Skinner Tunes Up at Santa Anita for Kentucky Derby

Skinner  might be arriving later than his counterparts in preparation for the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, but he is coming ready.

The 3-year-old Curlin   colt breezed six furlongs in 1:14 April 29 at Santa Anita Park for trainer John Shirreffs, who won the 2005 Derby with his first starter in the prestigious race, Giacomo , a 50-1 longshot. The veteran trainer has run four other Derby horses since, his most recent being Honor A. P.  , who finished fourth in 2020.

Saturday's workout from Skinner came under jockey Juan Hernandez and without a workmate. He finished well and galloped out with enthusiasm.

Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Skinner worked 6 Furlongs in 1:14.00 on April 29th, 2023, for trainer John Shirreffs. pic.twitter.com/U0uCz4aJWC

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) April 29, 2023

Hernandez, currently Santa Anita's leading jockey, will ride the Kentucky Derby for the first time aboard Skinner, who was third in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) under Victor Espinoza leading up to the Derby. The colt is 1-0-3 in six starts with earnings of $216,300 for owner Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable.

"This was the first time Juan was on him and he came back and said he really liked him, that he was 'very professional'," Shirreffs said. "I asked him to finish the work just like the one we'd done last week and he did; he finished up his last eighth in (:11 2/5)."

The colt was a $510,000 purchase by Mayberry Farm from the de Meric Sales consignment from the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2022 Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Skinner will be the last of the Derby prospects to stable at Churchill Downs from California after Japan-based Santa Anita Derby runner-up Mandarin Hero  arrived April 27 and Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move  and Sham Stakes (G3) winner Reincarnate  departed California early Saturday morning. 

Shirreffs said Skinner would leave Los Angeles International Airport April 30 at 3:30 a.m. PT. The trainer will arrive on a separate flight later in the day.

Skinner gained a starting spot in the Derby April 27 following a fatal training injury to Wild On Ice . The Derby is capped at 20 horses, with preference given to series winners, qualifying points, and earnings. The Derby typically oversubscribes.

Current Kentucky Derby Alternates Cyclone Mischief, King Russell Breeze

As of midday Saturday, Cyclone Mischief  is next in line for a berth. The Albaugh Family Stables and Castleton Lyons-owned 3-year-old breezed five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 at Churchill Downs Saturday. He is 21st on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard.

"He looked really good, now all we can do is wait and see," trainer Dale Romans said. "He's been training great. If he gets in, they'll know he's in there."

Romans said he would likely enter Cyclone Mischief on the also-eligible list in the Kentucky Derby.

Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) runner-up Major Dude  is 22nd, followed by Hiroaki Arai's Mandarin Hero in 23rd, and Brereton Jones' Arkansas Derby (G1) second-place finisher King Russell  in 24th. The latter breezed a half-mile Saturday at Churchill Downs in :47 4/5 for trainer Ron Moquett.

Last year, Rich Strike  drew in from the also-eligible list following a scratch the day before the race and upset the Derby at 80-1 odds.