LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – In the Godolphin barn this morning, Enticed was sitting on go, ready for a 9 a.m. appointment on the Churchill track.
Enticed is a tall, classic looking thoroughbred with a Medalgia D'Oro pedigree to match.
He won the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, but his last race, a second in the Wood Memorial had trainer Kiaran McLaughlin saying foul.
He likes Enticed chances in the Derby if he can avoid bumper cars down the stretch.
“As long as the other horses don't try and knock us down at the 1/8th pole. We can make up those two lengths. But he's doing well. He won here last fall. All systems are go. He's doing very well. Was the Wood really a bad trip? No, no, it's just that it was a seven minute inquiry with the winner bumping us hard at the 1/8th pole. So hopefully that doesn't happen. We're a big colt and we can handle a little bumping but you know, it was a questionable call,” he said.
Of course, some bumping is likely in a Kentucky Derby, often said to be one of the roughest races to ride.
So how would McLaughlin like to see it play out before the first turn?
“Mid-pack somewhere. We'll leave it up to Junior. We always break well and we were second in the Wood early in a fast first quarter of 22 seconds and 4/5ths. But hopefully, we're mid-pack with a clean trip.”
Enticed won the Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill last November and his earnings are now close to $600,000.
And coming back from the track today, the assistant trainer looked over and said, “happy horse”.