecast for the next few days in Louisville.

“He will work as soon as we get a good track,” Frankel said. “I’m playing the
weather; that’s why I let him open gallop today. You’ve got to play the weather
here.”

High Limit has been stabled at Churchill Downs for nearly a month.

“”He has trained really good over this track, and he breezed really well
before the Blue Grass,” Frankel said. “He might have breezed too good. He went
in 48 and two and came home in 11. He handles this track very well. He’s a nice
horse and he tries hard. If he doesn’t win this race, he’ll win a lot of big
races. He is going to be a serious horse the rest of the year.”