DERBY DIGEST: Last major works completed ahead of Monday draw

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CROWN PRIDE BLAZES HALF-MILE IN :46.40 IN 4TH DOWNS WORK


LOUISVILLE, KY (Wednesday, April 27, 2022) – Teruya Yoshida’s Crown Pride (JPN) turned in his most impressive pre-Kentucky Derby work Wednesday morning by working a bullet half-mile in :46.40 over a fast track.

Working with the 4-year-old Southern Passage from trainer Dale Romans’ barn, Crown Pride produced fractions of :11.60, :23.20 and :46.40 and galloped out in 1:00.20 and 1:14.80.

Regular exercise rider Masa Matsuda was aboard Crown Pride, who has had four works at Churchill Downs since arriving here March 30 after winning the UAE Derby (GII).

Also working Wednesday morning was RED TR-Racing’s Rich Strike for trainer Eric Reed.

With Gabriel Lagunes aboard, Rich Strike worked five furlongs in :59.60. He produced eighth-of-a-mile fractions of :11.80, :23.40, :35, :47.20 and :59.60 and galloped out in 1:12.60 and 1:25.80.

Third in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) in his most recent start, Rich Strike is 24th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and would need four defections from the anticipated starters to gain a spot in the starting gate for Kentucky Derby 148.



BARBER ROAD – WSS Racing’s Barber Road galloped about 1 ½ miles at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The former $15,000 weanling purchase rallied from about six lengths off the early pace in the Arkansas Derby (GI) to finish second by 2 ¾ lengths behind Cyberknife.

“I’m certainly not going to change his running style going into the Derby,” trainer John Ortiz said. “He was on the lead when he broke his maiden which gave him a lot of confidence since it was a claiming race. I think if he could be about mid-pack in the Derby it would be the ideal position.”



CLASSIC CAUSEWAY – Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper’s Classic Causeway had a 1 ½-mile gallop Wednesday morning under regular exercise rider Calamity Compton.

Classic Causeway would be Australian-native trainer Brian Lynch’s first starter in the Kentucky Derby.

“It’s really exciting for my owners and for us as a barn to have a horse like this,” said Lynch, who moved to the U.S. nearly three decades ago. “We won some pretty big races in the Breeders’ Cup and Queen’s Plate but you could say it would be a dream come true to win the Kentucky Derby.”

Lynch moved from Australia and competed on the rodeo circuit riding bulls. In Australia, Lynch worked around horses and eventually bought horses on his own.



CHARGE IT, MO DONEGAL, PIONEER OF MEDINA – Trainer Todd Pletcher is watching the weather forecast as he plots the final works for his Kentucky Derby hopefuls.

“The forecast looks a little dicey for the weekend,” Pletcher said. “If the forecast looks favorable, I’d work the (Oaks) fillies Friday and the colts Saturday. I am prepared to move up a day or back a day with either of them.”

All three of his Derby hopefuls galloped 1 3/8 miles during the 7:30-7:45 morning training window for Derby and Oaks horses. Amelia Green partnered Donegal Racing’s Mo Donegal; Hector Ramos was aboard Whisper Hill Farm’s Charge It and Carlos Perez was on Sumaya U. S. Stables’ Pioneer of Medina, who is No. 21 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.



CROWN PRIDE (JPN) – Teruya Yoshida’s well-traveled Crown Pride (JPN) turned in his most impressive pre-Kentucky Derby work Wednesday morning by working a bullet half-mile in :46.40 over a fast track.

With regular morning partner Masa Matsuda aboard, Crown Pride produced fractions of :11.60, :23.20 and :46.40 and galloped out in 1:00.20 and 1:14.80 while working in company with the 4-year-old Southern Passage.

Crown Pride left Japan on March 17 to travel 5,000 miles to Dubai where he won the UAE Derby (GII). He traveled another 7,300 miles from Dubai to Churchill Downs, arriving here March 30. Wednesday’s work was his fourth since arriving here.

Before the work, Crown Pride warmed up in the mile chute while the track was undergoing a harrow break and following the work had a leisurely trip back to the quarantine barn.

