The 2012 Kentucky Derby is set to run on Saturday, May 5th, and the horses expected to compete in the biggest race of the year are making their way to Churchill Downs for final pre-Derby preparations. Below are a few of the items making news on Thursday, April 26th:
2012 Kentucky Derby: Contenders Begin To Arrive At Churchill Downs
- This afternoon, Union Rags, second in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and one of the favorites for this year’s Derby, arrived at Churchill Downs after a short ride from Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington. Trainer Michael Matz expects Union Rags to put in his final workout this weekend over the Churchill Downs main track, depending on the weather.
- Joining Union Rags at Churchill is Went The Day Well, winner of the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes over the Polytrack at Turfway Park. Went The Day Well is owned by Team Valor and trained by Graham Motion, the same connections of last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom.Went The Day Well began his racing career in England, running twice in the fall of 2011 before shipping to America over the winter.
- Alpha, runner-up to Gemologist in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial, is expected to make his final pre-Derby work at Belmont Park on Saturday. He will ship to Kentucky on Monday morning.
- The 2012 Churchill Downs Spring Meet begins on Saturday following the conclusion of the Keeneland Spring Meet on Friday. Churchill will run an evening card for the first day of the meet; post time for the first race on Saturday night is 6:00pm Eastern.
See More:
