While plenty can change in the days ahead of the Kentucky Derby (G1), as of this writing the past two covers of BloodHorse have outlined an expected showdown in the 150th Run for the Roses May 4 at Churchill Downs.
As you've seen by this point, the May issue features a photo of Fierceness charging to the wire March 30 at Gulfstream Park to win the Florida Derby (G1) by 13 1/2 lengths. The effort, similar to his 6 1/4-length victory in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), suggests the champion 2-year-old male has found his best form just in time after a lackluster third-place finish in the Feb. 3 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream—his only other start this season.
The April issue featured a shot of Risen Star Stakes (G2) winner Sierra Leone. How good was that Risen Star? It also featured eventual Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Catching Freedom and Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Resilience. Sierra Leone followed that score with his first grade 1 when he rallied to a clear victory in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) April 6 at Keeneland. The son of Gun Runner also appears to be hitting his best stride ahead of the 1 1/4-mile Derby test.
Fierceness again puts owner Mike Repole at the Derby doorstep with another champion, one year after Forte (co-owned by St. Elias Stables) was scratched the morning of the Derby and 13 years after Uncle Mo was withdrawn the day before the race. Sierra Leone, who is campaigned by Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith, would serve as a reminder of the heights a top-priced colt can deliver. Purchased as a yearling in 2022 for $2.3 million at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale, Sierra Leone would become the second seven-figure colt to win the Derby, joining the $4 million Fusaichi Pegasus.
This issue is filled with a number of Derby stories we think you'll enjoy, including bloodstock editor Eric Mitchell delving into the breeding of Catching Freedom, assistant MarketWatch editor Nicole Stafford examining auction prices of Triple Crown runners, contributor Ed Bowen looking at some top Derby winners bred outside of Kentucky, senior correspondent Lenny Shulman offering a feature on the Derby memories of veterinarian Dr. Robert Copelan, and senior columnist Jay Hovdey reminding everyone that some horses who have missed the Derby have gone on to top-notch careers.
It's a lineup heavy on history ahead of Derby 150 but there are plenty of ties to this year's race. There have been four horses bred outside of the United States to win the Derby but Japan figures to have a big shot to make it five this year—and the first for Japan—with undefeated UAE Derby (G2) winner Forever Young looking to capture a race in a fourth different country and Fukuryu Stakes winner T O Password qualifying out of the Japan Road to the Derby.
The story on top horses to miss the Derby has a timely hook with the ongoing suspension of Bob Baffert, which, unless a court intervenes, means that Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Muth will miss a spring start at Churchill.
The issue also includes assistant news editor Sean Collins' story on the 20th anniversary of the Backside Learning Center at Churchill. While it's not specifically a Derby story, it's an important foundation for backstretch workers at the home of the Derby. And this year's Derby has a tie to the BLC.
Through aforementioned Sierra Leone co-owner Smith, the Blue Grass Stakes winner is enrolled in the Purses For a Purpose program, which commits purse earnings to the BLC. In the story, BLC board member Caton Bredar notes that such programs are making a difference.
"There's been a different sense of community over the last couple of years on the backside," Bredar said. "I think that has largely been because of programs like Purses For a Purpose. The more people see what you do and the more people feel it is producing a more positive feeling within the community, the more people are willing to participate and contribute."
Enjoy this month's issue and the 150th Kentucky Derby.
This is the What's Going On Here column from the May 2024 BloodHorse Magazine.
