Lord Miles to be Joseph's Third Derby Horse Since 2020

Saffie Joseph Jr., who as a 22-year-old in 2009 became the youngest trainer to win the Triple Crown in his native Barbados, continues his pursuit of the first leg of the American Triple Crown when he runs Lord Miles  in the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.

The Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner, Lord Miles will be the third Derby starter for Joseph, following Ny Traffic , eighth in the COVID-19-delayed Derby in September 2020, and White Abarrio , 16th last year.

Joseph, one of South Florida's top trainers, has a group of horses at Churchill Downs, with Lord Miles and White Abarrio, who runs in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on the Kentucky Derby undercard, being two of the most accomplished. 

Joseph is scheduled to run six horses Saturday, potentially seven if also-eligible Lookin for Roses  draws in from the also-eligible list in Saturday's 14th race, a maiden event.

His stable could use some good fortune, uplifting the spirits of a grieving Joseph and his staff after two of his horses perished after racing in the initial days of the meet. 

Joseph is realistic about his colt's Derby chances, knowing that Vegso Racing Stables' Lord Miles was only a nose winner of the Wood, a race most pundits agree was not as strong as other final Derby preps, such as the Florida Derby (G1), Santa Anita Derby (G1), Arkansas Derby (G1) and Blue Grass Stakes (G1). 

Lord Miles training this am #kyderby pic.twitter.com/f46SEGA7hG

— Byron King (@BH_BKing) May 3, 2023

"He needs to improve," Joseph said, as he watched Lord Miles graze outside his Churchill Downs barn. "He was (sharp) in the Wood but even the Wood race probably won't be good enough this time. He needs to step up again, but he is a 3-year-old and by Curlin  , so I think the distance should help him. He just needs to run the race of his life."

The steadily developing Lord Miles is 2-0-1 in five starts with earnings of $451,100. In two prior graded stakes starts before the Wood, he ran sixth in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), beaten in those respective races by Derby entrants Rocket Can  and Tapit Trice .

The Wood has not produced a Kentucky Derby winner since Funny Cide in 2003, though last year's Wood winner, Mo Donegal  , won the Belmont Stakes (G1), the third leg of the Triple Crown, after a fifth-place finish in the Derby when he broke from the disadvantageous rail. Also, Wood runner-up Early Voting   won the Preakness Stakes (G1), the Triple Crown's second jewel.

This year's Wood runner-up, Gary and Mary West's Hit Show , is also in the Derby, starting for trainer Brad Cox.

Both Lord Miles and Hit Show are 30-1 longshots on the morning line to win the Run for the Roses. Their Wood riders return in the Derby, with Paco Lopez on Lord Miles from post 19 and Manny Franco on the rail-drawn Hit Show.