Trainer Bob Baffert and his Kentucky Derby hopeful Pioneerof the Nile were at his barn on the backside at Churchill Downs on Friday afternoon. Pioneerof the Nile was walking the shedrow but they kindly took a few minutes to pose for a few photos for us.
Bob Baffert and Pioneerof the Nile walk the shedrow at Churchill Downs
Earlier in the day, Pioneerof the Nile galloped a mile and a half at 8am after the renovation break with exercise rider George Alvarez up. Trained by three-time Kentucky Derby winner and recent Hall of Fame inductee Bob Baffert, Pioneerof the Nile will be ridden by Garrett Gomez next Saturday. Baffert has his final pre-Derby workout scheduled for Monday.
Pioneerof the Nile, who has only raced on synthetic surfaces until now, had his first work over the dirt at Churchill Downs on April 21, breezing five furlongs in a sharp 1:00 4/5 under exercise rider Joe Steiner. He went out just after the break for track maintenance and posted the fourth-fastest of 19 workers for the day over the "fast" surface.
The Kentucky-bred colt covered the distance in fractional times of :12 1/5, :24 1/5, and :36 2/5. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13 2/5. Baffert said the work was actually longer than the five furlongs credited to the colt by Churchill Downs clockers.
"He looked good -- he skipped right over it," Baffert explained. "I ended up working him seven-eighths and let him gallop out strong. I got him in :26 and three (1:26 3/5), and he galloped out all the way down the backside. So it was a good little work and it was not really hard on him."
Champion Female Sprinter of 2008 Indian Blessing was also out walking the shedrow on Friday afternoon.
Baffert was pleased with the way he has taken to the track at Churchill. He said, "It was nice and relaxed -- I didn't want to do too much. It looked like he skipped over it, because I know the track, with the rain, was a little bit deep. I had some other horses work and some horses struggled over it. But he has taken to it great, so far. I like what I see."
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Analyzing the Preakness Stakes Contenders for 2013 - My annual analysis using popular angles and statistical trends to see who best matches the profile of a Preakness winner. The big surprise is that Kentucky Derby winner Orb is not in the top group!
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Wednesday Kentucky Derby Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 18 Derby horses, everyone on the grounds except the one in quarantine, and 6 Oaks fillies from this morning on the track.
Kentucky Oaks Entries - A field of 11 fillies will go, with Gulfstream Oaks winner Dreaming of Julia favorite at 3-1 from post 8. Get the post positions, odds, and free past performances here.
Top Kentucky Derby Contenders - my list of the top horses headed to the Derby with profiles for each with photos, stats, and link to more info like past performances and pedigree.
Analyzing the top 2013 Kentucky Derby contenders - My 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 there were is a 3-way tie for the top spot: Goldencents, Normandy Invasion, and Overanalyze.
2013 Kentucky Derby And Oaks Security - New enhanced stricter rules will be enforced this year. Be sure to read the rules as many have changed and more things are banned. There will still be magnetic wand searches of all patrons and many things are no longer allowed. Check here to make sure you don't bring anything they will confiscate.
Review: Triple Crown Handicapper 2013 - by Jim Mazur. Includes lots of stats for all 3 races and explains how to use a system of statistically derived negative angles to eliminate the "bad" picks.
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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.