Kentucky

Kentucky Derby roundup: Fierceness tries the track

Published

2 years ago

April 23, 2024

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.

Source link

Kentucky

Kentucky loses recruiting prediction for 5-star forward Christian Collins as NIL looms large

Published

10 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Kentucky loses recruiting prediction for 5-star forward Christian Collins as NIL looms large

Collins, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward from Bellflower, California, is widely regarded as one of the premier frontcourt prospects in the country. His blend of athleticism, scoring ability, and defensive versatility made him a major priority for Kentucky head coach Mark Pope and his staff as they work to build future recruiting classes.

According to Jacob Polacheck of KSR, Collins’ recruitment is being heavily influenced by NIL structure and contract details, a growing trend at the top of the recruiting landscape. That reality was addressed publicly earlier this month by Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart during Will Stein’s introductory press conference as the Wildcats’ new football head coach.

Barnhart pushed back strongly against the perception that Kentucky is at an NIL disadvantage, saying, “Enough about ‘have we got enough?’ We’ve got enough.” He also emphasized that Kentucky will not compromise its standards to land recruits. “We’ve got to do it the right way,” Barnhart said. “We’re not going to break the rules. That’s flat-out.”

While Kentucky no longer holds a crystal ball prediction for Collins, the Wildcats are not out of the race. However, his recruitment now appears far more fluid, underscoring the increasingly complex balance between elite talent, NIL expectations, and long-term program philosophy in modern college basketball.

Source link

Kentucky

FCPS superintendent to recommend keeping Stables program at Kentucky Horse Park

Published

22 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

FCPS superintendent to recommend keeping Stables program at Kentucky Horse Park

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins announced Tuesday he will recommend keeping The Stables alternative school at its current location through the end of next school year.

The school is located within the Kentucky Horse Park and allows students to work with horses while learning in a smaller setting. FCPS’ “Project Right Size Bright Futures” initiative had been considering terminating the facility contract over efficiency reasons.

Parents like Jennifer Boling understand the implications of the decision after seeing what the program did for her two children.

“It’s just changed their complete life around. Neither one of them trusted adults before,” Boling said.

The district’s Right Size Bright Futures committee had been looking at cutting the school’s facility contract with the nonprofit Central Kentucky Riding for Hope. Liggins acknowledged Tuesday that while the program is costly, it is worthwhile.

Liggins said he wants to promote the work being done to find partnerships to help continue the program’s long-term viability.

School Board Chair Tyler Murphy told WKYT he was excited to hear about Liggins’ recommendation ahead of Thursday’s board meeting.

“They do incredible work. The passion around that work is very meaningful and powerful. It’s important because they are truly leaving an impact on every child that goes through their doors,” Murphy said.

The leader of the school’s partnering agency shares in Murphy’s excitement.

“Elated that there’s been a response and gratified that people took time to listen to the story of our participants,” said Pat Kline, executive director of Central Kentucky Riding for Hope.

Boling said while she is more optimistic than before, she needs to see results.

“I want to see them actually follow through and not just be words,” Boling said.

According to Liggins, the Stables program costs the school district about $1.1 million. A majority of that comes from personnel, he said.

Source link

Kentucky

Unexpected death of central Kentucky woman prompts community fundraising effort

Published

2 days ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Unexpected death of central Kentucky woman prompts community fundraising effort

MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — A Central Kentucky mother is working to raise money for her daughter’s funeral after the woman died unexpectedly while visiting a friend in Pennsylvania last week.

Ashley Lowery McCoy’s mother, Paula Carrier, said the community has stepped up during her time of shock, raising around $5,000 for funeral arrangements in just four days.

“She’ll look down on all of us, and she’ll be smiling. She’ll say, ‘Hey, they actually love me,’” Carrier said. “She’d be proud of everybody for stepping up. She’d see that she mattered.”

McCoy had recently left a sober living program about a month ago after battling drug addiction, according to her mother. At the same time, McCoy managed to leave an abusive relationship.

“My daughter’s seen me get clean. She wanted to get clean, and she did it,” Carrier said. “She would tell you, ‘Mom, you should be proud of me because I’m doing good,’” Carrier said.

McCoy’s pastor said she had recently given herself to God before leaving for her trip to Pennsylvania.

“You could tell that she was broken and she wants a change in life,” Senior Pastor at the Revival Hope Tabernacle church, Walter Rhodus said.

“She left this world and I mean she gets to spend eternity in heaven. That’s priceless. I mean, absolutely priceless,” the pastor said.

With Ashley’s funeral scheduled for December 19, the family is still $2,000 short of covering the costs. They have set up several donation locations in Jessamine County and Madison County.

LEX 18

“No mom should have to do that. If I don’t get it, I don’t know what I want to do, I’ll sell everything I’ve got,” Carrier said. “If I could, I’d ride back here with her. I would take my child’s place.”

Source link