Wednesday Kentucky Derby Photos

2023 Kentucky Derby Photos

Kingsbarn under the Twin Spires on Wednesday morning.

Date: 5/03/2023

Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs was less busy during the exclusive Oaks/Derby session, as several Kentucky Derby horses who had timed works recently stayed in the barn. Conditions were chilly for Derby week with a fast main track, a few clouds and temperatures in the high 40’s during training hours, with 25 MPH wind gusts. Video for this morning’s work can be viewed here on YouTube. Videos of individual horses in timed works can be found here.

• Tuesday Kentucky Derby Photos – 18 Kentucky Derby horses and 13 Kentucky Oaks fillies from Tuesday morning on the track or paddock schooling at Churchill Downs. Also shots of the new paddock and clubhouse turn grandstand and Rich Strike.
• 2023 Kentucky Derby Analysis – Our annual analysis of the top contenders to try and select a winner by matching each to the profile of a Kentucky Derby winner using many of the more popular angles and statistical trends. This year the field is very evenly matched but there is a narrow winner for top choice but it isn’t the favorite.
• Kentucky Derby Entries – A field of 20 plus three also-eligibles were entered for the 149th Kentucky Derby on Monday. Florida Derby winner Forte was set as the morning line favorite at 3-1 from post 15. Get all the horses, post positions, morning line odds, and free past performances here.
• Kentucky Oaks Entries – On Monday the post positions were drawn for the 149th Longines Kentucky Oaks and a full field of 14 3-year-old fillies plus three also-eligibles made the entry box, with 5-2 morning line favorite Wet Paint drawing post 7. Get the horses, post positions, and free past performances here.
• Free Past Performances: From Brisnet.com for the
  Kentucky Derby
  and Kentucky Oaks
• Derby Workout Notes: 4/29 notes, 4/28 notes, 4/27 notes, 4/26 notes, 4/25 notes, 4/24 notes

Kentucky Derby

Confidence Game returned to the track Wednesday after walking on Tuesday and galloped 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider Alex Cano. Trainer Keith Desormeaux is known to give his horses two walk days a week, but called the audible to walk Tuesday based on what he thought was best for the horse. “His last two works were strong,” Desormeaux said. “And, you know, the main reason is that some horses don’t rest well in their stall if they don’t train. He’s the opposite. If you get him out early, he does his thing. He walks 30 minutes and he goes back in his stall and rests. He lays down, he munches on hay, even on a walk day. He takes full advantage of it. So, I’m like you know what? Let’s leave the track alone and let him sleep Tuesday. He’s going to train again Wednesday. He’s going to train again Friday and I’ll probably train him Saturday morning early. Since the race isn’t until 6:30 or something, I’ll get him out and blow some steam off because by that time he’ll know what’s going on. He did go to the paddock, so it’s not like he was sleeping all day. he did get out there and get pumped up. That’s also another reason I walked. Why get him fired up twice. Onto the paddock isn’t enough.”

Continuar spent an hour training in the mile chute. Trainer Yoshida Yahagi said Continuar would gallop in the morning.

Forte galloped 1 3/8 miles under Hector Ramos in company with stablemates Major Dude and Tapit Trice. “Everything is right on schedule,” Hall of Famer Pletcher confirmed when his charges had returned to his Barn 39 headquarters. “They’ll all paddock today with the horses for Race 6.”

Hit Show schooled in the starting gate and then galloped 1 1/2 miles. “Everything went really well today,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We stood all four Derby horses in the gate. They stood extremely well. They are going to school tomorrow in the paddock. They are doing great, they really are. They stood in the gate and had really, really good gallops after that. Hopefully everything goes good in the paddock and we’ll do as much as we can in the mornings. Hopefully that will translate to them being settled and handling everything well on Saturday. I wanted to stand Verifying and Hit Show next to each other because that’s where they’ll be on Saturday, in the 1 and 2 (posts).”

Jace’s Road schooled in the starting gate and then galloped 1 1/2 miles. “Everything went really well today,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We stood all four Derby horses in the gate. They stood extremely well. They are going to school tomorrow in the paddock. They are doing great, they really are. They stood in the gate and had really, really good gallops after that. Hopefully everything goes good in the paddock and we’ll do as much as we can in the mornings. Hopefully that will translate to them being settled and handling everything well on Saturday.”