“That is a typical Japanese training regimen,” said Japan-based representative for the Kentucky Derby Kate Hunter. “Masa was very pleased with the work. He said Crown Pride moves well over the surface with no extra effort.”

Crown Pride’s previous works here were six furlongs in 1:18.60 on April 16, a half-mile in :49.80 on April 19 and a half-mile in :49.20 on April 24. He is scheduled to work again Sunday.

Trainer Koichi Shintani is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Sunday night and will be at the post position draw Monday afternoon.

Jockey Christophe Lemaire is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Monday.



CYBERKNIFE, TAWNY PORT, ZOZOS – Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Cyberknife, Tawny Port and Zozos all visited the Churchill Downs starting gate and had a 1 ½-mile gallop at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Cox reported all three horses would likely work Saturday.



EPICENTER – Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Louisiana Derby (GII) winner Epicenter trained later than his normal 5:30 a.m. to school in the Kentucky Derby starting gate, which is located in the one mile chute.

Epicenter was on the track at 7:30 a.m. during the restricted window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks training. After his schooling session he had a standard gallop with exercise rider Roberto Howell in the boot.



SMILE HAPPY, TIZ THE BOMB – Lucky Seven Stable’s Smile Happy and Magdalena Racing’s Tiz the Bomb both galloped a mile and a half during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Oaks hopefuls.

Danny Ramsey was aboard Smile Happy and Edwardo Ruvalcaba was aboard Tiz the Bomb for trainer Kenny McPeek.



SUMMER IS TOMORROW – Michael Hilary Burke and Negar Burke’s Summer Is Tomorrow galloped a mile and then had a paddock schooling session under Heinz Runge.

Runner-up in the UAE Derby (GII) in his most recent start, Summer Is Tomorrow is scheduled to work Sunday.

Trainer Bhupat Seemar is scheduled to arrive in Louisville tonight.



UN OJO – Cypress Creek Equine and Whispering Oaks Farm’s Un Ojo stood in the starting gate and then galloped two miles under Clay Courville, son of trainer Ricky Courville.

“He walked right in there with no problem,” said Clay Courville, who rode Un Ojo through the paddock Tuesday and plans to bring him back Thursday morning after training hours as part of a walk day.

Ricky Courville is expected to make the 11-hour drive from Lafayette, Louisiana, to Louisville tomorrow.



ZANDON – Jeff Drown’s Blue Grass Stakes (GI) winner Zandon galloped about 1 ½ miles at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

“I’m really excited the way he’s taken to the surroundings here at Churchill,” trainer Chad Brown said. “We’ll likely keep him on the Saturday work pattern.”



ALSO ELIGIBLES: RED TR-Racing’s Rich Strike worked five furlongs in :59.60 with Gabriel Lagunes aboard for trainer Eric Reed. Working on his own at 7:30, Rich Strike produced eighth-of-a-mile fractions of :11.80, :23.40, :35, :47.20 and :59.60 and galloped out in 1:12.60 and 1:25.80.

“You couldn’t do any better than that,” Reed said of Rich Strike, who is No. 24 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. “Now we’ll just wait and see what happens.”

Third in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) in his most recent start, Rich Strike would need four defections from the anticipated starters to gain a spot in the starting gate for Kentucky Derby 148.



SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Here’s the current Top 20 horses in this year’s Kentucky Derby (with jockey and trainer): Epicenter (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen); Zandon (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown); White Abarrio (Tyler Gaffalione, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Mo Donegal (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Tiz the Bomb (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Cyberknife (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Crown Pride (JPN) (Christophe Lemiere, Koichi Shintani); Taiba (Mike Smith, Tim Yakteen); Simplification (Jose Ortiz, Antonio Sano); Smile Happy (Corey Lanerie, Kenny McPeek); Classic Causeway (Julien Leparoux, Brian Lynch); Tawny Port (TBA, Brad Cox); Barber Road (Reylu Gutierrez, John Ortiz); Un Ojo (Ramon Vazquez, Ricky Courville); Early Voting (TBA, Chad Brown); Messier (John Velazquez, Tim Yakteen); Zozos (Manny Franco, Brad Cox); Summer Is Tomorrow (Mickael Barzalona, Bhupat Seemar); Charge It (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher); Happy Jack (Rafael Bejarano, Doug O’Neill).

