The Joe Sharp-trained Girvin has spent his entire career in the Big Easy, winning three of four starts at Fair Grounds, taking the Louisiana Derby (G2) on April 1 in his final prep for the Run for the Roses.
Girvin topped the Road to the Kentucky Derby points standings with 150 and is currently listed at 16-1 in early Kentucky Derby betting at Sportsbook.
The colt showed promise breaking his maiden in his debut last December and then returned to win the Gee Memorial on turf, going a mile in his stakes debut in February.
The switch back to dirt suited this colt, winning the Risen Star (G2) to pick up 50 Derby points, then taking the Louisiana Derby by two lengths over Patch in his final prep for the Run for the Roses and another 100 points to top the standings.
The $130,000 purchase is by Tale of Ekati, who won the 2008 Wood Memorial (G1) and then ran fourth in the Kentucky Derby and sixth in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
He is out of the Malibu Moon mare Catch the Moon, who has dropped one other foal to race, stakes Sportsbook Cocked and Loaded, who as a juvenile won the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs and then was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
The buzz around the backstretch this week is about a quartercrack the colt has developed, delaying a workout. The colt was spotted wearing bar shoes, which could indicate he is having some type of hoof issues.
The colt put in his final major workout on Saturday, going five furlongs in :59.60 to the satisfaction of Sharp and his wife, former jockey Rosie Napravnik, who was aboard for the morning drill.
His best Beyer Speed Figure is his 93 earned in the Risen Star, so the colt will need to overcome his foot issues and improve to be a major favorite in the Run for the Roses on Saturday.
- Race record: 4-3-1-0
- Career earnings: $874,400
- Sportsbook Odds: 16-1
- Last race: Won Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds
Replay
Handicapper Michael Dempsey will be covering the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown for OddsShark and his full card reports with selections, analysis, fair odds line and wagering recommendations for major tracks can be found daily at turfnsport.com.
Click here for a full odds breakdown and preview of the Kentucky Derby.
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