WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Quip (Distorted Humor) will scratch from Saturday's GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland and instead point to the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park next Saturday, Apr. 14, according to numerous reports. As first reported by TVG's Britney Eurton, the GII Tampa Bay Derby winner will aim towards the Arkansas Derby to fill a void left in the race after commonly owned 'Rising Star' Justify (Scat Daddy) was re-routed to run in the GI Santa Anita Derby. According to Eurton's report, the team also preferred the Arkansas Derby because it offers the chance to win a Grade I race.
Quip captured his first two races as a juvenile, including an allowance event at Keeneland, before finishing seventh in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Nov. 25. He returned from a winter layoff to capture Tampa Bay's signature race Mar. 10. In the Arkansas Derby, he is expected to meet a field headlined by undefeated 'Rising Star' Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon).
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