Angles of particular regional interest:
Tennessee and Texas media: Super Stock is co-owned by Nashville talent mogul Erv Woolsey and Keith Asmussen of Laredo Texas, dad of trainer Steve Asmussen – Lone Star Park’s all-time winningest trainer.
Louisiana media: Midnight Bourbon and Super Stock are trained by Steve Asmussen, arguably the most successful trainer in Louisiana history. Midnight Bourbon ran three times at the Fair Grounds, winning the Grade 3 Lecomte and finishing second in the $1 million Louisiana Derby. Mandaloun, trained by four-time Fair Grounds leading trainer Brad Cox and ridden by three-time Fair Grounds leading jockey Florent Geroux, ran three times at the Fair Grounds meet, winning the Grade 2 Risen Star.
Arkansas media: Essential Quality, Super Stock, Caddo River all ran at Oaklawn Park. Trainer Steve Asmussen as perennially among the leading trainers at Oaklawn, while Florent Geroux rode there most of the 2021 meet.
Ellis Park/western and southwestern Kentucky media: Louisiana Derby runner-up Midnight Bourbon started his career at Ellis Park, with a third in his debut before winning a maiden race by 5 1/2 lengths. Owner Ron Winchell is the co-owner and co-managing partner of Kentucky Downs.
Media: Please find below links to video interviews available for your use in any legitimate capacity. Videos shot by Jennie Rees, communications specialist for the Kentucky HBPA, as part of our initiative to supplement racing content for news outlets on the run up to the Kentucky Derby. To get these videos as soon as they’re posted, subscribe to the Kentucky HBPA Youtube channel.
Saturday, April 24
Brad Cox after works by Godolphin’s Kentucky Derby favorite Essential Quality (5F 1:00.40) and Juddmonte Farms’ Risen Star winner Mandaleun (1:00). There’s a reason he’s always smiling in these videos!
Godolphin/Darley America’s Jimmy Bell on Essential Quality, Derby Dreamin’ & much more
Jockey Florent Geroux after Mandaloun’s final work before the Kentucky Derby
Steve Asmussen on a variety of subjects, including Super Stock (5F 1:01.20), Midnight Bourbon, Kentucky Derby and family
Chad Brown on Blue Grass runner-up Highly Motivated and his Kentucky Oaks fillies. Starts with b-roll of Highly Motivated’s work (5F 1:00.40).
Spendthrift Farm general manager Ned Toffey on possible Derby entrant Keepmeinmind, winning Derby last year with Authentic and the trio of 2021 Derby contenders by farm’s super-sire Into Mischief
B-roll of works and training from Saturday morning at Churchill Downs
Previously
Friday
Brad Cox after Caddo River works five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.60 – plus latest on Essential Quality, Mandaloun and his Kentucky Oaks duo of Travel Column and Coach.
Todd Pletcher after working his four Derby horses (Known Agenda inside of Sainthood 5F in 1:01; Dynamic One 4F 47.80 in company; Bourbonic 4F 49.60 by himself) and leading Kentucky Oaks contender Malathaat 4F in 48.40.
Jockey Jose Ortiz after working Wood Memorial runner-up Dynamic One a half-mile in 47.80 seconds on the outside of Prime Factor. Splits were 24.40, 36.20 and galloping out in 1;00.60 and 1:13.20.
Jockey Irad Ortiz after working Florida Derby winner Known Agenda 5F in 1:01 with stablemate Sainthood.
Julien Leparoux after working 3-for-3 Tampa Bay Derby winner Helium as easy half-mile in 49.80 shortly after the track opened at 5:15 a.m.
Previously
Thursday:
Jockey Marcelino Pedroza Jr.
Trainer Greg Foley
O Besos b-roll video
Tuesday
Chad Brown on Derby contender Highly Motivated, second by a neck in Keeneland’s Toyota Blue Grass behind Essential Quality, and 3-for-3 Kentucky Oaks candidate Search Results.
Brad Cox on his Derby contenders, with the news being Arkansas Derby runner-up Caddo River is now considered definite for the Derby, pending Saturday’s work.
Monday
Asmussen on Midnight Bourbon’s work (5 furlongs in 59.80) and more reflection on Super Stock.
Todd Pletcher on his Derby quartet, April 19, 2021
From Sunday: Asmussen on his Oaks fillies
Brad Cox following works by unbeaten champion Essential Quality (5F, 59.60) and Mandaloun (6F 1:11.40), and an update on Arkansas Derby runner-up Caddo River
Jockey Luis Saez on Essential Quality (includes work b-roll)
Jockey Florent Geroux on Mandaloun (includes work b-roll)
Garrett O’Rourke, manager of Juddmonte Farms’ American operation, talks about Mandaloun, the well-beaten favorite in the Fair Grounds’ $1 million TwinSpires Louisiana Derby, and trying to win the Kentucky Derby for the first time after the passing of Juddmonte founder Prince Khalid bin Abdullah in January.
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione after working Soup and Sandwich for the first time for trainer Mark Casse
David Carroll, assistant trainer to Mark Casse, discusses Florida Derby runner-up Soup and Sandwich and 3-for-3 Tampa Bay Derby winner Helium. Julien Leparoux talks about taking over the mount on Helium for the Kentucky Derby.
Thursday:
We catch up with two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher at Churchill Downs after Shadwell Farm’s unbeaten Ashland Stakes winner Malathaat worked a half-mile in 49 seconds for the Kentucky Oaks and his Kentucky Derby quartet of 1-2 Wood Memorial finishers Bourbonic and Dynamic One, Florida Derby winner Known Agenda and Jeff Ruby runner-up Sainthood trained. Video starts with b-roll of Malathaat.
Drayden Van Dyke, 26, was a fixture on the Churchill Downs backstretch as a kid but started his riding career in California. With lots of palm trees but diminishing opportunities, Van Dyke has relocated to his birth state – with three-time Kentucky Derby winner and Hall of Famer Gary Stevens his agent.
Wednesday:
Steve Asmussen relates the twists of fate that led to Super Stock winning the $1 million, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby for his parents, Keith and Marilyn, and Nashville music manager Erv Woolsey.
Tuesday:
Greg Foley talks about Louisiana Derby third-place finisher O Besos, and playing the waiting game to get into the Kentucky Derby. Shot Tuesday, April 13.
Trainer Kenny McPeek talks about his Preakness Stakes winner and 3-year-old champion Swiss Skydiver getting a rematch with two-time champion Monomoy Girl in Oaklawn Park’s Grade 1 Apple Blossom.
Last Saturday:
Kenny McPeek talks about King Fury, upset winner of Saturday’s Stonestreet Lexington. King Fury will run in the Derby if he can get in the 20-horse field; otherwise he’ll train up to the Preakness Stakes.
Kentucky HBPA Press Release
