Five days away from the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, the connections of two alternates, Epic Ride and Mugatu, can only hope for a Rich Strike-like opportunity and upset.
It was two years ago that Rich Strike drew into the Derby as the race's first alternate, known in horse racing as an also-eligible, and after breaking from the far outside post, proceeded to run down favorites Epicenter and Zandon at odds of more than 80-1.
Officially horse No. 21—the Derby is capped at 20 starters—that number was one of celebration for Rich Strike's owner, Rick Dawson, and trainer, Eric Reed, who, along with friends, would have "21" tattooed on their bodies in the fall of 2022.
If Epic Ride competes in the Derby, he also will be horse No. 21. Mugatu is No. 22. Epic Ride has preference over Mugatu as the first also-eligible. For now, they are on the outside looking in and waiting.
When asked how he is feeling during this time of uncertainty, Epic Ride's trainer, John Ennis, said in a telephone interview: "There's no pressure, there's no anxiety. The horse is doing well. … I don't wish any ill faith on anyone. I hope they all get there—but if they don't, we'd be happy to take their place."
It would not surprise anyone if one or both were to gain a starting position. Amid veterinary scrutiny last year—expected to be just as tight in 2024—there were five scratches from the body of the race, and all three also-eligibles started. None of the trio—Cyclone Mischief, Mandarin Hero, and King Russell—managed to threaten. All three finished in the rear half of the field.
In order for an also-eligible to start, a horse must be scratched from the body of the Derby field by scratch time at 9 a.m. ET May 3. Rich Strike gained his opportunity in 2022 just minutes before the deadline when the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Ethereal Road was withdrawn.
"I probably won't get in. But if I do, fantastic, I'll go off and buy myself a new (sports) jacket on Friday afternoon," Ennis quipped.
Derby horses can also be late scratches past the Friday deadline. Forte was withdrawn by stewards on the advice of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission regulatory veterinarian the morning of the Kentucky Derby in 2023, but scratches beyond the deadline have no bearing on also-eligible participation.
This year's also-eligibles needed to arrive on the grounds by April 27 at Churchill Downs, as did the horses in the body of the field. After watching his horse train there April 28, Ennis was not trackside at Churchill April 29 during a routine morning of jogging for his colt. He was instead overseeing his main stable at The Thoroughbred Center near Lexington, where the 42-year-old native of Ireland keeps 44 horses in training. Ennis said he would return April 30.
Having run third behind Sierra Leone and Just a Touch in the April 6 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, Epic Ride will not be as big a price as Rich Strike if he gets the chance to start. Pegged at 30-1 odds on the morning line, he finished in front of dual graded stakes winner Dornoch when the latter was fourth in the Blue Grass. A start before, Epic Ride was second to eventual Lexington Stakes (G3) winner and Derby competitor Encino in the March 2 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park when Epic Ride's jockey, Adam Beschizza, carried six pounds more than Axel Conception on Encino under the allowance conditions of the race.
Having won the Leonatus Stakes there a month earlier, he carried more weight than Encino, a maiden winner at the time. Epic Ride finished a length behind Encino in the John Battaglia.
In fairness to the Derby qualifying process—horses with the most qualifying points are preferred—Ennis believes points races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby should be run at level weights. His horse amassed 35 points, short of the 40-point threshold that was needed to make the body of the Derby lineup this year. Epic Ride is 2-2-1 in five starts with earnings of $253,166.
Ennis said the second leg of the Triple Crown, the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, would be considered if Epic Ride does not get a chance to start in the Derby.
The bay son of Blame , bred by Fred Hertrich III, races for owner Welch Racing, headed by George Hough. The $160,000 yearling purchase was selected by bloodstock agent Frank Alosa from the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.
Mugatu Needs Hollywood Ending
Average Joe Racing Stables and Dan Wells' Mugatu was likely not on anyone's Kentucky Derby radar just one week ago as he held only 14 qualifying points following a fourth in the John Battaglia Stakes and a fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes.
"It wasn't even a thought until four or five days ago," trainer Jeff Engler said about a phone call he received from Churchill Downs. "They said, 'You're only two away from being on the (four-horse also-eligible list), so you might want to train him like he's going to run.' So we did."
Within a matter of days, Mugatu went from 26th on the leaderboard to 22nd by the time the horses were entered in the race Saturday.
"We're excited—this is the pinnacle," Engler said. "This is what we all get up at 4 a.m., seven days a week, for—trying to get into this race. If you got a chance, give it a shot.
"The Derby is the Derby, anything can happen," he added. "He's a closer, he can stay out of all that mess up front and just sit and wait. It's a dream, so we're going to give it a shot if we get in."
Engler started training 16 years ago at Belterra Park and Turfway Park. At the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, he gave agent and friend Dan Preiss a "whopping" budget of $15,000 to buy a nice horse. He came back with a $14,000 Blofeld colt from the Wavertree Stables consignment. Mugatu is 1-1-3 in 12 starts with earnings of $80,570.
"(Preiss) works his tail off," Engler said. "He found a gem."
Taking a shot against the big boys in the Blue Grass, Mugatu outperformed the public's expectations at odds of 181-1, closing from last to finish fifth, beaten 7 1/2 lengths by Sierra Leone and only a length behind Dornoch.
"He's blossoming right now, he's improving," Engler said of his chestnut. "That race in the Blue Grass really showed me that he belonged. He's come out of that race so good, and I think he's just getting to that next level."
Should Derby drawn-in luck not be on the side of team Mugatu, Engler plans to breeze at Churchill Downs on Derby day before shipping to New York for the May 11 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack, with long-term consideration for the June 8 Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. With Belmont Park under construction, the Belmont Stakes this year was shortened from 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/4 miles due to the main-track configuration at Saratoga.
After Mugatu stayed on in the Blue Grass, Engler noted jockey Joe Talamo unsaddled the colt and told the trainer, "Run him in the Belmont."