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UNDEFEATED TAIBA PUTS IN FINAL KENTUCKY DERBY WORK AT SANTA ANITA



LOUISVILLE, KY (Thursday, April 28, 2022) – The principal action for Kentucky Derby 148 occurred more than 2,000 miles west of Churchill Downs Thursday morning as Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Taiba worked six furlongs in 1:12.80.

“It was very straight forward,” trainer Tim Yakteen said. “He worked three-quarters from the five-eighth pole. It was a typical Taiba work and we accomplished what we wanted. I got him in 1:12.60 and out in 1:26. We’re good.”

Drayden Van Dyke was aboard Taiba who worked in company with the 4-year-old American Admiral.

Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Taiba is undefeated in two career starts will be attempting to become the first horse since Leonatus in 1883 to win the Kentucky Derby in his third start.

Yakteen plans to work Messier, the Santa Anita Derby runner-up, Friday morning with both colts scheduled to fly from Los Angeles to Indianapolis on Sunday and then van south to Churchill Downs.

“My general feeling is that both horses are doing really super (following the Santa Anita Derby),” Yakteen said. “They are both very professional and make my job easy.”

In addition to Messier working on Friday, Tami Bobo’s Fountain of Youth (GII) winner Simplification is scheduled to work at Gulfstream Park for trainer Antonio Sano.



BARBER ROAD – WSS Racing’s Barber Road galloped about 1 ½ miles at 7:30 a.m. Thursday under exercise rider Daniel Ortiz.



CLASSIC CAUSEWAY – Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper’s Classic Causeway sported his new Kentucky Derby 148 saddle towel and had a 1 ½-mile gallop at 7:30 a.m. with exercise rider Calamity Compton in the saddle.

Jockey Julien Leparoux was on hand to watch his Derby mount gallop.

The three-time winner is scheduled to work Saturday.



CHARGE IT, MO DONEGAL, PIONEER OF MEDINA – “All is good so far,” trainer Todd Pletcher reported Thursday morning after his trio of Kentucky Derby hopefuls galloped 1 3/8 miles during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Kentucky Oaks hopefuls.

Pletcher plans to work the trio Saturday morning but overnight rain Friday is in the forecast. “We are monitoring the weather,” Pletcher said.

On Thursday morning, Donegal Racing’s Mo Donegal was partnered by Amelia Green; Hector Ramos was aboard Whisper Hill Farm’s Charge It; and, Carlos Perez was on Pioneer of Medina.



CROWN PRIDE (JPN) – Teruya Yoshida’s Crown Pride (JPN) had a walk day following a half-mile work in :46.40 on Wednesday.



CYBERKNIFE, TAWNY PORT, ZOZOS – Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Cyberknife, Tawny Port and Zozos all had a 1 ½-mile gallop at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

Cox reported all three horses would work Saturday.



EPICENTER – Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Louisiana Derby (GII) winner Epicenter returned to his normal 5:45 a.m. training time Thursday.

The talented Not This Time colt is scheduled to work Sunday.



SMILE HAPPY, TIZ THE BOMB – Trainer Kenny McPeek’s Derby duo of Magdalena Racing’s Tiz the Bomb and Lucky Seven Stable’s Smile Happy galloped a mile and a half Thursday morning with Edwardo Ruvalcaba aboard Tiz the Bomb and Danny Ramsey on Smile Happy.

They are scheduled to have works on Saturday.



SUMMER IS TOMORROW – With trainer Bhupat Seemar on hand, Michael Hilary Burke and Negar Burke’s Summer Is Tomorrow galloped a mile under Heinz Runge.

Following training hours, Summer Is Tomorrow had a paddock schooling session.

“Do all the homework now and get the prize next Saturday,” said Seemar, who was returning to Churchill Downs for the first time since 2002 when he was an assistant to Bob Baffert for War Emblem’s Derby.

