After a brief freshening at WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner Revolutionary arrived at Churchill Downs shortly after 11 a.m. EDT April 12 to prep for a start in the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Arriving with multiple graded stakes-winning 6-year-old Doubles Partner, Revolutionary (ranked fourth on the road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard) was bedded down in Barn 34 for trainer Todd Pletcher.
"Revolutionary shipped well without any problems and he looks great," said assistant trainer Whit Beckman, who saddled Revolutionary for the Louisiana Derby. "We'll look at him tomorrow (Saturday) and watch him gallop before planning a work.
"I thought the Louisiana Derby was ultra impressive. He broke flat-footed, but then closed from the rear on a track no one was closing on all day. I actually was watching Palace Malice, but when I saw he got stopped, I switched over to Revolutionary and saw he was making a serious move."
Revolutionary, owned by WinStar, soon will be joined in the Pletcher barn by Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Verrazano , who is scheduled to arrive from New York on April 14. Ranked second behind Orb on the leaderboard, Verrazano is expected to pass through the Churchill stable gate at approximately 5 p.m. EDT.
Normandy Invasion , runner-up in the Wood and 11th on the leaderboard, also is scheduled to be on the April 14 flight from New York. He will be stabled in Barn 42 for trainer Chad Brown.
Pletcher said earlier this week that he will be at Keeneland on April 13 to saddle Charming Kitten and Palace Malice in the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) and expects to remain in Kentucky through the Derby.
Scheduled to arrive at Churchill the evening of April 12 was Rose to Gold, 4 1/2-length winner of the Fantasy Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park on April 10. Ranked second on the road to the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) leaderboard behind Beholder, Rose to Gold will be stabled in Barn 43 for trainer Sal Santoro.
