Drew Brees has already won a Super Bowl, now he’s got his sights set on the Kentucky Derby.
The New Orleans Saints quarterback owns part of the 3-year-old colt Holy Candy, who starts in Saturday’s $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
Holy Candy is owned by Craig Stables, headed by Jenny Craig (of the famous weight-loss company), and Donkey Island Racing, in which Brees is a partner.
The colt scratched last week from the Santa Anita Derby to start in the Blue Grass, where he is listed at 30-1, coming off a maiden victory at Santa Anita on March 23, after losing his first three starts.
The gray colt would need a victory in the Blue Grass to make the May 5 Kentucky Derby.
“He was very impressive breaking his maiden,” trainer John Sadler said. “You have to see the tape of the race. He galloped out 20 lengths in front of the field. You get one shot (at the Kentucky Derby) and it is hard not to try.”
Fountain of Youth winner Union Rags turned in his final workout in Florida Thursday morning, breezing four furlongs in :48.40 at the Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach. The 3-year-old will ship to Keeneland on Saturday in Lexington, Ky., where he’ll prepare for a start in the May 5 Kentucky Derby. He’s scheduled to work twice more in Kentucky.
After announcing his retirement four months ago, jockey Pat Valenzuela will return to the saddle when Hollywood Park opens on April 26. Valenzuela, 49, has battled drug problems throughout his troubled career that began in 1978 and saw him earn 4,233 victories, including the 1989 Kentucky Derby aboard Sunday Silence.
To NYC viewers both Channel 27 on Fios and Channel 71 on Time Warner Cable were unable to show all the races from Aqueduct Thursday due to a power problem.
THURSDAY’S CARD 6TH: First time starter Se La Livi was sharp scoring in its debut for trainer Linda Rice. After the race Disco Linguine was pulled up and vanned off.
8TH: Jockey Javier Castellano brought home his third winner on the day when Full of Intent scored as the 3-5 favorite. Castellano also won the fourth and the fifth races with Xodo and Runawayeightyfour.
