Noble's Promise , the Cuvee colt who has overcome adversity along the Triple Crown trail, has been confirmed for the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after a half-mile workout and endoscopic exam April 26.
"He worked great, and he scoped great," trainer Ken McPeek said.
Noble’s Promise, who races for the Chasing Dreams Racing 2008 LLC partnership, breezed four furlongs in :48 4/5 in company with Fist of Rage. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:02 2/5.
The endoscopic exam was conducted to make sure the colt had no more signs of a minor lung infection detected following a fifth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I). In addition to the lung infection, Noble’s Promise emerged from the Arkansas race with cuts on both front legs, which has since healed.
The April 26 breeze was the second solid workout by Noble’s Promise at Churchill Downs. On April 20, he worked five furlongs in :59 4/5.
With three wins, three seconds, and a third in eight starts, Noble’s Promise has earned $823,500. The colt, who cost $10,000 as a weanling at the 2007 Keeneland November sale, was a top 2-year-old of 2009 when his victories included the Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland. Following a third-place finish in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I), the colt was shipped to California, where he finished second to eventual champion Lookin At Lucky , who is now morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby.
Previous to the Arkansas Derby, Noble’s Promise was second in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) in his only other start this season.
Noble’s Promise was bred in Kentucky by Drs. Charles Kidder and Nancy Cole and Ben Kidder.