The 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) is Saturday, May 4, at Churchill Downs, offering a record $5 million purse. The field is limited to 20 starters based on Kentucky Derby qualifying points from dozens of prep races.
ENDLESSLY
Endlessly
Well, he easily made the gate with the 100 Road to the Kentucky Derby points he picked up with his win in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) over Turfway Park’s synthetic surface, but will he make it into the gate on May 4?
Immediately following his biggest career win to date, trainer Michael McCarthy indicated the synthetic specialist would skip the Run for the Roses. Derby fever may have claimed another victim, however, as now the connections are leaning toward sending the colt out for the 1 ¼-mile event.
As a two-time graded stakes winner on turf, there is no question this colt is a grass standout with a sprinkling of synthetic specialists on top for good measure, and when the initial announcement was made he’d be skipping the Kentucky Derby, hardly anyone blamed his connections. When they backtracked and thought they’d roll the dice, hardly anyone blamed them as well.
So he will be far back early, waiting for the pace to back up to him. And if he handles his first dirt surface, he will be rolling late.
ENDLESSLY breezes 5 furlongs in 1:00.08 in preparation for the 150th #KyDerby. pic.twitter.com/4u6khB22lu
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 20, 2024
2024 Kentucky Derby Contenders: Endlessly
Betting advice: Hard to bet this one in his first career dirt start with a whole lot of confidence. He knows how to win, however, and aside from a somewhat flat and uncharacteristic eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), he’s shown nothing but heart and ability. Pedigree suggests distance is within his capability, but also turf capability. He certainly should move up, however, should the rains show up.
Post Position: 13
Odds: 30/1
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Owners: Amerman Racing (Jerry and Joan Amerman)
Career record: 6-5-0-0
Career earnings: $707,200
Most recent race: Jeff Ruby Steaks, March 23 (2st)
Top Equibase speed figure: 103
Pedigree: Oscar Performance—Dream Fuhrever, by Langfuhr
Color: Bay
Running Style: closer
Notes: The Amermans also bred and campaigned Breeders’ Cup winner and Endlessly’s sire Oscar Performance… this will be the first Derby starter for the Amermans and the first for McCarthy though he was responsible for helping his former boss, Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, ready his first runners in for the Derby many years before hanging up his own shingle… Rispoli previously rode Brooklyn Strong to a 14th-place finish in 2022.