Epic Ride trainer, jockey, owner, record and more to know about 2024 Kentucky Derby horse
Epic Ride will be part of the field in the 2024 Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs.
Spots for the Run for the Roses are earned by gaining points through a series of Kentucky Derby prep races that began last September.
The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, April 27. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 4.
Epic Ride is hopeful to make the Kentucky Derby off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 6 at Keeneland. He currently ranks 21st on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 35, needing one defection to make the 20-horse field.
Epic Ride
Color: Bay
Bred in: Kentucky
Sire: Blame
Dam: Pick a Time, by Gio Ponti
Price tag: $160,000 at 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale
Owner: Welch Racing, first Derby.
Trainer: John Ennis, first Derby.
Jockey: Adam Beschizza, 0 for 1 in Derby. Finished seventh with Enforceable in 2020.
Record: 2-2-1 in five starts
Career earnings: $253,166
Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 35 (No. 21)
Last race: Third in Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 6 at Keeneland
Running style: Stalker
Notes: Epic Ride never has raced outside of Kentucky, his first four races coming at Turfway Park before the Blue Grass at Keeneland. That was his first race on dirt. … Epic Ride won the Leonatus Stakes at Turfway on Feb. 2 before a second-place finish behind Encino in the John Battaglia on March 2. … Ennis is a native of Ireland and took out his trainer’s license in 2012. He previously was an exercise rider, including for Hall of Famer Wise Dan.
What they’re saying: “I would love if we could get into the Derby because I think he’s entitled to have a shot,” Ennis said. “Let’s see what happens. He’s a lovely horse, and he’s going to be a nice horse later in the year.”
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby 2024 horse Epic Ride trainer, owner, jockey and record
