Frammento draws into Derby with Stanford scratch

Frammento will get his shot at the 141st Kentucky Derby (Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com) Grade 2-placed Frammento (Midshipman) has drawn into Saturday’s Kentucky Derby (G1) field at Churchill Downs after it was revealed Thursday that Stanford (Malibu Moon) has been scratched. The Nick Zito pupil was listed as the first also-eligible for the 141st Run for the Roses once the field was drawn on Wednesday and will break from the far outside post 20. “I got the call from the racing office this afternoon,” Zito said. “We are all excited. We made it. Everybody is happy. He has been training great. I know we will have to break from the 20, but that is a lot better than Post Zero!” Frammento, who galloped 1 1/2 miles after Thursday’s morning renovation break at Churchill Downs under exercise rider Juan Bernardini, was third in Gulfstream Park’s Fountain of Youth S. (G2) and fourth in the Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland in his past two starts. If he had finished third in the Blue Grass instead of fourth he would have picked up 10 more qualifying points toward the Derby and been the 20th top point earner entered in the race. “It has been frustrating, because he is a true distance horse,” said Zito, who has won the Derby with Strike the Gold (1991) and Go for Gin (1994).

Frammento put in his final major move for the Derby last Friday, April 24,
going four furlongs in :48 at Keeneland. Corey Nakatani has the mount on
Saturday.

Stanford, second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) by a half-length in his most
recent start, drew post 11 on Wednesday and was listed at 30-1 on the
morning-line. Trainer Todd Pletcher revealed early Thursday afternoon that the
bay colt’s connections opted to pass on the Derby.

“We didn’t wait to scratch him,” Pletcher said. “We did it now to ensure that
the also-eligibles would have their chance to run. We think him coming out now
is for the best of all.

“We entered the horse in the race to see what sort
of post he might draw,” he explained. “We were on the fence as to whether or
not to run him, but we thought we’d take a look. But after seeing the draw and
talking to the owners, we decided it might be best to take him out and consider
other options.

“We’re thinking now that either the ($200,000) Peter Pan ([G2] at
Belmont Park on May 9) or the ($1.5 million) Preakness ([G1] at Pimlico on May 16) might be better
spots for him. The horse is fine. We’ll train him tomorrow morning and we’ll
probably work him the morning of the Derby before we ship him to New York.

With Frammento now in the field, that just leaves maiden winner Tale of Verve
(Tale of Ekati) as the lone also-eligible for the Kentucky Derby.

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