(Trainer Michael McCarthy with Journalism / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

(Trainer Bill Mott / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the KY HBPA / Jennie Rees:

Derby-related video interviews

  • McCarthy on Journalism’s work (5F in 1:01.40)
  • Rispoli back at Churchill for Journalism’s work
  • Mott after Sovereignty’s work (5F in 1:01.80)
  • Asmussen after Tiztastic, Publisher get easy works
  • SF Racing’s Ryan on Rodriguez, Citizen Bull
The videos linked below are available for media use as part of the Kentucky HBPA’s ongoing initiative to provide news outlets with supplemental content on the run-up to the Kentucky Derby. If using video, a Kentucky HBPA credit is appreciated when feasible. Unless specified otherwise, videos were shot by Jennie Rees, tracksidejennie@gmail.com.

Sunday April 27

Trainer Michael McCarthy speaks with the media after Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism works five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.40 Sunday at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby favorite’s splits were 13.60, 25.80, 37.60 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.60, 1:26.80 and a mile in 1:41.20.

Post-work interview with Umberto Rispoli, who tells the rest of the story on his travels (or non-travel). Rispoli took the red-eyed overnight after riding at Santa Anita Friday, landing in Cincinnati, where he was picked up by his agent, Matt Nakatani (the former U of L kicker). But with the recent rain, trainer Michael McCarthy delayed the work a day. The plan was for Rispoli to take a morning flight back to California to ride Saturday’s card, while attempting to return to Louisville Saturday night for the work. With no red-eyes, a private jet was even lined up. Rispol made his connecting flight from Louisville to Atlanta, but his first flight to LA was canceled and the second was delayed to where he’d have missed riding anyway. So he returned to Louisville, worked Journalism Sunday morning at 7:15 and had a different flight out of Louisville — through Houston. It’s unclear how soon he’ll return before riding at Churchill Downs Thursday. But he didn’t discount taking a red-eye with his family Sunday night. “It’s a part of our life,” Rispoli said of the travel woes. “… It’s been 20 years of journeys.” Of the delayed work, he said, “We do this for him… I think it was the most intelligent choice we could make.”

Bill Mott after Fountain of Youth winner and Florida Derby runner-up Sovereignty worked Sunday morning, going five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.80 under jockey Junior Alvarado, with splits of 25.40, 37.80, 101.80/115.

Steve Asmussen after his Derby duo of Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic and Arkansas Derby runner-up Publisher worked (by themselves, not together as they had done their last couple of works.) Tiztastic worked an easy half-mile in 50.20 seconds, with splits of 12.40 and 24.60. Publisher worked the same distance in 49 seconds.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who drew post 1 with 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull and post 4 with Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez, begged off from speaking to the traditional post-work media gaggle. But his owners were happy to talk, including SF Racing head Tom Ryan. In addition to talking about Rodriguez and Citizen Bull, Ryan said of Derby favorite Journalism, “He’s a good horse, a beautiful yearling. In hindsight, we should have bought him, I guess. If you don’t buy ’em, you have to beat ’em. This will be a good test for all of us.”