WEEKEND WORKOUT VIDEO
DORTMUND (4/18) http://www.hrtv.com/videos/workout-dortmund-41815/
Worst news comes from last of 11 Derby workers
By Jay Privman
ARCADIA, Calif. – When it came to Kentucky Derby workouts on Saturday, they saved the worst news for last.
One Lucky Dane, second last time out in the Santa Anita Derby, was taken off the Kentucky Derby trail after suffering a condylar fracture to his left front ankle in a workout here at Santa Anita.
One Lucky Dane was pulled up following the work – he was timed in 59.20 seconds for five furlongs -- by jockey Rafael Bejarano, who said One Lucky Dane was favoring his left front leg. He was given a ride back to trainer Bob Baffert’s barn in a horse ambulance, and got off the van just fine, but was missing his left front shoe.
As One Lucky Dane was walked to cool out, he began to favor, just slightly, his left front. Before radiographs were taken by Dr. Vince Baker, Baffert said regardless of what they revealed, One Lucky Dane was off the Derby trail.
Radiographs later revealed the fracture. Baffert said surgery would be performed, and screws inserted to aid healing. The chances of him racing again are good.
“This is just a reminder of how things can go south in a hurry,” Baffert said.
The defection of One Lucky Dane means Madefromlucky is now in the top 20 for points should his connections desire to run in the Derby on May 2. Keen Ice is now 21st on the list, followed by Frammento.
One Lucky Dane was the last of 11 Derby contenders who worked at five different venues on Saturday. The other works went off without a hitch.
Earlier at Santa Anita, Dortmund, who beat One Lucky Dane in the Santa Anita Derby, and Firing Line both drilled.
At Palm Beach Downs, trainer Todd Pletcher worked Itsaknockout, Materiality, and Stanford before jumping on a plane to Kentucky, where Pletcher worked Carpe Diem later in the morning at Keeneland.
Danzig Moon, International Star, and Keen Ice worked at Churchill Downs, while Tencendur worked at Belmont Park.
One Lucky Dane came on the track after the last of three renovation breaks. Soon after entering the track, and well before he was to work, a horse got loose near the finish and dashed up the stretch, missing One Lucky Dane and his workmate.
One Lucky Dane then continued to jog up the stretch, and began his work on the backstretch at the five-furlong pole, breaking off about three lengths behind his company.
Bejarano had to urge One Lucky Dane to get past his company, which he did, but a quarter-mile later, Bejarano brought him to a halt and hopped off.
“This is why I have white hair,” Baffert muttered.
Bejarano rode with One Lucky Dane in the horse ambulance back to Baffert’s barn.
“His left-front went completely down,” Bejarano said.
“You did the right thing,” Baffert told him.
A little more than an hour earlier, Dortmund worked five furlongs in 58.80 seconds under jockey Martin Garcia, a time that equaled the best of the morning among 59 at the distance. Dortmund, also trained by Baffert, broke off behind one workmate, then had another range up outside him near the top of the lane, and he put away both tag-team rivals.
“It was good experience for him,” said Garcia, who has the mount in the Derby. “In between horses, no problem. Got a little dirt, no problem. I’m very happy.”
Firing Line, with jockey Gary Stevens up, broke off about 20 seconds after Dortmund for a five-furlong work that was timed officially in 1:00.40. He started about three lengths behind his workmate and kicked clear late in an impressive drill.
“It was an ideal work,” said his trainer, Simon Callaghan, who wanted Firing Line to sit behind his company, which he did.
Both Dortmund and Firing Line are scheduled to have their final works at Santa Anita next Saturday before flying to Kentucky on Sunday, April 26.
At Palm Beach Downs, Materiality and Stanford worked together both received times of 1:00.52 for five furlongs, while Itsaknockout went four furlongs in 48.17 seconds. All three are scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Tuesday and go to Churchill Downs for their final drills.
Materiality was particularly impressive Saturday, as he was last weekend.
“I thought it was another very good work,” Pletcher said. “A nice, steady, aggressive five-eighths; he seemed to be well in hand throughout. The horse continues to train really well. You have to respect how difficult the race is, but at the same time you have an undefeated horse who seems to be training super.”
Carpe Diem worked a half-mile in 48 seconds under John Velazquez and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.40 and six furlongs in 1:13.80.
“I thought he worked super,” said Pletcher, who said Carpe Diem would have his final work next weekend at either Keeneland or Churchill.
John Velazquez has to choose between Carpe Diem and Materiality. Javier Castellano and Mike Smith have been mentioned by Pletcher as possible replacements for whoever Velazquez doesn’t choose, though Smith is in play for Bolo and Far Right, too.
At Churchill Downs, International Star worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 for trainer Mike Maker while easily besting a workmate.
Danzig Moon blazed five furlongs in 58 seconds while in company for trainer Mark Casse. He finished about a neck behind his workmate.
Keen Ice worked alone for trainer Dale Romans and got an official clocking of 1:13.20 for six furlongs.
At Belmont, Tencendur worked a half-mile in 47.16 seconds for trainer George Weaver. Jockey Manny Franco was aboard, and could have the mount in the Derby. Jose Ortiz, who rode Tencendur in the Wood, rides Upstart in the Derby.
Tencendur was scheduled to leave New York by van on Sunday and is scheduled to have his final Derby workout next weekend at Churchill Downs.
--additional reporting by David Grening, Byron King, Marty McGee, and Mike Welsch