Brother Derek and Barbaro Arrive at Churchill Downs

Horses Wild: Horse Racing News

Horses Wild has the latest news in the horse racing industry from jockeys, trainers, owners and breeders. Get horse racing tips, betting picks from top horse racing handicappers, stakes race results.

Be part of the action as we cover the Triple Crown starting with the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. See the best of the best horses battle it out in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

When it comes to horse racing, Horses Wild has got you covered.

Early Kentucky Derby 2006 favorite Brother Derek arrived safely at Churchill Downs on Thursday after making the cross country trip from Santa Anita. While undefeated Barbaro made the 90-minute commute from Keeneland to the Downs on Thursday. He had been the lone major Derby contender stabled at Lexington.

Brother Derek, winner of the Santa Anita Derby is scheduled to have his first feel of the track on Friday, and a workout scheduled for Monday under jockey Alex Solis.

For Barbaro, if he’s successful, he’ll be the first horse in 50 years — since Needles in 1956 — to win the Kentucky Derby after a five-week layoff. He last ran and won in the Florida Derby.
But his trainer, Michael Matz, says he thinks concern about the layoff is much being made about nothing.

“Brother Derek is four weeks instead of five,” Matz said. “I don’t know what the big deal about this is. All his races have been run in five or six weeks. I don’t see any problem.”

Other Kentucky Derby notes:

– Weather could play a factor in when some of the Derby contenders get in their last pre-race workout. There’s a chance of scattered storms at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Sweetnorthernsaint trainer Mike Trombletto said he may push back his gelding’s final workout from Saturday to Sunday. The winner of the Illinois Derby is scheduled to work three-quarters of a mile with jockey Kent Desormeaux.

– Seaside Retreat, runner-up to With A City in the Lane’s End Stakes, will race in the Derby after all. The colt worked five furlongs on Thursday in 59.4 seconds and looked good enough for trainer Mark Casse to give the go-ahead for the Derby. Seaside Retreat finished a disappointing sixth in his last mount at the Bluegrass Stakes on April 15.

– Jockey Rafael Bejarano, who is scheduled to be the jockey for the Bob Baffert-trained Point Determined, has been suspended by Kentucky stewards for five racing days from April 30-May 5 (excluding May 1), resulting from the disqualification of his mount, Onlynurimagination, in Keenelands second race on April 26. He would be eligible to ride on Derby Day, May 6. Following a hearing on Thursday, the Board of Stewards found “interference in the stretch run necessitating a disqualification” and issued the suspension. (AP)

Tip your horse racing buddies: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.