Bold Conquest Not Likely for Derby AE List

Trainer Steve Asmussen said April 27 that Bold Conquest, No. 22 on the leaderboard for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), would likely not enter to sit on the also-eligible list for the May 2 classic.

Bold Conquest, fifth in the April 11 Arkansas Derby (gr. I) for Ackerly Brothers Farm, needs two runners to drop out of the Derby in order to make the 20-horse field; he is preceded on the leaderboard by bubble horse Frammento, who would get the first spot if any of the 20 contenders defect. In addition to the 20-horse field, two runners may enter to sit on the also-eligible list. Jeff Bonde trainee Metaboss sits at No. 23 on the leaderboard.

Bold Conquest breezed well at Churchill Downs the morning of April 27, going five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 outside a workmate. Clockers caught the son of Curlin   in splits of :13 1/5, :25 2/5, :37 3/5, and :49 3/5, with a gallop-out in 1:16.

"He handled well, caught him 1:01 and four, went really smoothly," Asmussen said. "I think the easy part about it for us is that he is stabled here, this is his barn and where he would be (anyway), and if he doesn't get in then we'll just make the decision from here and continue to train. We'll just worry about this week now."

Bold Conquest earned his 17 points for the Kentucky Derby by hitting the board in races such as the Iroquois Stakes (gr. II), Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (gr. I), Southwest Stakes (gr. II), and the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) before regressing slightly to his Arkansas Derby fifth-place finish.

"Like anything else, you work from the position you're in," Asmussen said. "What we concern ourselves with is how he's doing. We feel very good about how he came out of Arkansas; thought he was back on his feet this week, thought he was a little flat last week, and thought he had a much better breeze today, and that's all you're looking for and hoping to see."