Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Gronkowski has ‘minor setback,’ may miss Derby
Gronkowski’s trip to the Kentucky Derby just might get spiked.
Reports from Great Britain on Monday are that Gronkowski has suffered a “minor setback” that could prevent him from running in the Derby on May 5 at Churchill Downs.
Also on Monday came news that Arkansas Derby runnerup Quip will bypass the Derby, which allows Combatant into the Derby field. So if Gronkowski does come out of the Derby, it will pave the way for Instilled Regard.
Gronkowski trainer Jeremy Noseda told the British publication The Racing Post, “We’ve had a minor setback and will know where we are in the next 24 hours.”
Gronkowski is named for Rob Gronkowski, the popular tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Last week, it was announced the player had bought an interest in the colt.
Gronkowski – who made the Derby field by topping the standalone European Road to the Derby series – was scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Friday.
The developments resulted in some serious scoreboard watching in Ocala, Fla., where trainer Steve Asmussen was at the 2-year-olds in training sale.
Asmussen trains Combatant, who was 21st on the Derby points list as of Sunday night. But with Quip out of the race, Combatant is now in the top 20 for a race in which a maximum of 20 can run. Asmussen said Ricardo Santana Jr. will retain the mount in the Derby.
Combatant most recently was fourth in the Arkansas Derby behind Magnum Moon, who is the co-second choice on the Derby future line set by Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper.
Asmussen said Combatant would have just one pre-Derby work, next Monday. Asmussen often works his horses nine days after a race, but said he decided to bypass a workout on Monday morning at Churchill Downs since Combatant would be coming back for a race in just 21 days.
“Fitness is not an issue.” Asmussen said. “A half in 52 isn’t going to make the difference in whether or not he wins the Derby.”
With Combatant now in the Derby field, Instilled Regard is on the bubble at 21. If Gronkowski also comes out, Instilled Regard would get in. Instilled Regard’s owner, Larry Best, wants to run in the Derby. Instilled Regard most recently was fourth in the Santa Anita Derby behind the Derby favorite, Justify.
Assuming Instilled Regard gets in, that would have put Snapper Sinclair on the bubble, but he will not run in the Derby and instead will return to grass for the American Turf, co-owner Jeff Bloom said Monday. Next is Blended Citizen, who definitely would run in the Derby if he can get in.
Entries for the Derby are to be taken Tuesday morning, with posts drawn later that day. In addition to the 20 horses in the race’s main body, up to four also-eligibles are allowed.
My Boy Jack gains partner
West Point Thoroughbreds has purchased an interest in multiple graded stakes winner My Boy Jack, and will be chasing the Kentucky Derby in partnership for the second straight year.
The move adds another ownership group to the program for My Boy Jack in a season in which partnerships have been the norm for Derby hopefuls. My Boy Jack will race for Sol Kumin’s Monomoy Stables, Kirk Godby and Matt Bryan’s Don’t Tell My Wife Stables, and West Point Thoroughbreds. Jockey Kent Desormeaux will wear the Monomoy silks aboard My Boy Jack, trained by his brother Keith.
Last year, West Point purchased an interest in Always Dreaming before the colt won the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby.
“I’ve always liked this horse and admire his versatility,” West Point’s Terry Finley said in a release.
“There’s great karma surrounding this colt and his connections, and he’s come out swinging this year despite several tough trips. We’re grateful for the opportunity to join an awesome ownership group and thrilled to provide a dedicated group of our partners the chance to once again experience the magic of the Derby dream.”
My Boy Jack was bred by Brereton C. Jones, who stands the colt’s sire, Creative Cause, at Airdrie Stud. Don’t Tell My Wife Stable purchased the colt for $20,000 out of the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale. On the Kentucky Derby trail this season, My Boy Jack, a stakes performer on turf as a juvenile, finished third in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita before taking the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn and finishing third in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. He punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby by winning the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.
West Point also owns an interest in Kentucky Oaks candidate Coach Rocks, campaigning the Gulfstream Park Oaks winner with Roddy Valente and RAP Racing.