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Bob and John and Garrett Gomez after winning Wood Memorial
(Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com) |
BOB AND JOHN (Seeking the Gold) and POINT
DETERMINED (Point Given), who are both trained by Bob Baffert, arrived at Churchill Downs midday on Tuesday following
a flight from Los Angeles. The twosome joined SINISTER MINISTER (Old Trieste),
Baffert’s third Kentucky Derby (G1) contender, in Barn 33 to await their date with
destiny.
Baffert also flew to Louisville on Tuesday aboard the private plane of
Beverly Lewis, who purchased Point Determined for $750,000 at last year’s
Barretts March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. In his last two starts, Point
Determined finished second in both the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and San Felipe S.
(G2).
Bob and John won the Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct in his most recent outing
after finishing third in
the San Felipe, while Sinister Minister comes off an eye-popping, 12 3/4-length victory in the
Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland. The latter galloped a mile
and three-eighths over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs early Tuesday morning.
San Felipe winner A. P. WARRIOR (A.P. Indy) also flew from Los Angeles
to Louisville on the same flight as Bob and John and Point Determined. The John Shirreffs charge was bedded down in Barn 45, the same location as last year’s
Derby winner and Shirreffs trainee Giacomo (Holy Bull). The dark bay colt is coming off a good
third-place effort in the Santa Anita Derby.
Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner DEPUTY GLITTERS (Deputy Commander) arrived from
New York on Monday, but had his final work for the “Run for the Roses” postponed
until Wednesday. The Tom Albertrani trainee is scheduled to work five furlongs
before the renovation break.
“He galloped a mile and a quarter and he also made the paddock scene and he
had some gate schooling,” Albertrani said. “We’ve got to work him tomorrow, so
today was a good day to get these things done.”
Deputy Glitters dislikes an off track and was soundly defeated in both the
Wood Memorial and the Champagne S. (G1) over a sloppy track.
Trainer Barclay Tagg reported that SHOWING UP (Strategic Mission) came out of
his four-furlong breeze in :49 3/5 on Monday at Belmont Park in good order.
“He’s doing well; as long as it stays that way, he’s all set,” said Tagg, who
is closely monitoring a puncture wound on the colt’s right front leg. “He’s
ready, as long as the wound doesn’t flare up.”
Tagg will send Showing Up to the track on Wednesday before making a final
decision whether to enter him in the Derby later in the morning. If he does,
Showing Up will be shipped to Louisville on Thursday morning.
Showing Up is undefeated in three career starts, including a game 1
1/4-length victory in the Lexington S. (G2) on April 22 at Keeneland.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said Tuesday that David Flores will ride STORM
TREASURE (Storm Boot) in Derby 132.
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