John Oxley's Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) will look to become the third consecutive Eclipse Award-winning juvenile to double up in the GI Kentucky Derby, as he was made the lukewarm 4-1 favorite in what shapes as a wide-open renewal of the Run for the Roses Saturday at Churchill Downs. The $475,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, impressive in taking out last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, has faced adversity this season, finishing a subpar third behind 'TDN Rising Star' Irish War Cry (Curlin) in the GII Holy Bull S. Feb. 4 before shipping into Winding Oaks Farm near Ocala to continue his training towards a final Derby prep. That was originally to come in Keeneland's GII Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 8, but he ultimately made the trip to Hot Springs and got home late to annex the GI Arkansas Derby. Classic Empire will be ridden by Julien Leparoux, who will have some decisions to make from gate 14.
Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), the devastating winner of the GI Florida Derby when last seen, shares second favoritism with 'TDN Rising Star' McCraken (Ghostzapper), who took the first loss of his career when third to then maiden Irap (Tiznow) in the Blue Grass. Always Dreaming spent the bulk of his time in Florida at the relatively serene Palm Beach Downs training facility, but since arriving at Churchill has been a handful in the mornings. Trainer Todd Pletcher has switched exercise riders and has instituted a set of draw reins in an attempt to harness the colt's energy. Always Dreaming drew nicely in gate five and is expected to be in the thick of the battle early on.
McCracken, a perfect three-for-three at Churchill Downs, landed gate 15 and will likely take back, angle in and make a run at them late.
Irish War Cry will be available at a generous morning-line quote of 6-1 given his body of work. The New Jersey-bred drilled Gunnevera (Dialed In) by nearly four lengths in the Holy Bull, but stubbed his toe in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 4, finishing a listless seventh. He bounced back with authority in his latest, a 3 1/2-length success in the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct Apr. 8. Irish War Cry will have Rajiv Maragh in the saddle for the second time for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Graham Motion and will try to carve out a trip from the auxiliary gate in 17.
GI Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley (Malibu Moon) drew post 18 at a morning line quote of 15-1.
The field for the 143rd Kentucky Derby:
1 Lookin at Lee (Lookin at Lucky), Lanerie 20-1
2 Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), Soumillon 20-1
3 Fast and Accurate (Hansen), Hill 50-1
4 Untrapped (Trappe Shot), Santana Jr. 30-1
5 Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), Velazquez 5-1
6 State of Honor (To Honor and Serve), Lezcano 30-1
7 Girvin (Tale of Ekati), Smith 15-1
8 Hence (Street Boss), Geroux 15-1
9 Irap (Tiznow), Gutierrez 20-1
10 Gunnevera (Dialed In), Castellano 15-1
11 Battle of Midway (Smart Strike), Prat 30-1
12 Sonneteer (Midnight Lute), Desormeaux 50-1
13 J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), Saez 20-1
14 Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile), Leparoux 4-1
15 McCraken (Ghostzapper), Hernandez Jr. 5-1
16 Tapwrit (Tapit), Ortiz 20-1
17 Irish War Cry (Curlin), Maragh 6-1
18 Gormley (Malibu Moon), Espinoza 15-1
19 Practical Joke (Into Mischief), Rosario 20-1
20 Patch (Union Rags), Gaffalione 30-1
AE Royal Mo (Uncle Mo), Stevens 20-1
AE Master Plan (Twirling Candy), Velazquez (2) 50-1
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