Cyberknife: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Cyberknife wins the Arkansas Derby.
May 6th, 2022
Cyberknife has always been well-regarded by his connections, but he didn’t meet expectations early in his career, winning only once from his first four starts, including a sixth in the Lecomte (G3). The chestnut Kentucky-bred began to turn things around in mid-February, recording a sharp allowance win at Fair Grounds, and he will enter the Kentucky Derby on the upswing following a 2 3/4-length win in the Arkansas Derby (G1). He’s by an exciting new sire, and his trainer will be seeking a second straight Kentucky Derby win.
#Cyberknife bounced back strong after a poor performance in the Lecomte to win the Arkansas Derby @OaklawnRacing.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 26, 2022
Can he follow the paths of champions like #AmericanPharoah, #SuperSaver, and #SmartyJones to win the @KentuckyDerby shipping from Arkansas? pic.twitter.com/NWm0hPOy7E
Cyberknife Speed Figures
Top Brisnet Speed: 94 (twice), Arkansas Derby and allowance win
Top Brisnet Late Pace: 95, maiden win
Cyberknife Pedigree
Sire: Gun Runner
A record-breaking leading freshman sire in 2021, Gun Runner appears poised to be a major influence in Triple Crown races. He has a pair of Kentucky Derby starters from his first crop, Taiba and Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Cyberknife, and Gun Runner finished third in the 2016 Kentucky Derby after winning the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds. Named Horse of the Year in 2017, Gun Runner is by Candy Ride, who is also the sire of champions Shared Belief and Game Winner.
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Dam: Awesome Flower
Cyberknife is the first stakes winner from the stakes-winning dam Awesome Flower, a daughter of Flower Alley, who is best known for siring 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another.
Cyberknife Connections
Owner: Al Gold’s Gold Square LLC
Cyberknife will be the first Kentucky Derby starter for Al Gold’s Gold Square LLC, which purchased the colt for $400,000 as a yearling.
Trainer: Brad Cox
The reigning two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, Brad Cox made quite a splash in his first Kentucky Derby appearance last year, recording a win (Mandaloun) and third (Essential Quality). The Louisville native is readying three horses for his second go-around, as Tawny Port and Zozos will join Cyberknife in the starting gate. Cox has trained three champions over the last two seasons (Knicks Go, Essential Quality, and Monomoy Girl).
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Florent Geroux earned his first Kentucky Derby win last year aboard Mandaloun, who was placed first via disqualification. The Frenchman finished third aboard Gun Runner when making his first Kentucky Derby start in 2016, and Cyberknife will be Geroux’s sixth overall Derby mount.
Learn about all of the Kentucky Derby Contenders and the lead up to the Fastest Two Minutes in Sports here on TwinSpires.com
