Kentucky Derby 2024: After Encino, Another Oaks Hopeful Bites the Dust Days Before the Event

Sudden twists and turns can change the narrative of triumph in the high-stakes world of horse racing. As the Kentucky Oaks draws near, anticipation mounts, but with it comes the unexpected. After the ruling out of Godolphin homebred Encino from the Derby, another hopeful contender will unfortunately not grace the Derby tracks. 

Trainer Eddie Milligan Jr.’s recent announcement has led to heartbreaks in the horse racing community. The 3-year-old standout performer, Tapit Jenallie had to bow out from the Derby. But with the sudden exit of Jenallie from the list of contenders, another equine has emerged from the shadows. 3-year-old Our Pretty Woman with fire in her veins is ready to seize the opportunity.

Our Pretty Woman shines in an unexpected spotlight at the upcoming Kentucky Derby 

Our Pretty Woman is an impressive equine who has been bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm. Besides that, the undeniable talent is a trainee under the esteemed Steven M. Asmussen. Tapit Jenallie too was bred in Kentucky by Willis Horton Racing. Jenallie was under the able guidance of Eddie Milligan Jr. And the trainer himself has confirmed that Jenallie will not be making it to the 150th Kentucky Derby.

The reasons behind Tapit Jenallie’s absence remain veiled in mystery. Despite the same, one thing is for sure: the stage is set for a showdown of epic proportions. Both Tapit Jenallie and Our Pretty Woman are three-year-old fillies and have demonstrated speed and agility on the tracks. But besides sharing similar grounds, there are a few differences that would create quite a buzz in the horse racing realm. While it comes to pedigree, Tapit Jenallie is sired by Tapit and out of Take Charge Tressa. On the other hand, Our Pretty Woman is sired by Medaglia d’Oro taken from Dazzletown. 

Tapit Jenallie has previously showcased her incredible talent in securing victories at Delta Downs and Remington Park. And Our Pretty Woman has gotten the opportunity to showcase her talent at Fair Grounds. Jenallie has also previously captured notable stakes wins.

Encino out, Epic Ride in, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown

With less than a week left for the 150th Kentucky Derby, Encino too has been ruled out of the game. The 3-year-old stallion has been diagnosed with a soft tissue strain and that will unfortunately require him to rest for 30 days. Encino’s trainer Brad Cox shared the unfortunate news with Daily Racing. He added, “Obviously, the timing of it is not good, but we’ll be fine. Little bit of time and rest and treatment and hopefully he’ll be fine.” 

To fill up the vacant track, Epic Ride will make an entry in the Kentucky Derby in Grade 1. Epic Ride is under the training of John Ennis. He also rules a career graph of 2-2-1 out of 5. With less than 2 days to go for the Kentucky showdown, such ups and downs is further setting the stage for a even more thrilling race at Churchill Downs this May 4.