“It has been a long time, but that wasn’t my first Derby,” Seemar said. “I was here as a spectator for Charismatic (in 1999).”

Summer Is Tomorrow is scheduled to work Sunday.



UN OJO – Cypress Creek Equine and Whispering Oaks Farm’s Un Ojo had a walk day Thursday according to Clay Courville, son of trainer Ricky Courville.

Clay Courville had thought about bringing Un Ojo over to the paddock after training hours but opted to wait until Monday “when I have some help.”

Help is on the way as his dad left Lafayette, Louisiana, Thursday morning and will be in Louisville tonight.

Un Ojo is scheduled to work Saturday.



ZANDON – Jeff Drown’s Blue Grass Stakes (GI) winner Zandon galloped about 1 ½ miles at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

Zandon is slated to have his final Derby work Saturday.



SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Here’s the current Top 20 horses in this year’s Kentucky Derby (with jockey and trainer): Epicenter (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen); Zandon (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown); White Abarrio (Tyler Gaffalione, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Mo Donegal (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Tiz the Bomb (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Cyberknife (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Crown Pride (JPN) (Christophe Lemiere, Koichi Shintani); Taiba (Mike Smith, Tim Yakteen); Simplification (Jose Ortiz, Antonio Sano); Smile Happy (Corey Lanerie, Kenny McPeek); Classic Causeway (Julien Leparoux, Brian Lynch); Tawny Port (TBA, Brad Cox); Barber Road (Reylu Gutierrez, John Ortiz); Un Ojo (Ramon Vazquez, Ricky Courville); Early Voting (TBA, Chad Brown); Messier (John Velazquez, Tim Yakteen); Zozos (Manny Franco, Brad Cox); Summer Is Tomorrow (Mickael Barzalona, Bhupat Seemar); Charge It (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher); Happy Jack (Rafael Bejarano, Doug O’Neill).



LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE



COCKTAIL MOMENTS – Dixiana Farms’ Cocktail Moments galloped a mile and a half and is scheduled to have her final work for the Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday.



GODDESS OF FIRE, NEST, SHAHAMA – The Todd Pletcher-trained Kentucky Oaks trio of Goddess of Fire, Nest and Shahama galloped 1 3/8 miles Thursday morning and are scheduled for works Friday morning.

Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House’s Nest was partnered by Nora McCormack and KHK Racing’s Shahama had Humberto Zamora aboard at 7:30. A half-hour later, Zamora sent Red Oak Stable’s Goddess of Fire through her paces.



HIDDEN CONNECTION – Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbreds’ Hidden Connection galloped about 1 ½ miles at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

Following her training session, Hidden Connection schooled in the Churchill Downs paddock at 10 a.m.

“She handled things very well,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “She showed a lot of talent in the Fair Grounds Oaks and really gave it her all against Echo Zulu. I think she got a lot out of that race into the Kentucky Oaks.”

Hidden Connection is scheduled to work Friday with jockey Reylu Gutierrez in the saddle.



KATHLEEN O. – Winngate Stables’ Kathleen O. galloped 1 ¼ miles with regular exercise rider David Jego aboard.

Trainer Shug McGaughey was on hand to watch the morning’s activity and said the undefeated Kathleen O. would work Saturday morning.



NOSTALGIC – Godolphin’s Nostalgic had a 1 3/8-mile gallop Thursday morning with exercise rider Penny Gardiner in the saddle.

The Gazelle (GIII) winner is scheduled to work Friday or Saturday.



SECRET OATH – Briland Farm’s top Longines Kentucky Oaks contender Secret Oath jogged one-mile at 5:15 a.m. and had a light gallop in the chute.



TURNERLOOSE – Ike and Dawn Thrash’s Turnerloose has a 1 ½-mile gallop Thursday morning.

Trainer Brad Cox reported Turnerloose would have her final Oaks tune up Friday morning.



VENTI VALENTINE – NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Gazelle (GIII) runner-up Venti Valentine had a 1 1/2-mile gallop Thursday morning. She’s scheduled to work Friday or Saturday, according to trainer Jorge Abreu.

