Owen Almighty Back In Derby

Despite their horse running sixth in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S., the connections of Owen Almighty (Speightstown) have informed Churchill Downs that their colt will be pointed to the GI Kentucky Derby, after all.

“Owen Almighty has re-entered the Kentucky Derby picture, according to trainer Brian Lynch,” Darren Rogers, the senior director, communications and media services wrote within an email that he sends out regularly updating the points standings for the Derby. With 65 points, Owen Almighty is in 12th place in the standings.

At deadline for this story, trainer Brian Lynch had not returned a phone call seeking comment.

After the sixth-place finish in the Blue Grass, Lynch told the Keeneland media team that Owen Almighty would be pointed to the GII Pat Day Mile S. at Churchill, instead of the Derby.

“He did everything he was supposed to do,”  Lynch said. “He got up with the leader (East Avenue) at the top of the stretch, but he just doesn't want to go that far.”

This is not the first time the connections have apparently changed their minds. Owned by Travis Boersma and family's Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing, Owen Almighty entered the Derby picture after his win in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby at a mile-and-a-sixteenth. Though the race is normally a steppingstone to the Derby, Lynch was already voicing doubts about running in the Derby.

“There will be conversation (about perhaps targeting the Kentucky Derby),” he said following the Tampa race. “But if I was to have my way I'd still stick to the plan and go to the Pat Day Mile,” he said.

After the Tampa win, Lynch told the Daily Racing Form that the ownership expressed a desire to point to the Derby.

That led to speculation that the Blue Grass would be an experiment. If Owen Almighty ran well in the mile-and-an-eighth race he would head to the Derby. If he fared poorly and showed that the distance was out of his reach, the Pat Day Mile would be next. Owen Almighty prompted the pace until mid-stretch when he began to tire and lost by four lengths. He did not look like a mile-and-a-quarter horse.

With Owen Almighty back in the Derby picture, Built (Hard Spun) is now 21st on the list and will need a defection to get in.

Late in the evening on Wednesday, the Daily Racing Form reported that Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano had picked up the mount, per his agent Cory Moran.