Kingsbarns galloped 1 3/8 miles under Elder Flores in company with stablemates Major Dude and Tapit Trice. “Everything is right on schedule,” Hall of Famer Pletcher confirmed when his charges had returned to his Barn 39 headquarters. “They’ll all paddock today with the horses for Race 6.”

Lord Miles had a light gallop Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs. Lord Miles drew post 19 in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Mage was out for a gallop Wednesday with regular exercise rider J.J. Delgado. “He’s looking really well,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., assistant to trainer Gustavo Delgado Sr. “He galloped about 1 1/2 again, and he finished the last three or four furlongs increasing his speed. Most importantly, when he came back, his breathing was nearly normal, and he wasn’t breathing hard. I think he’s going to run well.”

Raise Cain visited the starting gate and galloped a mile and a half under Rene Morales for trainer Ben Colebrook. Winner of the Gotham (G3) in the mud, Raise Cain schooled in the paddock Tuesday and will have another paddock session Thursday. There is rain the forecast three days out from Derby 149 and that doesn’t bother Colebrook. “Nick Zito (Hall of Famer and two-time Derby winner including Go for Gin in the slop in 1994) said it was going to rain Saturday,” Colebrook said. “I’ll take that. The forecast said 60 percent (chance of rain) Friday and 40 on Saturday … oh, now it’s 54.He has handled an off track and that is nothing that we have to worry about. Some handle it better than others, but what we need is pace.”

Rocket Can galloped 1 3/8 miles with regular exercise rider Guelser Cardona. “All’s good,” said trainer Bill Mott of Wednesday’s preparations for Rocket Can. “His gallop went well, and he practiced at the starting gate, standing in and backing out.”

Tapit Trice galloped 1 3/8 miles under Amelia Green in company with stablemates Forte and Tapit Trice. “Everything is right on schedule,” Hall of Famer Pletcher confirmed when his charges had returned to his Barn 39 headquarters. “They’ll all paddock today with the horses for Race 6.”

Two Phil’s spent an extended period on the track on Wednesday under exercise rider Gonzalo Gonzales. Heading out at 7:30 a.m. with the other Derby and Oaks horses, Larry Rivelli’s first Derby horse spent around 30 minutes on the track. He stood in his usual spot along the fence outside his Barn 1 watching all the activity, then he took time to school in the gates before galloping his usual 1 1/4 miles. Rivelli, jockey Jareth Loveberry, and owner Anthony Sagan looked on, reflecting on how well he has traveled to each track. Including Hawthorne, where Two Phil’s trained but has yet to race, Churchill Downs is his seventh stop. “If he runs his last race he’s going to have a huge chance,” Rivelli said. “A lot of people think it’s the Tapeta that moved him up (winning the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park), and it could be. If it wasn’t, he’s got a serious shot. It’s a deep and even year this year. There’s no Justify, no American Pharoah, which gives us a shot.”

Verifying schooled in the starting gate and then galloped 1 1/2 miles. “Everything went really well today,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We stood all four Derby horses in the gate. They stood extremely well. They are going to school tomorrow in the paddock. They are doing great, they really are. They stood in the gate and had really, really good gallops after that. Hopefully everything goes good in the paddock and we’ll do as much as we can in the mornings. Hopefully that will translate to them being settled and handling everything well on Saturday. I wanted to stand Verifying and Hit Show next to each other because that’s where they’ll be on Saturday, in the 1 and 2 (posts)”

Cyclone Mischief is the first also-eligible. He galloped 1 3/8 miles under exercise rider Faustino Herrarte.

King Russell is the third also-eligible. He galloped 1 3/4 miles Wednesday.

Kentucky Oaks

Affirmative Lady had a strong 1 1/2 mile gallop under Kevin Lundie and visited the starting gate. Trained by Graham Motion, the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) winner had a paddock schooling session after training hours. Winner of her past two starts, Affirmative Lady is one of four Oaks entrants to have raced at the Oaks distance of 1 1/8 miles, something she has done twice. “The farther she goes, the stronger she gets,” Lundie said of Affirmative Lady, who will break from post 13 under John Velazquez. “I just hope she gets a clean trip.”

Botanical galloped 1 1/2 miles in company with stablemates The Alys Look and Wet Paint at 5:15AM, and then later schooled in the paddock. “Overall, I’m super happy with them,” trainer Brad Cox said. “They all schooled in the gate a couple of days ago and did well. Everything has been fantastic with them.”

Defining Purpose stepped onto the track Wednesday with regular exercise rider Shelby Spalding aboard, for a gallop of about 1 3/8 miles. While some humans on the backstretch didn’t appreciate the chilly weather with gusty winds, the equines appeared to tolerate it well. “It’s crisp, but it feels good,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “Horses like it.”

Dorth Vader had a routine 1 1/2 mile gallop at 7:30AM Wednesday. Dorth Vader would be the first start in the Oaks for Florida-based trainer Michael Yates. Yates appears to be enjoying his trip to Louisville which included a visit to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association’s Trainer’s Dinner Tuesday night.

Gambling Girl galloped 1 3/8 miles under Carlos Quevado and then schooled in the paddock.

Mimi Kakushi followed her regular routine of jogging a mile with the pony and then galloping a mile under Xavier Ziani. Mimi Kakushi has not raced since the Feb. 17 UAE Oaks (G3) and enters Friday’s Run for the Lilies off a 12-week layoff, the longest of any Oaks starter. “She had had a busy campaign and she got a short break (after the UAE Oaks),” said trainer Salem bin Ghadayer, who currently oversees 72 horses in training in Dubai. “She got back on our program and she has been breezing every week (prior to coming to Churchill Downs).”

Pretty Mischievous galloped one mile and a half on Wednesday during the designated Derby/Oaks training time at 7:30AM. Exercise rider Albino Martinez reported she is feeling good.

Promiseher America galloped 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider Fernando Tapara. “Fernando said she felt awesome and was looking around a lot today,” trainer Ray Handal said. “We did all the heavy lifting back home so I wanted to ship her in, jog, change her shoes, and get her comfortable with her surroundings. She galloped today and looked around a bit. She’ll gallop tomorrow and look around less, so she’ll be relaxed on race day.”

Southlawn had a 1 1/2 mile gallop Wednesday morning for trainer Norm Casse. Jockey Rey Gutierrez will pilot the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner in the Longines Kentucky Oaks. “I love a rider that’s confident walking into the paddock and I know Reylu will be,” Casse said. “I’ve never had another trainer tell me before that they heard from my rider that they will win a race and that’s what happened in the Fair Grounds Oaks. I came into the paddock in the second or third race and (trainer) Bret Calhoun came up to me and said ‘Rey told me you’re going to win the Fair Grounds Oaks today.’ So, I’m confident that Rey will be confident coming into the race.”

The Alys Look galloped 1 1/2 miles in company with stablemates Wet Paint and Botanical at 5:15AM, and then later schooled in the paddock. “Overall, I’m super happy with them,” trainer Brad Cox said. “They all schooled in the gate a couple of days ago and did well. Everything has been fantastic with them.”

Wet Paint galloped 1 1/2 miles in company with stablemates The Alys Look and Botanical at 5:15AM, and then later schooled in the paddock. “Overall, I’m super happy with them,” trainer Brad Cox said. “They all schooled in the gate a couple of days ago and did well. Everything has been fantastic with them.”

Wonder Wheel jogged 1 mile and galloped 2 miles under exercise rider David Carroll. “She went nicely and did everything right,” trainer Mark Casse said. “We’re going to conserve her energy a couple days before the race. She’s carrying more flesh than she probably ever has. Numbers-wise, I don’t think her race in the Ashland was as bad as some have said. I think she got confused out there. One problem was, and I knew I was going to run into it, but there was two months between races (before the Ashland). I’m thinking that maybe I didn’t do enough to get her in a competitive mindset. The timing is much better for this.”

Hoosier Philly is the first also-eligible.

Julia Shining is the second also-eligible. She galloped 1 3/8 miles under Humberto Zamora and then schooled in the paddock.

Last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike schooled in the paddock. He is entered in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) on the Oaks undercard as the 7-2 second choice from post 3. Regular rider Sonny Leon will be in the irons for trainer Eric Reed.

