The National Football League had Taylor Swift.
The Kentucky Derby (G1) could have Timberlake.
It’s uncertain if pop mega star Justin Timberlake will be on hand at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, but there’s a very good chance the four-legged grade 1 winner Timberlake will be there.
Siena Farm and WinStar Farm’s 3-year-old son of Into Mischief launched his sophomore campaign with another melodic note as he posted a two-length victory in the $1,250,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds Feb. 24 at Oaklawn Park.
“It was a great effort,” said Elliott Walden, CEO, president, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “There was a lot to like. I loved the way he relaxed behind horses. That’s what you need.”
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Trained by Brad Cox, Timberlake picked up 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (G1) through his third victory in six starts, which ensures the $1,094,350 earner of a spot in the Run for the Roses if the $350,000 yearling buy bred by St. Elias Stables remains in good form for the next 2 1/2 months.
Winner of the one-turn mile Champagne Stakes (G1) as a 2-year-old, Timberlake made his first start since a fourth-place finish in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park as the 3-1 third choice.
“He’s grown into himself. He ran with a little keenness last year but he’s settled in, grown up, and matured,” said Walden, whose colt tops the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 66 points.
With Cox overseas for Saudi Crown ‘s third-place finish in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), Walden said he would wait until the two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer returns home to discuss plans for a final Derby prep for the colt out of the Lookin At Lucky mare Pin Up.
With regular jockey Florent Geroux also in Saudi Arabia to handle Saudi Crown, Cristian Torres gave Timberlake a patient ride in a bulky field of 12 3-year-olds. He had Timberlake fifth as Carbone carved a :47.67 opening half-mile on the fast track. Torres moved the 4-5 favorite ($3.60) into contention four wide on the final turn of the mile-and-a-sixteenth test. The April 3 foal grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch and, despite drifting out, opened up a length lead at the eighth pole and added to it, covering the distance in 1:44.
Trainer Ken McPeek completed the trifecta with the second- and third-place finishers. David Bernsen, Tony and Michael Holmes, and Norevale Farm’s Common Defense rallied from seventh to finish a clear second. The son of Karakontie was three lengths ahead of stablemate Northern Flame, a Flameaway colt owned by Jack Oxley, Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, and Magdalena Racing.
Common Defense received 25 qualifying points and now has 27, good for fifth on the leaderboard, while Northern Fame picked up 15 to give him 18 and elevate him to 14th.
Woodcourt netted 10 points for fourth and Dimatic five for fifth.
Timberlake was bought for $350,000 from the Gainesway consignment at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is the fourth of six foals from Pin Up and her first graded stakes winner. Her most recent foal is a yearling Known Agenda colt.
After the race, Walden paid tribute to the late Anthony Manganaro, the founder of Siena Farm who passed away last summer.
“Our hearts are with the whole team and I wish Anthony was here to see it, but I know he is looking on from above,” Walden said.
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