After Strong Work, Pioneer of Medina Likely for Derby

The field for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) underwent a surprising change April 25 with the news that multiple graded stakes winner Classic Causeway  was once again under consideration for the May 7 opening leg of the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs.

Winner of the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2), the son of Giant's Causeway was painted as an unlikely starter by his connections after an 11th-place finish in the Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1), but the Churchill Downs racing office was informed Monday that the speedy 3-year-old was once again in the Run for the Roses picture.

The trickle down from that news left Sumaya U.S. Stable's Pioneer of Medina  once again on the bubble for the 20-horse classic. With Classic Causeway re-entering the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard at No. 11, it bumped Pioneer of Medina to the No. 21 spot.

While the son of Pionnerof the Nile will need a defection in order to run, that could be on the horizon. Though Early Voting  is 15th on the Leaderboard, trainer Chad Brown is leaning toward reserving the son of Gun Runner for the May 21 Preakness Stakes (G1) unless there is a change in the prospective field such as key scratch.

Pioneer of Medina appeared to have punched his Kentucky Derby ticket with a strong workout for trainer Todd Pletcher Monday at Churchill Downs.

"I think you can throw in all the trainer cliches you want," Pletcher said after the son of Pioneerof the Nile  breezed five furlongs in :59 4/5. "Very good work. Well executed. Good finish. Strong gallop out. Seemed like he was handling everything the way you would hope."

The workout was the fastest of eight at the distance on the fast main track Monday at Churchill.

Pioneer of Medina had ranked 21st on the Road to the Kentucky Derby points list of active contenders Sunday before No. 15 Morello was removed from Derby consideration because of a foot issue. 

Pletcher said Sunday that Monday's work would help determine whether Pioneer of Medina is entered in the 1 1/4-mile classic. Pioneer of Medina delivered on that front, and assuming the horse is healthy after the work, he remains in Derby consideration.

"I think the work confirmed, showed us what we were hoping to see and now we'll see how he comes out of it, talk to (Owner Oussama Aboughazale) and make a decision," Pletcher said.

Campaigned by Sumaya U.S. Stable, Pioneer of Medina earned his 25 Road to the Kentucky Derby points this winter and spring at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. He most recently finished third in the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) April 2 after finishing fourth in the Risen Star Stakes presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) in February.

"The one thing that we like about him is he seems to have improved a little bit with every start," Pletcher said. "He's had a good breeze over the track ... We'll see how he bounces out of this and see what Mr. Aboughazale wants to do but I think we saw what we were hoping to see this morning in terms of a really good work."

Pletcher, who said Monday that all his Derby hopefuls are training well, would be on-track for three Derby runners this year if Pioneer of Medina is entered. Those other runners include Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) winner Mo Donegal  and Florida Derby runner-up Charge It .

— Additional reporting by Bob Ehalt