Blazing Sevens will skip the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 6 at Churchill Downs and instead directed to Preakness Stakes May 20 (G1) at Racecourse Pimlico.
The Blazing Sevens are 17th in the Road to the Kentucky Derby with 46 points. The top 20 3-year-olds qualify for the race. With his defection, Jace’s Road into the top 20.
Coach Chad Brown told Daily Racing Form on April 23, “I just feel like (Blazing Sevens) is really running out of time to develop to go into that race with a good chance to compete, that is. I’m looking for a chance to win or be in the top three. He’s falling behind where he should be.”
Owned by Rodeo Creek Racing and bred by Tracy Farmer, the Blazing Sevens started its 3-year-old campaign with eighth place in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park and most recently finished third in Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.
“It’s hard to get through when you have those highly sought-after spots,” Brown told DRF. “(Owners) John and Carla Capek are customers who have been at this game for three years, they are great at communicating and when talking to them they want to put the horse first, which I love prefer.”
Another student of Brown, Shidabhuti will skip the Kentucky Oaks (G1), held at the Louisville circuit the day before the Derby.
Brown told DRF that after she finished third in Gazelle Stakes (G3), it was decided to shrink her for a turn.
Attempts to reach Brown were unsuccessful.