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ZANDON WORKS FIVE FURLONGS IN 1:00.40; MESSIER, SIMPLIFICATION WORK ON BOTH COASTS FOR DERBY 148



LOUISVILLE, KY (Friday, April 29, 2022) – There were three works on the Kentucky Derby front Friday morning with the one at Churchill Downs featuring Jeff Drown’s Blue Grass Stakes (GI) winner Zandon.

Working on his own at 7:30 (all times Eastern) over a fast track with regular morning partner Kriss Bon aboard, Zandon completed the five furlongs in 1:00.40 for trainer Chad Brown.

Churchill Downs clockers caught Zandon in fractions of :12.80, :25, :36.80, 1:00.40 and out in 1:12.80 and 1:26.40.

Working about the same time at Gulfstream Park was Tami Bobo’s Fountain of Youth (GII) winner Simplification who worked five furlongs in 1:00.44 for trainer Antonio Sano over a muddy track. Junior Alvarado was aboard for the work that was the fastest of 10 at the distance for the morning.

A few hours later at Santa Anita, Messier, the runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby (GI) worked six furlongs in 1:11.60 for trainer Tim Yakteen.

It will be a different story Saturday beneath the Twin Spires with more than half of the projected Derby field scheduled to have their final works.

Slated to work are the Todd Pletcher trio of Charge It, Mo Donegal and Pioneer of Medina; the Brad Cox trio of Cyberknife, Tawny Port and Zozos; the Kenny McPeek duo of Smile Happy and Tiz the Bomb; Un Ojo for Ricky Courville, Classic Causeway for Brian Lynch and Barber Road for John Ortiz.

Meanwhile at Gulfstream Park, C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable’s Florida Derby (GI) winner White Abarrio is scheduled to work for Saffie Joseph Jr. and at Keeneland, Calumet Farm’s Happy Jack is scheduled to work at 7:30 for two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill. Jockey Rafael Bejarano is slated to be aboard for the breeze.



BARBER ROAD – WSS Racing’s Barber Road galloped about 1 ½ miles at 7:30 a.m. Friday under exercise rider Daniel Ortiz.

Trained by John Ortiz, Barber Road is scheduled to work Saturday.



CLASSIC CAUSEWAY – Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper’s Classic Causeway had an easy morning at the track for trainer Brian Lynch. The Giant’s Causeway colt jogged about one mile and continued to have a light canter in the chute.

Classic Causeway is scheduled to work Saturday morning with jockey Julien Leparoux in the saddle.



CHARGE IT, MO DONEGAL, PIONEER OF MEDINA – The Todd Pletcher-trained trio had routine gallops of 1 3/8 miles Friday morning, the day before their final works for Kentucky Derby 148.

Whisper Hill Farm’s Charge It was partnered by Hector Ramos and will have Derby rider Luis Saez aboard for Saturday’s work at 7:30.

Sumaya U. S. Stables’ Pioneer of Medina had Carlos Perez aboard for Friday’s exercise and Perez is expected to handle Saturday’s work.

Donegal Racing’s Mo Donegal came out at 8 o’clock with Amelia Green aboard. Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to be aboard for Saturday’s work.



CROWN PRIDE (JPN) – Teruya Yoshida’s Crown Pride (JPN) galloped a mile under exercise rider Masa Matsuda.

Winner of the UAE Derby (GII), Crown Pride is trained by Koichi Shintani who is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Sunday night. Yoshida is expected to be here Derby Day.



CYBERKNIFE, TAWNY PORT, ZOZOS – Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Cyberknife, Tawny Port and Zozos all had a more energetic 1 ½-mile gallop leading into the final Derby works Saturday.

Cyberknife, with Katie Tolbert aboard, and Tawny Port, with Edvin Vargas, both trained at 7:30 a.m. About 40 minutes earlier, Zozos galloped with Kelvin Perez up.



