Kentucky Derby Contender Denis of Cork To Skip Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park
Kentucky Derby contender Denis of Cork, who closed as the 12-1 fourth choice in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2, will skip the Rebel Stakes on Saturday, March 15, at Oaklawn Park.
Denis of Cork’s next start will either be in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct or the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) at Hawthorne Race Course, said his trainer, David Carroll on Tuesday. Both the Wood Memorial and Illinois Derby are at 1 1/8 miles and will be raced on April 5.
Horse trainer David Carroll believes the 3-year-old cold only needs one more 2008 Kentucky Derby prep instead of two before the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on May 3.
The son of Harlan’s Holiday, Denis of Cork, has a career record of 3-for-3. In his last start, Denis of Cork won the Southwest Stakes by 2 lengths on February 18 at Oaklawn Park.
With Denis of Cork out of the 1 1/16 mile Rebel Stakes, Z Fortune is the likely favorite in a race that serves as a stepping stone to Oaklawn Park’s Arkansas Derby on April 12.
Z Fortune, runner-up in the Risen Star Stakes, is another promising colt from the barn of Steve Asmussen, who also trains leading Kentucky Derby contender Pyro, winner of last Saturday’s Louisiana Derby and the Risen Star Stakes.
David Carroll, who also trains Kentucky Derby contender Blackberry Road, said he would not hesitate to match Denis of Cork against undefeated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champ War Pass if the two end up in the Wood Memorial.
War Pass is set to run in Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs, with the Wood Memorial next up before the Kentucky Derby.
"Kentucky Derby Contender Denis of Cork To Skip Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park" was posted on 11 March 2008 9:58 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Racing Picks & Betting Tips, Stakes Races
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