A foot problem knocked out a 3rd grader Morelo considered for this year’s Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on May 7 at Churchill Downs.
Morello most recently finished sixth as the 9-5 favorite team during the April 9 Wood Memorial Celebration presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) at Water troughs and he hasn’t worked since that attempt. Coach Steve Asmussen said Sunday at Churchill that Morello had been dropped from Derby consideration.
Asmussen said: “We will turn our backs on him. “It’s just that the foot is not 100%. He blew the shoe at Wood. I’ve talked to the partners and we’ll do what’s right with him and try to get him to develop some development. strong paws. He’s too good of a horse to not do everything you can for it.”
Campaigned by Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor and Diamond T Racing, Morello qualified for the Derby by 4 1/2 length in the March 5 Gotham Stakes (G3) match at the Aqueduct. That effort marked the son of Classic Empire The third win of many starts — all at the Aqueduct — after the first win for the first time in November and a point in the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes in February.
Morello placed 15th on the Road to Kentucky Derby scores list, which is used to determine the 20-horse field limit. With Morello’s departure, ranked 2 Medina’s Pioneers move into 20th place. Todd Pletcher said Sunday morning that they will make the final decision after the Pioneer of Medina gets its fresh air on April 25 at Churchill but they are leaning towards joining the Derby.
“(We) need to see the breeze tomorrow, but… he galloped well this morning,” Pletcher said. “(He) seems to be in good shape.”
Campaigned by Sumaya US Stable, Pioneer of Medina won 25 Road to the Kentucky Derby points this winter and spring at Fair Grounds & Slots. He most recently finished third in the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) on April 2 after finishing fourth in the Risen Star Stakes presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) in February.
Medina pioneers arrive at Churchill Downs April 17
“It’s a well-trained horse,” says Pletcher. “It’s a horse that advances in every race.” “You know, I think the Fair Grounds form is being kept pretty strong and he’s been competitive in those races. So he needs to come forward again, but you know we like what we’ve seen.”
Medina’s vanguard is the son of Pioneers of the Nile who is the son of a Triple Crown winner American pharoah . Raised in Kentucky by International Equities Holding, Pioneer of Medina was the first of the first ponies to win the Lights of Medina 2-layer deposit by Eskendereya .
Although until Sunday the Pioneer of Medina was on the wrong side of the Derby bubble, Pletcher said the connections do not count as a run in the final points race on this year’s schedule, April 16 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes ( G2) at Keenelandbecause Lexington’s timing relative to the Derby wasn’t ideal.
“We felt that, if we got in, we would get in. If not, that’s not the case,” Pletcher said. “If we’re going to run, we want to do it the right way and get the best shot at it. We’re ready to roll the dice and if he doesn’t score we’ll move on to something else.”
