Trainer Todd Pletcher said a decision on whether to point Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. III) winner Winning Cause toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) will be made after the colt breezes April 28.
With Super Ninety Nine and Den's Legacy being taken out of Derby consideration, the 3-year-old son of Giant's Causeway owned by Alto Stable moved to No. 20 on the Derby points list.
"We're going to see how he trains this week and I'm considering breezing him on Sunday," trainer Todd Pletcher said April 24. "We won't make any sort of decision until then."
Winning Cause and stablemate Charming Kitten galloped Wednesday morning prior to the renovation break when the track was listed as "fast." Following the renovation break, Pletcher's quartet of other Derby contenders—Verrazano , Overanalyze , Revolutionary , and Palace Malice —galloped in the rain over a sloppy track during the time set aside for Derby and Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) horses to have the track all to themselves.
"I contemplated training them earlier to beat the rain, but I decided to continue to take advantage of that 15-minute window (reserved for Derby and Oaks contenders). I also wanted to see what they looked like in the slop."
Pletcher added that he was pleased with the way his horses went over the off track. He also said he is still sorting out plans on how to work as many as six Derby contenders on Sunday.
"I haven't decided yet exactly how we're going to do it," Pletcher said. "We'll be watching the weather and it looks like there is potential for more rain on Saturday and Sunday. We'll monitor that and see. We might have to shuffle some days around, but assuming they all breeze on Sunday, I would say a couple would go earlier and most would go during the 15-minute break."
Winning Cause
Keeneland/Coady Photography