Updated profiles, with post positions and track odds for the 20 3-year-olds entered for the 151st running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs are available Saturday (May 3).
In March, just before Owen Almighty was ready to run in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), trainer Brian Lynch went on record as saying the goal would be the Pat Day Mile (G1), not the Kentucky Derby (G1).
After Owen Almighty rolled to a gate-to-wire, 3 ½ length victory in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 8, plans sort of changed. The Kentucky Derby was now in the picture since the colt had earned enough points to qualify for the race.
The Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland on April 8 was next, but when Owen Almighty dead-heated for sixth, Lynch was back to the Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard.
“He had the perfect trip and had every chance to make it his race, but he came up a little empty when we needed it,’’ Lynch said after the Blue Grass. “I don’t think the Derby is the way we will go. We’ll regroup and talk with our people and come up with another plan.”
Those people [owners] -- Dutch Bros. Coffee co-founder Travis Boersma and the family’s Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing – got together, and it was decided: Kentucky Derby.
“The biggest thing is it's the Kentucky Derby," Flying Dutchmen president Hunter Rankin told bloodhorse.com. “While we know he's going to be a longshot for sure, you don't get many chances at it, and we're going to take one more shot with him.”
The biggest concern is distance. Yes, he won at 1 1/16 miles in Tampa, but the Derby is 1 ¼ miles. His sire is Speightstown, who was a top sprinter.
In addition, Owen Almighty will be ridden for the first time by Javier Castellano, who won his first Derby aboard Mage in 2023.
Castellano, though, will be riding in his 17th Derby – he won in 2023 aboard Mage.
Owen Almighty won his career debut going 5 ½ furlongs last June and ran second in the 1-mile Iroquois Stakes (G3) in September in his two races over Churchill Downs.
If the trainer is not high on his horse going 1 ¼ miles, we can’t be excited about his chances. No bet.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
