Third last out in the G2 Louisiana Derby, O Besos is currently 22nd in the Kentucky Derby points standings with 25. However, several horses ahead of him are expected to skip the Run for the Roses in favor of the Preakness Stakes, and it appears likely that the 3-year-old son of Orb will make the 20-horse starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
“I’d say we’ve got a good chance,” trainer Greg Foley told Jennie Rees in a video for the Kentucky HBPA earlier this week. “Another jump and we’d have been second in the Louisiana Derby, and we wouldn’t have to worry about getting in the race. But our horse is doing good, so we’re just gonna watch him. We’d love to run, and if we get that chance we’ll be ready to go.”
O Besos, a chestnut homebred for Barrett Bernard also campaigned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Tagg Team Racing, breezed five furlongs in an official 1:00 3/5 on Tuesday at Churchill Downs (see video below). Up for the workout was jockey Marcelino Pedroza,
“I didn’t have him go real fast or anything, just want him to finish up good the last eighth and gallop out good and strong, which he did that,” Foley said. “On the video you can see he picked it up pretty good.”
Pedroza complimented the colt’s workout as well.
“I asked him just a little bit after the wire,” Pedroza said. “He did respond like I wanted him to, galloped out really strong, and then he was enjoying himself again, looking around. I’m really happy with the way that he worked today.”
O Besos got in some works this morning for @Foley_Racing, and we talked to Marcelino Pedroza about how the horse did, just 18 days from #TwinSpiresDerby
Read all about several bubble horses ⤵️ https://t.co/TXQw2ddOk1 pic.twitter.com/yS36Og8UZh
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 13, 2021
Out of the 12-time winner Snuggs and Kisses (Soto), O Besos shouldn’t have a problem with the 1 1/4 miles over the Kentucky Derby.
Pedroza added: “He will love it.”
O Besos would be the second Kentucky Derby starter for the Louisville native Foley, who sent out Major Fed to finish 10th in last year’s Sept. 5 edition.
Foley likes his chances with O Besos for this year’s race.
“It’s anybody’s race, I think. It’s a wide, wide open race,” Foley said. “Our horse is ready he’s doing good. We’re gonna train like we’re going in the race.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
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