KY Derby Day Begins With Drying-Out Muddy Track

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/04/2024 - 05:33
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KY Derby Day Begins With Drying-Out Muddy Track
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Kentucky Derby day has arrived, with conditions a little better than Kentucky Oaks day. A track official said this morning the main track is muddy and the turf course "good." The 14-race card begins at 10:30 a.m. ET.

The main track was harrowed in advance of the first race.

Whether those courses stay in that condition or are upgraded will likely depend on the weather. As of 9 a.m., the National Weather Service called for a 30% chance of light rain through the day. Otherwise, cloudy skies and humid conditions are forecast, and the high temperature should reach about 79 degrees.

The Churchill Downs main track is quick-drying. Absent rainfall, upgrades to either "good" surface or fast main track would appear likely as the day progresses. Post time for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) is not until 6:57 p.m. ET.

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Scratches are down sharply from last year's Derby when five horses were withdrawn. Only Encino  and also-eligible Mugatu  are out of the race, and both were announced days ago.

A reminder that updated current Kentucky Derby odds are available on the bottom on the home page of the BloodHorse website, courtesy of Twin Spires. 

Here are the day's full scratches, as announced by Equibase this morning:

Race 2: #1 Navy Goat , #4 Steel Racer 

Race 3: #5 Gorilla Trek , #6 Nullify 

Race 4: #4 Pats Property 

Race 5: #7 Our Shot , #17 Sketch 

Race 7: #10 Infinite Diamond 

Race 9: #1 Twirling Point , #17 Dancing Groom 

Race 10: #3 Bo Cruz 

Race 11: #9 Never Explain 

Race 12 (The Kentucky Derby): #9 Encino, #22 Mugatu

Race 13: #1 Agoo , #9 General Partner , #10 Epic Battle , #13 Pirate , #15 Sir Greylind 

Race 14: #5 Code Word