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Rule withdrawn; Devil May Care confirmed for Derby
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| Rule was not pleasing his connections ahead of the Derby
(Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) |
Dual Grade 3 hero RULE (Roman Ruler), who had been ranked third on the graded
earnings list with $645,000, was declared out of the Kentucky Derby (G1) by
trainer Todd Pletcher Monday morning. The announcement came just one day after
Pletcher had to withdraw the Derby favorite Eskendereya on Sunday morning
because of injury.With Rule's defection, Wood Memorial S. (G1) and Fountain of Youth S. (G2)
runner-up JACKSON BEND (Hear No Evil) moves up to 20th on the graded earnings
list and secures a spot in the Derby starting gate.
Rule had not looked visually impressive in his Saturday work
in company with stablemate Mission Impazible (Unbridled's Song), although Rule
actually earned the bullet by covering five furlongs in 1:00 on the sloppy
track.
Pletcher took Rule out of the Derby mix after the colt had jogged a mile
Monday morning under Patti Barry.
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"His last couple of works, he's just seemed flat," Pletcher said. "And we
just can't tell what it is. His blood tests fine and he eats up, but he's just
not right. Maybe he needs more time.
"It's been six weeks since the Florida Derby ([G1] on March 20, in which he
ran third) and you'd think that would be enough time, but maybe he needs some
more.
"We'll take a pass with him on the Derby and consider the Preakness ([G1] on
May 15). Maybe a change of scenery will help him. If he's back doing well in the
next week or so, we'll give the other race a look."
Owned by WinStar Farm, Rule captured the December 4 Delta Jackpot S. (G3) and
the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) in his sophomore bow on February 13.
WinStar will still be represented in the Derby by Kentucky Jockey Club S.
(G2) romper SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon), who was most recently runner-up in the
Arkansas Derby (G1) for Pletcher; Illinois Derby (G3) hero AMERICAN LION (Tiznow),
conditioned by Eoin Harty; and Sunland Derby (G3) winner ENDORSEMENT (Distorted
Humor), trained by Shannon Ritter.
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| Devil May Care will take on the boys
(Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) |
Although Pletcher has lost a pair of Derby hopefuls in the injured Eskendereya
(Giant's Causeway) and Rule, he gained a definite Derby starter Monday in the
filly DEVIL MAY CARE (Malibu Moon).After Devil May Care turned in a one-mile gallop under Horacio De Paz during
the "Oaks/Derby only" time following the 8:30 a.m. (EDT) renovation break,
Pletcher conferred with owner John Greathouse of Glencrest Farm about her status
for either/or both Friday's Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Saturday's Kentucky Derby. In
the end, it appears that the Grade 1 queen will become the first filly to run in
the Derby since the ill-fated Eight Belles in 2008.
"Mr. Greathouse has indicated that his preference is to enter and run her in
the Kentucky Derby," Pletcher said. "It is likely – though not 100 percent sure
-- we'll enter her in the Derby only. That's what he wants to do; he's aware of
other people and their wanting to run in the Oaks.
"I think I would have entered her in both races (which is allowed under the
rules) and considered our options, but he wants her put in the Derby only.
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"She's an exceptional filly and we've thought all along that she'd be
especially well-suited by a distance of ground. The fact that she'll get that
5-pound sex allowance (fillies carry 121 pounds, male horses 126) doesn't hurt,
either.
Devil May Care captured last season's Frizette S. (G1), and she is exiting a
good-looking victory in the March 20 Bonnie Miss S. (G2).
John Velazquez, who would have guided Derby favorite Eskendereya, now takes
the mount aboard Devil May Care. Pletcher observed that Velazquez's ability to
ride the filly was a key consideration.
"And I think the thing that put it over the top was the availability of John
Velazquez for her for the race," Pletcher said. "That was probably the deciding
factor."
Pletcher's confirmed Derby team now numbers four -- Devil May Care, the
aforementioned Mission Impazible and Super Saver, and Risen Star S. (G2) victor
DISCREETLY MINE (Mineshaft).
Mission Impazible went out early under exercise rider Kevin Willey and jogged
a mile. Super Saver galloped 1 1/4 miles at 7:30, also for Willey. And
Discreetly Mine, fourth in the Louisiana Derby last out, only walked the shedrow.
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| Interactif is reportedly expected to skip the Derby
(Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) |
The Derby status of Pletcher's fifth possible starter, dual Grade 3 turf winner INTERACTIF (Broken Vow), was still
officially pending on Monday following his half-mile
drill in a bullet :47 3/5.Pletcher had said that he wanted to put the bay through one last work to see
where he thought he stood and had Barry pilot him in the drill during the
"Oaks/Derby only" time following the renovation break, with Willey and the
unraced three-year-old filly Collect the Fee (Menifee) alongside as a workmate.
The pair went through the half-mile work with Interactif starting out a
length behind and finishing a length in front. The opening split for the colt
was :23 4/5, and his five-furlong gallop-out time was 1:01 4/5.
Rider Barry was properly impressed with the work.
"He surprised me," she said back at Barn 38 afterward. "He really worked
well. I was getting on him last winter, but I haven't been on him in a while and
I was surprised by how well he did. This was a good work for him this morning."
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Pletcher, too, liked the colt's drill -- he called it "a very good work" --
but still wasn't sure that it was good enough to put the horse in the field for
the Derby.
"I'll talk with the owners (Gerard and Alain Wertheimer) and we'll make a
decision tomorrow," he said.
Late Monday afternoon, a Daily Racing Form report suggested that
Interactif would in fact be removed from Derby consideration.
Interactif, who was a closing second in the San Felipe S. (G2) two back, is
exiting a disappointing fourth in the Blue Grass S. (G1). The turf/synthetic
performer has not raced on dirt since his first two career starts, a Monmouth
maiden win and an eighth-place finish in the Sanford S. (G2).
Should Interactif pass on the Derby, Sanford S. (G2) winner BACKTALK (Smarty
Jones), currently 21st on the graded earnings list, would get into the field.
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