2023 Triple Crown quick links:

• Tuesday Kentucky Derby Photos – 18 Kentucky Derby horses and 13 Kentucky Oaks fillies from Tuesday morning on the track or paddock schooling at Churchill Downs. Also shots of the new paddock and clubhouse turn grandstand and Rich Strike.
• Kentucky Derby Entries – A field of 20 plus three also-eligibles were entered for the 149th Kentucky Derby on Monday. Florida Derby winner Forte was set as the morning line favorite at 3-1 from post 15. Get all the horses, post positions, morning line odds, and free past performances here.
• Kentucky Oaks Entries – On Monday the post positions were drawn for the 149th Longines Kentucky Oaks and a full field of 14 3-year-old fillies plus three also-eligibles made the entry box, with 5-2 morning line favorite Wet Paint drawing post 7. Get the horses, post positions, and free past performances here.
• Free Past Performances: From Brisnet.com for the
  Kentucky Derby
  and Kentucky Oaks
• April 29 Kentucky Derby Notes – Friday morning was wet and muddy at Churchill Downs, but no Kentucky Derby or Oaks horses had works scheduled, so gallops only. Saturday looks to be a big day for workouts though. 4/28 notes, 4/27 notes, 4/26 notes, 4/25 notes, 4/24 notes
• Kentucky Derby Winners and Auction Prices – Bigger may seem better, but in the case of Kentucky Derby horses who sold at auction, less is more. Here is a look at how (badly) high priced auction purchases have done in the Kentucky Derby and the auction prices for this year’s top Derby horses.
• Derby Weather Forecasts – up to 15 days in advance
• Kentucky Derby Points List – this is what determines which horses can get in the Kentucky Derby field.
• 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby – All the point earning races on the Triple Crown Trail leading up to the Kentucky Derby with results and winners updated as they are run.
• 2023 Triple Crown Late Nominations – Sunland Derby (G3) winner Wild on Ice headlines the list of seven late Triple Crown nominations made eligible by a $6000 fee by the March 27 deadline.
• Early Triple Crown Nominations – 312 horses where nominated by the early deadline of January 29 for the 2023 Triple Crown. Trainer Todd Pletcher nominated the most with 42 followed by Brad Cox with 26. Check out all the horses and free past performances from Equibase.
• Kentucky Derby Tickets – See what is for sale on Ebay. Includes tickets and parking.
• 2023 Kentucky Derby And Oaks Security – New enhanced stricter rules with no onsite parking were enforced in 2018, and are in effect again this year. Be sure to read the rules if you are attending. There will still be magnetic wand searches of all patrons and many things are no longer alloThur.Check here to make sure you don’t bring anything they will confiscate.
• Kentucky Derby Future Wager – This year there are 6 pools starting in November of 2022 plus a single pool for the Oaks.
• Kentucky Derby Prep Races – What races should a horse prep in to win the Kentucky Derby? Some races may seem obvious, but have not produced a Derby winner in many years. Find out which races are the best preps here.
• Derby prep race charts – free from DRF
• Kentucky Derby Traditions – Find out all about the big Derby Traditions: the rose garland, the trophy, the Twin Spires, mint juleps, singing “My Old Kentucy Home”, fancy hats, celebrities and the annual Derby glasses.
• Fillies in the Kentucky Derby – a look at the 39 fillies who have contested the Run for the Roses and how they did. So far there have been 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 5 thirds.
• Kentucky Derby official site – lots of good info and the latest news here
• Louisville Courier Journal coverage – one of your best news sources for the Derby
• Blood Horse Triple Crown Mania – lots of good info here
• DRF Kentucky Derby Special – Lots of good info like past winners preps, contenders, past performances, and latest news.
• Review: Kentucky Derby Greatest Moments – Commemorative DVD from Churchill Downs with video from 27 different runnings along with interviews, photos, and historical info. Definitely recommended for any racing fan!
• Review: Churchill Downs – America’s Most Historic Racetrack by Kimberly Gatto. An entertaining and informative account of the history of the track and it’s most famous race, the Kentucky Derby, with lots of photos. Definitely recommended.
• Review: Kentucky Derby Glasses Price Guide – A Comprehensive Guide to Collecting Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Glasses and Shot Glasses edited by Judy Marchman
• Triple Crown Trivia Quiz – test your knowledge of the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont and compete with others.
• Buy advance tickets for the Derby and Oaks – from Churchill Downs and save $5 over the gate price on general admission
• Triple Crown Trivia Quiz – test your knowledge of the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont and compete with others.
• Send this page to a friend – know someone who would like to see this page? Click here to send them the link.

Back to Horse-Races.Net main page