Romans Confident Cyclone Mischief Will Make Derby Field

With time running out to draw into the field, the connections of first also-eligible Cyclone Mischief  are confident they will be part of the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. 

"I'm pretty sure we'll get in," trainer Dale Romans said. "Watching the horses out there (on the track this morning), there's a couple of them I don't think are running. At least one of them won't make it. We're ready to go.

"There's a lot of moving parts between now and 9 o'clock tomorrow," Romans said. "Whatever happens will happen but I feel like we're going to get in."

Scratch time for the Derby is Friday at 9 a.m. ET. Any defection submitted to the racing office before that time will allow the next highest-ranked horse on the also-eligible list by Road to the Kentucky Derby points to make the field. 

Cyclone Mischief is 21st on the list and would be the first to draw in. He would be assigned post 20, while everyone already assigned a post position outside of the scratched horse would move in one stall.

A son of Into Mischief  , Cyclone Mischief earned his 45 points from third-place finishes behind Forte  in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1). 

"My horse is consistent and training really well," Romans said. "He's getting older, just turned 3 the last day of April, and he just keeps getting better and better. He's got speed, which is always dangerous. That's why I don't think the 20-hole will bother him. He can get out of there and by the time we get to the turn he'll be clear and get over."

Romans said he has not made a decision on who would ride Cyclone Mischief. Joel Rosario was named at entry time but with first preference on Disarm . Javier Castellano was aboard in the Florida Derby but is committed to Mage.

"I'll have to see who comes out because it might be somebody I want," Romans said.