Highly Motivated highly motivated but Caddo River not confirmed for Kentucky Derby
Chris Brown's Highly Motivated has the potential to surprise after performing solidly in the Road to the Kentucky Derby, while Brad Cox's Caddo River is still not confirmed for Churchill Downs...
Highly Motivated could be a surprise
The Chris Brown trained horse is without a prep series race win, but he picked up points with a third-place finish in the 50-20-10-5 Gotham Stakes and was runner-up to Triple Crown favorite Essential Quality in the 100-40-20-10 Blue Grass Stakes. He led Essential Quality for almost the entire race before getting edged out down the stretch, losing by a neck at a fast pace, less than a second off the track record.
Caddo River still not confirmed
After a win in the 10-4-2-1 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Caddo River appeared to be able to contend for the Triple Crown for trainer Brad Cox and was a slight favorite in the 50-20-10-5 Rebel Stakes at the same track almost two months later. He entered the stretch in second place but faded to fifth by the end of the race, won by Bob Baffert's Concert Tour.
Just like Highly Motivated, Caddo River was able to rebound in his final prep race at the 100-40-20-10 Arkansas Derby, finishing second to surprising Super Stock and ahead of Concert Tour, picking up enough points to earn an invitation to the Kentucky Derby. Caddo River was the third Brad Cox prospect to get to Churchill Downs, but his entry on the first Saturday in May is still not certain.