Derby appears wide open

AP

Photo

In a photo provided by Benoit Photo, Midnight Interlude and jockey Victor Espinoza, second from left, overpower Comma to the Top, with Corey Nakatani, right front, to win the $1 million Santa Anita Derby horse race Saturday, April 9, 2011, at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

Staff/wire report

As Uncle Mo was finishing third in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct over the weekend, race caller Tom Durkin exclaimed ... “and the Kentucky Derby is up for grabs!”

It sure is.

With Uncle Mo losing for the first time, The Factor moves into contention for the May 7 Derby.

A gray colt, The Factor could wind up as the Derby favorite if he wins the $1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday. The Factor has won his last three starts going wire-to-wire.

“He just goes and does his thing,” said Bob Baffert, who trains The Factor. “He’s one dimensional, for sure.”

Baffert has won the Derby three times. His most recent winner, War Emblem, won in 2002 going wire-to-wire.

Toby’s Corner also will get some attention after winning the Wood Memorial on Saturday.

Baffert’s Midnight Interlude won the Santa Anita Derby, also on Saturday.

Two promising prospects sustained injuries last week and are out of the Derby — San Felipe winner Premier Pegasus (left front leg fracture) and To Honor and Serve (left front leg strained ligament).

Another, Baffert’s Jaycito (sore foot), was scratched from the Santa Anita Derby but is on course for a final prep in the Lexington Stakes on April 23.

Less than four weeks before the Derby, the field is wide open. Uncle Mo, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner trained by Todd Pletcher, is expected to undergo routine blood work today to make sure he came out of Saturday’s race healthy.

“Uncle Mo is physically sound today,” Pletcher said on Sunday. “He did grab his quarter at the start of the race but it is very minor and insignificant. It was not a typical Uncle Mo performance.”

Plans remain for Uncle Mo to be shipped to Churchill Downs on Monday to begin final preparations for the 11/4- mile Derby.

Santa Anita Derby runner-up Comma to the Top is a Derby contender again, the Daily Racing Form reports. The news comes a week after trainer Peter Miller said he had concerns whether the gelding could get the Derby distance.

A full field of 20 horses is expected for the Derby. If more are entered, the starters are determined by graded stakes earnings.

The other Derby prep Saturday is the $750,000 Blue Grass at Keeneland.

The Blue Grass features No. 5 Santiva, along with Crimson China — partially owned by Youngstown businessman Bruce Zoldan — King Congie and three horses from Pletcher’s barn — Praetereo, Queen’splatekitten and Sensational Slam.

In addition to The Factor, other Arkansas Derby probables include Archarcharch, Astrology, Brethren, Caleb’s Posse, Elite Alex, J P’s Gusto, Nehro and Sway Away.