Churchill Downs welcomed GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) early Tuesday morning as part of a contingent of shippers arriving from Fair Grounds.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen expressed confidence in his colt’s development. “We thought he’d run a better race in the Louisiana Derby with the extra distance and he took the step forwarded he needed,” Asmussen said. “He has a great mind to him. I think he ran a solid race but there is more in him.”
CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm’s John Hancock (Constitution), who finished fourth in the Louisiana Derby, also arrived at Churchill Downs from Fair Grounds to trainer Brad Cox’s Barn 22.
Joining the Derby hopefuls was Godolphin’s Good Cheer (Medaglia d’Oro), the likely favorite for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Built (Hard Spun), fifth-place finisher in the Louisiana Derby, arrived Monday at trainer Wayne Catalano’s Barn 14.
Louisiana Derby runner-up Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) took a different route, arriving at Turfway Park Sunday night. Owner Terry Stephens and trainer Ethan West plan to complete most of the colt’s Kentucky Derby preparations at the Florence, Ky. racetrack.
“Between the Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby, I could tell in his training that he took a step forward,” West said. “Galloping him at Turfway before the Louisiana Derby, you could tell he put on weight and was more powerful in his stride. I think he probably got a little tired late in the Louisiana Derby but there’s a lot of room to build off that performance in the next five weeks.”
West noted the colt’s quick recovery after the Louisiana Derby. “As soon as I got back to the barn Saturday night, he was in the feed tub and cooling out great.”
For West, this represents his first Kentucky Derby starter as a trainer. “This being my first starter in the Kentucky Derby, I’ve read a lot of interviews from people like Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert, who have had success in the Derby. They all seem to have the same idea of keeping routines the same leading up to the Derby. So, we’re going to try our best to do just that.”
Chunk of Gold would mark Stephens’ second Derby starter. He previously co-owned O Besos (Orb), who finished fourth in Kentucky Derby 147.
“This is actually my first horse for Terry,” West explained. “He had horses with my brother, Aaron West, and that’s how the connection between us was made. Terry owns a steel company in Russell Springs, Ky. It’s a really small town but my brother and I spent several years there at a training center.”
The Louisiana Derby runner-up is tentatively scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Saturday, April 26, just prior to the 11 a.m. deadline when all Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders must be on the grounds.
