Chip Honcho to Skip Kentucky Derby, Target Preakness

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen didn't see quite enough from Risen Star Stakes (G2) runner-up Chip Honcho during an April 25 breeze and will opt to skip the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1) and point to the Preakness Stakes (G1). The decision to not enter the Derby, which draws at around 2 p.m. ET Saturday, opened a spot in the main field for Litmus Test. His connections confirmed that they plan to enter, and they no longer will have to hope to draw into the race from the also-eligible list. Chip Honcho completed a 5-furlong move in 1:00 4/5 Saturday at Churchill Downs during the 7:15 a.m. time set aside for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopefuls. About an hour later, Asmussen announced the Connect colt would skip the Derby and be pointed to the May 16 Preakness, the 1 3/16-mile second leg of the Triple Crown, taking place this year at Laurel Park. Following the Risen Star, where Chip Honcho finished a close second to Paladin, Asmussen's colt finished fifth in the Louisiana Derby (G2), an effort his trainer is still trying to fully understand. "I think we don't have a good answer for the disappointing run in the Louisiana Derby, and we don't want to put two of those in a row," Asmussen said. "We don't want to waste a horse that obviously showed a level of ability at 2 and early in the year. He can be a significant 3-year-old." Since the March 21 Louisiana Derby, Asmussen has kept a close eye on the talented runner who secured a maiden special weight win in November at Churchill and won the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in December before running fourth in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) and second in the Risen Star there. "Horses are extremely fluid from one day to the next, and I think we're headed in the right direction with a very big horse," Asmussen said. "We want to regroup and move forward, not back up." The decision puts last year's Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner, Litmus Test, into the main Derby field, which is restricted to 20. Litmus Test is campaigned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. "It's exciting for us. He worked great the other day," Starlight Racing racing manager Corbin Blumberg said. "It's great for the partners. Now we have not one but two horses in the Kentucky Derby. It's such a special horse race so anytime you can have a shot at it, it's well worth it." Litmus Test is trained by six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, who also has San Felipe Stakes (G2) winner Potente expected to be entered off his runner-up finish in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). Potente is campaigned by Speedway Stables. In partnership with St. Elias Stable, Starlight also has Jeff Ruby Stakes (G3) winner Fulleffort in the expected field of 20 to be entered. Fulleffort is trained by Brad Cox. As of 10:40 a.m. Saturday, horses who could be entered in the Kentucky Derby as also-eligibles include John Battaglia Memorial Stakes winner Great White, Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) third-place finisher Ocelli, and San Felipe runner-up Robusta. Ahead of the draw, John Ennis confirmed Great White was entered in the Derby as an also-eligible (No. 21). He also cross-entered him in the Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2) on the same card as a backup if the horse does not draw into the Derby. Trainer Whit Beckman confirmed that Ocelli also was entered (No. 22). Two-time Derby-winning trainer Doug O'Neill confirmed that Robusta also has been entered. He'll be the third also-eligible. Lexington Stakes (G3) third-place finisher Corona de Oro is a fourth also-eligible, according to Churchill Downs publicity.