LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — There was a brief moment three weeks ago when trainer Chad Brown’s Kentucky Derby outlook was jolted as one of his hopefuls resisted multiple attempts to enter the gate in a major qualifying race and then started slowly.
Things turned out way better than Brown could have guessed as that testy colt, Sierra Leone, put any concerns to rest by storming from the back to win the Grade 1 Blue Grass by 1½ lengths at Keeneland. That stirring rally not only gave Brown two Derby contenders along with Domestic Product entering Saturday’s milestone 150th Derby at Churchill Downs, but the points leader coming into the race.
And as Brown seeks his long-awaited Derby breakthrough in the $5 million race, having multiple chances certainly helps against 18 other horses.
“We’ve come in with some good shots, but we’ve yet to win the race,” said Brown, who is winless in seven starts with a second and third since 2018. “So, hopefully it’s our year this year.”
Select list of nominees for 2024 Tony Awards
HK Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Return to Motherland
Children Experience Different Activities During Summer Vacation Across China
Across China: Special Education Brightens Life of Children with Disabilities
China Goes All out to Bolster Employment for College Graduates in Record Year
China Int'l Big Data Industry Expo 2022 Opens Online in Guizhou
China Strengthens Efforts to Protect Asian Elephants
In unusual push, funders band together to get out grants around election work 'early'
UN Launches Guidance Note on Monitoring, Reporting of Children Abducted in Conflicts
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Prince Harry's army friend JJ Chalmers urges Kate to talk about cancer
(HKSAR 25) Hong Kong's Future Very Promising: Chief Executive Carrie Lam