WHO’S HOT
There were no changes to the Derby Watch top 20 from last week to this week, not in terms of the lineup or the future line set by Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper, who has Nyquist as the 7-2 favorite 10 days out from the May 7 Kentucky Derby. Nyquist is scheduled for his final pre-Derby workout on Friday at Keeneland. A minority ownership stake in Destin, the winner of the Tampa Bay Derby, was acquired on Tuesday by the Eclipse Thoroughbreds partnership.
Not who, but what – the weather, that’s what’s not hot. According to The Weather Channel, there is a 90 percent chance of rain in Louisville on Saturday and a 100 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms on Sunday, so those with works scheduled for the weekend may be impacted. At least four Derby horses, including Mohaymen, are scheduled for works on Friday morning at Churchill Downs, and perhaps a few who were slotted for Saturday – such as Destin – will now get moved to Friday, too.
ON THE BUBBLE
The connections of Fellowship, Adventist, Laoban, and Dazzling Gem – ranked 21st through 24th on the points list – are still hoping to draw in. Entry day is next Wednesday, May 4, and at that time, the top 20 draw posts for the 20 stalls. However, up to four also-eligibles are allowed at entry time, so those horses could still be entered and draw in from the also-eligible list before scratch time at 9 a.m. Eastern on May 6.