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Kentucky Derby roundup: Fierceness tries the track

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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.

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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 FreedomEncinoJust 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.

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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 ProductSierra 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.

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Sierra Leone, winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes and Grade 2 Risen Star, had regular exercise rider Kriss Bon aboard. 

DornochSociety 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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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

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“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.

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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.



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Kentucky

UCLA transfer Berke Buyuktuncel drawing interest from Kentucky

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UCLA transfer Berke Buyuktuncel drawing interest from Kentucky


The majority of the 2024-25 Kentucky Basketball is finished, but there are still four open scholarship spots. For that reason, we’re going to see Kentucky kicking the tires on just about every available option that emerges over the next month to fill those final spots.

We’ve got a new one to monitor in the form of UCLA Bruins forward Berke Buyuktuncel, who entered the transfer portal on Tuesday.

Per Jon Rothstein, Kentucky is among a host of schools that’ve contacted Berke, including Virginia, Ohio State, Louisville, Washington, and Iowa.

A class of 2023 signee out of Turkey, Berke was ranked 36th overall and seventh among power forwards in his class, according to 247 Sports. He’s represented his home country in international basketball competitions, including the summer of 2023 when he helped Turkey finish in third place at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.

The 6-foot-9, 245-pounder played in 26 games (eight starts) last season, averaging 4.5 points on 38.5% shooting (29.7% from 3-point range) and 2.5 rebounds per game. He attempted 37 3s on the season, connecting on 11, so he’s capable of stretching the floor, something Mark Pope has put a strong emphasis on with frontcourt transfers he’s contacted.

Kentucky’s frontcourt is going to rely heavily on Amari Williams, Andrew Carr, and Brandon Garrison to hold down the fort next season, so Berke could be a nice option as a fourth big man who would be competing for an 8th/9th man-type of role.

Whether Berke is open to that type of role or wants heavy playing minutes at a smaller program remains to be seen, but we know Kentucky has some level of interest in his services.

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Check out some highlights of Berke in action!

A Sea of Blue comes loaded with the best Kentucky Wildcats links, news, analysis, and other fun stuff, so be sure to like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. Go CATS!





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Friday NBA Best Bets, Kentucky Derby Winner, and Kenny Mayne Joins

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Friday NBA Best Bets, Kentucky Derby Winner, and Kenny Mayne Joins


Cousin Sal is joined by Kenny Mayne to talk wiffle ball and the Kentucky Derby, then the D3 hops on to discuss their best bets for Friday’s NBA games, the Conn Smythe Trophy, and the Kentucky Derby winner.

Host: Cousin Sal
Guests: Darren Szokoli, Brian Szokoli, Harry Gagnon, and Kenny Mayne
Producers: Michael Szokoli, Joel Solomon, Jack Wilson, Chris Wohlers, and Jonathan Frias

Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Stitcher / RSS



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Ex-Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin Barred From Estranged Wife’s Home

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Ex-Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin Barred From Estranged Wife’s Home


Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin lost access to a home he co-owns with his estranged wife after she complained to the court about his “aggressive and unsettling behavior.” The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that Glenna Bevin accused the 57-year-old Republican politician of following her around in the home where she lives with their two children, peppering her with questions about their pending divorce, and staying until she went to bed. She also wanted Bevin, who lives in a different home the couple co-owns, held in contempt. Jefferson Circuit Judge Angela Johnson gave the ex-governor—who served from 2015 to 2019—a week to get any belongings from the home before he is barred from the property unless the court or his wife allows it. But she declined to hold him in contempt, and suggested that he is living in denial that his marriage is over. “While [Matt Bevin] admitted that he did not want the divorce, [he] seems to be trying to keep the parties’ relationship and maintain a ‘business as usual’ environment,” the judge wrote. “However, the truth of the matter is that the parties are getting a divorce. Normalcy and the ‘business as usual’ environment are gone.”

Read it at Lexington Herald-Leader



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