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Kentucky Derby clocker: Zandon eager to run in final work

Mike Welsch | Apr 29, 2022

LOUISVILLE, Ky.- – It was Ladies Day at Churchill Downs on Friday morning, although with a little wrinkle thrown in during the special Derby-Oaks training session, which takes place from 7:30 to 7:45 a.m. daily. Six likely Oaks starters and a seventh hoping to draw into the race here next Friday turned in their final works, although all were overshadowed somewhat by the appearance of potential Derby favorite Zandon, who made his way onto the work tab 24 hours earlier than expected.

The weather was overcast with temperatures hovering in the mid to high 50s with the track in perfect condition throughout the morning.

ZANDON broke off at the five-eighths pole and was officially timed in 1:00.40 by track clockers. Daily Racing Form had his final quarter in 24.14, and had him galloping out in splits of 12.77 and 13.13 into and around the turn, although the time here was secondary to how visually impressive the Blue Grass winner looked to and through the wire. He cruised along powerfully while once again giving the appearance of wanting to do much more than his rider allowed. Expect his ever growing bandwagon to be even a bit more crowded after today’s effort.

NEST was the first of the Oaks contenders to work, going in company once again with her lightly raced but promising maiden mate Inventing. The pair breezed four furlongs in 48.91 while kept well off the rail down the stretch before galloping out full of run around the turn. Nest, nearest the rail with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, maintained a slight edge throughout, easing up after a very solid six furlongs in 1:14.21. It was a nice step forward off an easier breeze here last week.

The undefeated SHAHAMA and stablemate GODDESS OF FIRE were next up. Goddess of Fire was about a half-length back and outside exiting the half-mile pole, and they went to the wire in 48.41 from that point while also kept far off the rail down the lane. Shahama maintained her narrow advantage while going easiest throughout under jockey Flavien Prat, completing a very impressive six furlongs from the half in 1:13.09 without ever being asked for her best. Shahama has definitely been best of this pairing in both local drills, and may be flying a bit under the radar as a sleeper among a talented and very contentious Oaks lineup.

HIDDEN CONNECTION had her work this morning designed to showcase the gallop-out, and it went according to plan. Jockey Reylu Gutierrez harnessed her speed early on before allowing the Fair Grounds Oaks runner-up to strut her stuff into and around the clubhouse turn. Hidden Connection completed an opening quarter in 25.09 and a half in 50.20 before going out five-eighths in 1:02.73 and pulling up seven furlongs in a very willing 1:27.44.

TURNERLOOSE moved forward off her work the previous week when she was overmatched in company by the very talented Juju’s Map. Turnerloose showed big improvement going solo this morning while also doing her best work on the gallop-out. Turnerloose covered a half in 49.06 before running out five furlongs with tons of energy in 1:01.64, up 1:14.72 for six furlongs.

VENTI VALENTINE had a second good work over the local surface. The Gazelle runner-up, Venti Valentine completed five-eighths in 1:00.17, out six furlongs in 1:13.56. BEGUINE, who does not figure to draw into the Oaks lineup, sizzled five panels in 58.82 for trainer Danny Peitz. She covered the three furlongs in 35.09.

CROWN PRIDE gave every indication he has bounced out of his fast and extremely impressive work here Wednesday none the worse for wear, once again galloping in an aggressive fashion while especially full of run down the stretch and into the turn, giving his rider all he could handle trying to throttle all that energy.

CLASSIC CAUSEWAY came out on the track at 5:30 a.m. and did not gallop, jogging once around before heading up into the mile chute. He is scheduled to have his final work on Saturday.

At Gulfstream Park, SIMPLIFICATION turned in the third in a series of eye-catching drills exiting the Florida Derby, completing five furlongs in 1:00.27 before galloping out six panels in 1:12.81 and pulling up a mile in 1:38.59, working over a muddy and slightly harrowed track. Jockey Junior Alvarado sat chilly in the saddle once again during the work. The Fountain of Youth winner, Simplification is scheduled to arrive locally on Sunday.

At Santa Anita, Messier breezed six furlongs from the five-eighths pole. Per Daily Racing Form, he went five furlongs in 59.40, six in 1:12.20, and galloped out seven-eighths in 1:25.40, fanning wide into the stretch and traveling on his own and going very smoothly throughout