LITTLE ROCK — It’s a hectic yet hopeful time for Kiaran McLaughlin in his pursuit of winning the Kentucky Derby.
The trainer of Alpha just couldn’t seem to make up his mind where to race his promising 3-year-old colt for a final prep before heading to Churchill Downs for the Derby on May 5. One day it’s the Florida Derby, another it’s the Louisiana Derby, and another it’s the Wood Memorial.
The latest? The Wood at Aqueduct on April 7 has the nod.
“There’s a flight to New York on April 4, but that’s a little close to the race,” McLaughlin said from his winter base in Florida over the weekend. “There might be another one going up on [Friday]. We’ll figure it out.”
The dilemma was this: McLaughlin likes to believe he can win a big race before committing, and that left Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby out because the trainer said he feels top Derby contender Union Rags is too good right now. He also was looking to avoid Gotham winner Hansen in the $1 million Wood, and considered the $1 million Louisiana Derby, which is Sunday.
But a little game of musical races shook things up last week when owner Kendall Hansen changed his mind about the horse he named for himself. Hansen is now headed to the Blue Grass on April 14, leaving McLaughlin with perhaps his top choice all along, the Wood.
“He’s in great shape,” McLaughlin said after Alpha’s 5-furlong workout in 1:00.99 at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Fla .,on Sunday. “He’ll definitely be there.”
Fountain of Youth winner Union Rags and last year’s 2-year-old champion Hansen once again are 1-2 in the Associated Press’s latest Run to the Roses Top 10 list of Derby contenders. Alpha, winner of the Withers at Aqueduct on Feb. 4 in his most recent start, is No. 5. Risen Star winner El Padrino is third, and Secret Circle, winner of the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, is fourth.
Union Rags put in a 4-furlong workout of 49.10 seconds at Palm Meadows on Saturday, with trainer Michael Matz pleased at the big colt’s progress.
“I think he should take a step forward from that,” Matz said in reference to Union Rags’ 4-length victory in the Fountain of Youth. “I would hope that having a race under his belt would help him in the Florida Derby.”
There could be a shakeup in the top 10 by the end of the weekend, with Union Rags and El Padrino meeting up in the Florida Derby, and No. 10 Mark Valeski running in the Louisiana Derby.
A few new Derby prospects emerged over the weekend in Went the Day Well, who won the $500,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park, and Daddy Nose Best, who won the $800,000Sunland Derby in New Mexico.
Trainer Graham Motion, who won last year’s Kentucky Derby with Animal Kingdom, may end up with several horses in the race this year. He trains Went the Day Well and No. 9 Howe Great, winner of the Palm Beach Stakes two weeks ago. He also trains Lucky Chappy, set to run in the UAE Derby in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday.
Sports, Pages 19 on 03/27/2012