KENTUCKY DERBY THIS WEEKEND IS WIDE OPEN RACE DAY DRUGS BAN EXTENDED TO 20 TRACKS

As the fallout from the equine fatalities continues to affect racing, about twenty major tracks extended a race day ban for all two year olds starting in 2020. From that date all juveniles would not be allowed to be treated with lasix twenty-four hours before racing. In addition beginning in 2021 the same ban would extend to horses in listed or stakes races at the same coalition tracks. The move is long overdue and has the support of the Breeders Cup and many others despite misgivings from veterinarians, horseman’s groups and regulators.
Regarding the Kentucky Derby which will be run on Saturday May 4th the race will be wide open and will probably be won yet again by the favorite whoever that is. Likely choice will be Omaha Beach, although Game Winner and Tacitus could also challenge for that coveted honor come post time. Most of the top contenders are already in Kentucky and most of them have completed their final serious works before race day.
Here are just a few of the more recent ones. Bob Baffert has three horses in the race and must always be taken seriously. IMPROBABLE had his final seven furlong work with the trainer describing the horse as fresh and anxious. This writer for one will not be put off the horse by this description because for such a small horse he does have a very smooth action. Baffert thinks that the horse simply loves the Churchill Downs surface so you have to listen. CODE OF HONOUR on the other hand had his trainer Shug Mcgaughey raving about the horse’s sharpness over the six furlongs. He puts that down to the fact that the horse has been residing in Kentucky the whole of April since coming in from Florida.
BY MY STANDARDS will be a long shot for trainer Bret Calhoun who will be having his first starter in the Kentucky Derby. His seven furlong work was described as effortless by all involved so keep an eye out for this one. Trainer Bill Mott will have two runners, TACITUS and COUNTRY HOUSE in the race. Their final work out was partially interrupted by the interloper WIN WIN WIN but everything turned out allright. Their performance was described by Mott as a useful tightener for both horses who have never sparkled during their workouts. Both horses are described as workmanlike despite the impeccable breeding especially in the case of Tacitus who is a son of Tapit out of the mare Close Hatches.
For the record, my money will be on the unbeaten Maximum Security with a place bet on Improbable.