Kentucky
Kentucky Derby roundup: Fierceness tries the track
Fierceness, the champion 2-year-old of 2023 and possible favorite for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, made his first appearance on the Churchill Downs main track on Tuesday morning.
Fierceness galloped a mile during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks runners.
Also making his first appearance on track was Catalytic, who jogged a mile under exercise rider Olaf Hernandez.
Scheduled to work six furlongs on Wednesday morning is Forever Young. Jockey Ryuseu Sakai is slated to be aboard for the work.
At Gulfstream Park on Tuesday morning, Grand Mo the First worked six furlongs in 1:16.46 for trainer Victor Barboza Jr. Grand Mo the First is scheduled to ship to Louisville on Thursday.
Also at Gulfstream, Fiona’s Magic worked six furlongs in 1:15.16 toward the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks for trainer Bo Yates. Fiona’s Magic is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs in the next 48 hours, according to Yates
Catalytic. Making his first appearance on track Tuesday morning was Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George Isaacs’ Catalytic, who jogged a mile under exercise rider Olaf Hernandez.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Catalystic arrived at Churchill Downs Monday morning after vanning from South Florida. Catalystic is scheduled to work Sunday.
Catching Freedom, Encino, Just a Touch. Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Catching Freedom, Encino and Just a Touch all galloped about 1 1/2 miles on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m.
Following their training sessions, the trio schooled in the paddock at 10 a.m.
Cox, who was at Keeneland on Tuesday morning, is scheduled to be back at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.
Domestic Product, Sierra Leone. Trainer Chad Brown’s two Kentucky Derby hopefuls galloped a mile and a half during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.
It was the first day on the track for Domestic Product.
“The first day on the track was excellent. He was moving well,” Brown said.
Sierra Leone, winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes and Grade 2 Risen Star, had regular exercise rider Kriss Bon aboard.
Dornoch, Society Man. Trainer Danny Gargan’s Kentucky Derby hopefuls, Dornoch and Society Man, galloped a mile and a half under Pricilla Schaefer.
Dornoch galloped at 7:30 and comes into the Derby off a fourth-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1).
Society Man, the runner-up in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial in his most recent start, galloped at 9 a.m.
Endlessly. Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks winner, Endlessly had an easy 1 1/2 mile gallop early Tuesday morning.
Endlessly is slated to work Saturday.
Fierceness. Fierceness made his first appearance on the track at Churchill Downs on Tuesday morning.
Fierceness galloped a mile during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks runners.
“He looked smooth and handled it well,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of the morning’s activity.
Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Grade 1 Florida Derby in dominating fashion, Fierceness is scheduled to work Friday morning, weather permitting.
Pletcher said Fierceness would make a couple of trips to the starting gate as well as a couple of paddock schooling sessions next week.
Pletcher discusses Fierceness and Kentucky Oaks contender Leslie’s Rose with Jennie Rees of the Kentucky Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association.
Forever Young. The undefeated Forever Young warmed up in the mile chute for a half-hour before galloping a mile and a half under jockey Ryusei Sakai.
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young is scheduled to work six furlongs in company Wednesday morning with Sakai aboard.
Yahagi is scheduled to arrive in Louisville next Tuesday night and be trackside on Wednesday morning, May 1.
Grand Mo the First. At Gulfstream Park on Tuesday morning, Grand Mo the First worked six furlongs in 1:16.46 for trainer Victor Barboza Jr. Grand Mo the First is scheduled to ship to Louisville on Thursday.
“It was a beautiful workout,” Barboza said via text of the solo move with jockey Emisael Jaramillo up. “We will arrive there Thursday night, walk Friday and then go to the track Saturday.”
Honor Marie. Honor Marie galloped 1 1/2 miles on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. under trainer Whit Beckman’s exercise rider Maurilio Garcia.
His jockey, Ben Curtis, was also in town on Tuesday to watch his Derby mount train.
Just Steel. Just Steel returned to the track on Tuesday for the first time since his serious one-mile work Saturday.
The D. Wayne Lukas trainee had an easy gallop around 5:30 a.m.
