Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Timberlake

Oct 11, 2023 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Siena
Farm and WinStar Farm’s Timberlake picked up 10 points on the 2024 Road to the
Kentucky Derby challenge series after drawing off to a 4 1/4-length score in the
$500,000 Champagne S. (G1) at Aqueduct on Oct. 7. Piloted by Florent Geroux,
the victor clocked one mile over the sloppy, sealed surface in a swift 1:35.90
to notch his initial black-type win.

“He's not the quickest horse out of the
gate, but he always puts himself in a good position. We knew what we had,”
Geroux said. “Last time he was the favorite in the Hopeful and had a little bit
of trouble and was very rank. Today, we took the blinkers off, and he was way
more relaxed.”

Trained by Brad Cox, Timberlake was off
the board in his unveiling at Ellis Park on June 15 but rebounded in his second
appearance with a 9 1/4-length romp in a maiden special weight heat on July 21.
Sent postward as the 2-1 favorite in the Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga on
Sept. 4, the son of Into Mischief led in late stretch prior to settling for
a runner-up result. His career mark now reads 4-2-1-0, $375,600.

Timberlake was bred in Kentucky by St.
Elias Stables and fetched a final bid of $350,000 at the 2022 Keeneland
September Yearling Sale. The colt is the first black-type winner out of the
stakes-placed Lookin at Lucky mare Pin Up, who counts herself as a half-sister
to multiple Group 2 star Thomas Chippendale. This is the same female line as
Irish champion Quarter Moon, as well as Group 1 heroine Yesterday, who finished
third in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1).

The talented colt has earned Brisnet
Speed figures of 66-93-87-102 from a quartet of races to date, with his best
number coming in his route debut. He is a well-bred sort who is cut out to
handle more distance going forward, and Timberlake has a very high ceiling, in
my opinion. A start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita on
Nov. 3 is his next expected target.