NEWS
Giant Oak to pass on Kentucky Derby
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 5:15 PM
Giant Oak, the runner-up in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) and Illinois Derby (G2), has been ruled out of consideration for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
The Giant’s Causeway colt will be freshened and pointed to turf races this summer.
“Physically he’s ready, mentally he’s not,” said trainer Chris Block, who oversees the Illinois-bred colt for his owner-breeder, the Virginia Tarra Trust. “He just hasn’t gone forward mentally enough.
“What I’d be scared to death of is the experience of the Derby is tough on some of those three-year-olds who aren’t mentally prepared. I’m afraid we’d take major steps backwards. We’d love to be there, but in the best interests of him, I think we’ll wait it out and look for something else.”
Giant Oak did not progress this winter after a second-place finish by a neck to Beethoven in the Kentucky Jockey Club (to view a video of the race, click here). He finished fifth in the Risen Star Stakes (G3) and fourth in the Louisiana Derby, prior to a second-place finish to Musket Man in the Illinois Derby (to view a video of the race, click here).
“He’s been good mentally since the race, but we kind of looked back over our experience of the last three or four races and I thought the only really solid performance was the race last fall there at Churchill,” Block said. “Things didn’t go well in New Orleans where we could get a real good read, and I’m not sure we learned a ton more in the Illinois Derby that would make us think that we’re worthy of running with those top ten in the Kentucky Derby.”
In other Derby news, Robby Albarado has been named for the mount on Lane’s End Stakes (G2) runner-up Flying Private.
Flying Private, Chocolate Candy, I Want Revenge, and Pioneerof the Nile all are scheduled for workouts on Tuesday at Churchill Downs.
Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Pioneerof the Nile galloped over Churchill’s sloppy main track on Monday.
“He goes well over everything, but today was his first time on slop,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He’s got a big, long stride. He seems to be more focused here than at Santa Anita.”
“I might wait until Wednesday [for the workout], but the track was OK today and I don’t see a problem,” Baffert continued. “He’s pretty ready. Then he would come back next Monday or Tuesday.”
Square Eddie is scheduled to arrive at Churchill on Tuesday from Keeneland Race Course, where he finished third in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G2) on Saturday (to view a video of the race, click here).
Grey Stakes (Can-G3) winner Mine That Bird is due at Churchill on Tuesday night following a van ride from Sunland Park.
Summer Bird, the third-place finisher in the Arkansas Derby (G2), is slated for a Wednesday arrival. Mr. Hot Stuff and Win Willy will settle in on Thursday, and Louisiana Derby winner Friesan Fire is scheduled to ship over from Keeneland on Friday.
Quality Road and Dunkirk, the top two finishers in the Florida Derby (G1), are not expected at Churchill until April 28.