Mystik Dan. Mystik Dan galloped a mile and a half for trainer Kenny McPeek.
Winner of the Grade 3 Southwest and most recently third in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, Mystik Dan is scheduled to work Saturday.
Resilience. Resilience jogged about one mile on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. a day after his five furlong move in 1:01.60
“It was a beautiful work and had very good energy,” jockey Junior Alvarado said. “He’s a very easy horse to manage. He galloped out very strong. I had to pull him up a little bit earlier because he wanted to keep going.”
Alvarado was named to ride Resilience in the Kentucky Derby.
Stronghold. Stronghold, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in his most recent start, was en route to Louisville on Tuesday morning from trainer Phil D’Amato’s main base at Santa Anita.
Stronghold was scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday afternoon.
Track Phantom. Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes winner, Track Phantom jogged about one mile then had a light gallop under exercise rider Roberto Howell on Tuesday at 5:45 a.m.
West Saratoga. West Saratoga galloped two miles at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Kentucky, under Donte Lowery for trainer Larry Demeritte.
West Saratoga is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs with a work scheduled for Saturday morning.
“I thank God every day for my blessings in this life and this is truly amazing how we got to this position with this horse,” Demeritte said. “I’m hopeful people will see our story and become interested in this sport because this horse is proving anyone with a dream can make it to the Derby stage.”
Also Eligibles. Welch Racing’s Epic Ride galloped at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Trainer John Ennis tentative plans call for Epic Ride to come to Churchill Downs after training Friday morning in Lexington.
Kentucky
2026 top-50 recruit Chris Washington Jr. drawing interest from Kentucky Basketball
Even in the era of the transfer portal and NIL, fans of a team will still focus on and care about recruiting. That’s especially the case with the Kentucky Wildcats. Fans are already up in arms about Kentucky’s recruiting for the class of 2026, or, in their case, lack thereof.
Only one player is signed for the class of 2026, after 4-star point guard Mason Williams announced his commitment to play for the Cats on Friday. On the board. Still work to do.
Chris Washington Jr., an Alabama decommit and top-35 senior prospect, is a new target for Mark Pope and UK ahead of the spring signing period in mid-April. The staff reached out to his AAU coach, Bobby Maze, to gauge the athletic wing’s potential interest. This is all according to Kentucky Sports Radio.
Washington is a 6-9, 195-pound forward who originally committed to Alabama, but decommitted in November. Kentucky is now included among the likes of Tennessee, Oregon, Oklahoma State, USC, and SMU that are interested in Washington.
“It’s a good program,” Washington said of Kentucky while adding, “Honestly, I just want to go where I’m wanted — and the play style. I got to go where I fit in and where the coaches really want me. (My recruitment is) open. Whenever the time is right.”
Only four players ranked ahead of him remain available in 2026, including No. 1 Tyran Stokes. That tells you just how big of a prospect Washington will be in the spring signing period.
Kentucky has swung and missed in recruiting a lot recently. But there is still time to get things moving in the right direction this spring on both the high school front and in the transfer portal.
Kentucky
Kentucky man arrested after police said he was riding horse while intoxicated
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WKRC) — A Kentucky man was arrested Thursday after police said he was riding a horse while intoxicated, reports WBKO.
Bowling Green police said they found 48-year-old Jorge Luis Hernandez on a horse, partially slumped over, as it walked along a road. He and the horse then began traveling on a sidewalk, according to an arrest record.
Police said Hernandez had a “strong odor of alcoholic beverage” and had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and delayed movements. Hernandez said he had just left the liquor store and had a liquor store bag tied to the horse’s saddle.
Hernandez was arrested and charged with operating a non-motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants.
Kentucky
Kentucky Newsmakers 3/29: Senate Candidate Charles Booker; Kentucky League of Cities Pres. Mayor Paul Sandefur
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – On the latest edition of Kentucky Newsmakers, WKYT’s Bill Bryant talks with Kentucky Senate candidate Charles Booker and Beaver Dam Mayor and Kentucky League of Cities President Paul Sandefur.
Copyright 2026 WKYT. All rights reserved.
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