4/8/11
Last updated: 4/7/11 5:01 PM
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Stay Thirsty exited the van onto the grounds of Churchill Downs
(Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs) |
The roster of contenders for the 137th running of the $2 million
Kentucky Derby (G1) now on the grounds at Churchill Downs has grown to
three with the arrivals of Repole Stable’s STAY THIRSTY (Bernardini),
winner of the Gotham S. (G3) and stablemate to Derby favorite Uncle Mo
(Indian Charlie), and Michael Lauffer and W.D. Cubbedge’s SHACKLEFORD
(Forestry), runner-up in last week’s Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream
Park.
Stay Thirsty was one of 17 horses from the stable of trainer Todd
Pletcher that arrived Thursday morning from Florida. The dark bay colt
continues to be pointed toward the May 7 Run for the Roses despite a
disappointing seventh-place finish in a field of eight in Sunday’s
Florida Derby. He brings a record of 2-2-0 in six races with earnings of
$300,000 to Churchill Downs. He has $260,000 in earnings in graded
races, which are used to determine the maximum field of 20 horses that
will compete in Kentucky Derby 137.
Stay Thirsty was led off the van just after 10 a.m. (EDT) by Michael
McCarthy, the assistant trainer who oversees Pletcher’s Churchill Downs
stable, and has settled into his stall in Barn 34.
“He shipped in well and looks well,” McCarthy said. “He’s had a good
winter down there in Florida. Obviously we didn’t get the result we were
looking for in the Florida Derby, but if he can bounce back and we get
four good weeks here, maybe we can get lucky.”
Accompanying Stay Thirsty on the flight to Louisville were E. Paul Robsham
Stable’s Swale S. (G2) winner TRAVELIN MAN (Trippi), who is being pointed toward
the Derby Trial (G3), the $200,000 feature of the April 30 “Opening Night”
program at Churchill, and Mill House’s QUEEN’SPLATEKITTEN (Kitten’s Joy), the
runner-up in Gulfstream Park’s Palm Beach S. (G3) on turf who is slated to run
in the $750,000 Blue Grass (G1) over Keeneland’s synthetic Polytrack course on
April 16.
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Shackleford, trained by Louisville native and Churchill regular Dale Romans,
returned to Louisville Wednesday evening following his winter in Florida. The
chestnut just missed in the Florida Derby at odds of 68-1 when he set the pace
but was caught in the final strides by Dialed In (Mineshaft), who won by a head.
Romans’ colt was fifth in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) prior to his Florida
Derby second, and has a record of 2-1-0 in five races and earnings of $271,666.
His earnings in graded stakes races stand at $212,000.
The remaining Derby 137 contender on the grounds is Just for Fun Stable’s
DECISIVE MOMENT (With Distinction), runner-up in the Spiral S. (G3) at Turfway
Park on March 26.
