Kentucky Derby field shifting as horses gather at Churchill Downsnewsline24

April 24 (UPI) — The last of the Kentucky Derby contenders are on their way to Churchill Downs, while the makeup of the 20-horse field continued to evolve with Stark Contrast out and Intrepido moving in.

As attention focuses on Louisville, the rest of North American racing takes a bit of a breather. Hong Kong picks up the action with an historically tough edition of Champions Day — three Group 1 races Sunday.

The Road to the Roses

By Saturday, the field will be assembled for the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2. That’s the deadline for contenders to be on the Churchill Downs backstretch, but a few were pushing the deadline to put in final major works on their home training surfaces.

Among them was Arkansas Derby winner Renegade, who breezed a half-mile in 50.94 seconds Thursday morning at private training facility Palm Beach Downs in Delray Beach, Fla., before shipping north.

Japanese colt Danon Bourbon was expected to arrive Friday from the federal quarantine facility near Chicago.

The field continues to churn near the bottom of the Road to the Kentucky Derby rankings. Stark Contrast has been declared out in favor of a run in the $1 million Grade I American Turf. The Caravaggio colt has not run on dirt since his first start and qualified for the Derby with a second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks on the Turway Park all-weather course.

His detour back to the grass boosted last year’s Grade I American Pharoah Stakes winner Intrepido into the 20-horse starting gate. Another defection would open a slot for Litmus Test, whose six-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert already has Santa Anita Derby runner-up Potente in the field.

Around the world, around the clock

Hong Kong

Sunday’s Champions Day program at Sha Tin Racecourse shapes up as one of the strongest in many seasons with all three Group 1 events featuring talented international raiders against established local champions.

It would be a tough choice which of the races is the best.

The Chairman’s Sprint Prize has the world’s top-rated horse, Ka Ying Rising, who already has lowered the course record for 1,200 meters three times and seeks his 20th straight win, facing Japan’s Group 1 winner Satono Reve.

Ka Ying Rising’s jockey, Zac Purton, said his mount “is fresh, looks good and he is ready to go on Sunday.”

The Queen Elizabeth II Cup, run at 2,000 meters, drew locally based international superstar Romantic Warrior. He has won the race three times, but faces perhaps his sternest test in Japan’s Masquerade Ball, last seen finishing a close second to Calandagan in the Grade 1 Japan Cup in November.

Also in with claims are England’s Royal Champion, a Group 1 winner in Saudi Arabia in his last start, and France’s Sosie, winner of December’s Group 1 Hong Kong Vase and third in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe before that.

“I think this is the strongest QEII Cup in Hong Kong for 15 or 20 years,” said Danny Shum, Romantic Warrior’s trainer.

Rounding out the Group 1 trio is the namesake event, the FWD Champions Mile, with another contentious field that includes Japan’s Jantar Mantar.

The 5-year-old was hitting his stride at 4, but hasn’t run since winning the Group 1 Mile Championship Nov. 23 at Kyoto. The Hong Kong contingent includes Voyage Bubble, last season’s local Triple Crown winner, and Lucky Sweynesse (NZ), former Hong Kong champion sprinter turned successful miler.

England

Friday’s Group 2 Bet365 Mile at Sandown has last season’s Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner Field of Gold; undefeated Zeus Olympus, Godolphin’s Opera Ballo, 6-for-8 and winner of the Group 1 Jebbel Hatta in Dubai in his last start; Cicero’s Gift, 100-1 shock winner of October’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot; and longshot Dancing Gemini.

On the same program, the Bet365 Classic Trial opens the 3-year-old accounts of some promising types, including Godolphin’s Al Zanati, Shadwell’s Raaheeb and Coolmore’s Action.

Elsewhere

Saturday’s Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphetville in Australia and Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp in Paris.

Meanwhile, back in North America

Filly & mare turf

Keeneland’s all-too-brief spring meeting goes into the books with Friday’s $350,000 Grade III Bewitch. Fittingly, it’s a top-shelf, contentious affair with nine runners. The 5-2 morning line favorite, Speed Shopper, was last seen finishing third in the Grade III Orchid Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Turf mile

There’s action from coast to coast with Saturday’s $150,000 Woodhaven for 3-year-olds and $150,000 Memories of Silver for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct, plus Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Royal Heroine at Santa Anita.

Filly & mare sprint

As Keeneland sweeps up the corned beef sandwich wrappers and starts gearing up for October’s Breeders’ Cup meeting, Churchill Downs fires up the Kentucky Derby meeting with Saturday’s $200,000 Roxelana. Eight are in to go 6 furlongs in a wide-open affair.

Classic

Saturday’s $100,000 Bosselman Pump and Pantry/Gus Fonner Stakes at Fonner Park isn’t going to impact the national rankings, but we love the persistence of the sponsors, the track, and the Nebraska horsemen and fans. Last year’s winner, Japanese-bred Komorebino, is back for another go for trainer Robertino Diadoro.

Distaff

Standoutsensation is the morning-line favorite in a field of seven for Saturday’s $200,000, 1-mile Dig a Diamond Stakes at Oaklawn Park. But she’s hardly a standout in a very competitive field.

Sprint / filly & mare sprint

The hockey ponds are thawing and Woodbine is back in action with Sunday’s Woodstock Stakes for 3-year-olds and Saturday’s Star Shoot Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Each is 6 furlongs on the all weather and worth $125,000 (Canadian).