highly motivated returns to the races this afternoon; brown gives Zandon update

Klaravich Stables’ Highly Motivated, last seen finishing 10^th in last year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve, makes his return to the races in this afternoon’s 11^th race going 7 furlongs on the main track. 

“This was a good spot to come back,” trainer Chad Brown said Saturday morning. “We know he likes the surface; he’s run two big races here.” 

As a 2-year-old, Highly Motivated established the track record of 1:14.99 for 6½ furlongs in winning the Nyquist on the 2020 Breeders’ Cup undercard. In last year’s Toyota Blue Grass, he finished second beaten a neck by champion Essential Quality. 

Although Brown had a near miss in last year’s Toyota Blue Grass, there was no near miss last Saturday as Zandon rallied for a 2½-length victory to set him up as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby. 

“I plan to work him one time here next week and then go to Churchill and have his final work there,” Brown said of Zandon, who is owned by Jeff Drown. 

Zandon’s victory gave Brown his 19^th Grade 1 triumph at Keeneland. Brown came within a nose of No. 20 on Friday when Juddmonte’s Masen (GB) was caught at the wire by Shirl’s Speight in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1).

“That was tough,” Brown said, adding that Masen would not be pointed to the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 7. However, Brown said Klaravich Stables’ Public Sector (GB), scratched from the Maker’s Mark Mile after drawing post 11, would point to the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic. Public Sector worked a half-mile on the main track in :50.80 Saturday morning.