EPICENTER – Led by assistant trainer Scott Blasi, Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Epicenter came out at 5:50 a.m. Under exercise rider Roberto Howell, the Not This Time colt went through his routine gallop. Winner of four out of past last five, including the Risen Star (GII) and TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GI), Sunday will be Epicenter’s third workout since arriving at Churchill Downs from Fair Grounds



MESSIER – Santa Anita Derby (GI) runner-up Messier worked six furlongs in 1:11.60 on his own with Drayden Van Dyke up at Santa Anita for trainer Tim Yakteen.

Messier is scheduled to fly with Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba on Sunday to Indianapolis and then van to Churchill Downs. Tabia worked six furlongs in 1:12.80 on Thursday at Santa Anita.



SIMPLIFICATION – Despite a muddy track at Gulfstream Park, Tami Bobo’s Simplification worked five furlongs in 1:00.44 for the best of 10 works at the distance.

Junior Alvarado was aboard Simplification for trainer Antonio Sano. Jose Ortiz has the Derby mount.

“Everything was great,” Sano said of the work that produced fractions of :37 and 1:00.44 with out times of 1:12.80, 1:25.20 and the mile in 1:38.60. “I couldn’t be happier. He leaves here at 5 this afternoon by van.”

Sano, who will arrive in Louisville Sunday afternoon, had his first Kentucky Derby starter in 2017 with Gunnevera who finished seventh behind Always Dreaming. Gunnevera came back to Churchill Downs the following year and finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI).



SMILE HAPPY, TIZ THE BOMB – Trainer Kenny McPeek’s Derby hopefuls —Magdalena Racing’s Tiz the Bomb and Lucky Seven Stable’s Smile Happy — again galloped a mile and a half Friday morning. Edwardo Ruvalcaba was aboard Tiz the Bomb and Danny Ramsey was on Smile Happy.

“They’re doing super,” said McPeek, who plans to give them their final works Saturday during the period reserved for Derby and Oaks horses.



SUMMER IS TOMORROW – Michael Hilary Burke and Negar Burke’s Summer Is Tomorrow made a visit to the starting gate and then galloped a mile under Heinz Runge for trainer Bhupat Seemar.

Runner-up in the UAE Derby (GII), Summer Is Tomorrow is scheduled to work Sunday.

The Burkes are scheduled to arrive in Louisville next week for the Derby.



UN OJO – Cypress Creek Equine and Whispering Oaks Farm’s Un Ojo walked through the paddock and then galloped a mile and a half under Clay Courville, son of trainer Ricky Courville.

The elder Courville was on hand Friday morning after arriving Thursday from his home base in Lafayette, Louisiana.

“He looks pretty good to me,” said Courville, who last saw his Rebel (GII) winner more than a week ago when he departed for Churchill Downs.

Un Ojo, who is missing his left eye, was equipped with a new blinker Friday morning.

“I tried a new blinker to cover his eye,” Courville said. “He may work in it in the morning. I’ll talk it over with the owners.”

Un Ojo is scheduled to work at 7:30 Saturday with Clay Courville up.



ZANDON – Jeff Drown’s Blue Grass Stakes (GI) winner Zandon has his scheduled Saturday moved up one day by trainer Chad Brown. The Blue Grass (GI) winner worked a swift five furlongs in 1:00.40 under exercise rider Kriss Bon.

Zandon, one of the top contenders in this year’s Derby, began his work at the half-mile pole and completed the breeze at the seven-eighths pole. He completed early eighth-mile fractions of :12.80, :25, and :36.80. Zandon completed his work with a seven-furlong gallop out of 1:26.40.

“I just didn’t want to take any chances with the weather forecast, even though it looks better for tomorrow,” Brown said. “The track is in fabulous shape. You’re not going to get a better track to train over than we got this morning.

“With horses at this level heading into the Derby, very few of them work poorly,” Brown said. “It’s the best of the crop running in the Derby. You just hope that you can be in that group of good workers and not in that small one that may not work well.”

Zandon will be ridden in the Derby by Flavien Prat.



SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Here’s the current Top 20 horses in this year’s Kentucky Derby (with jockey and trainer): Epicenter (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen); Zandon (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown); White Abarrio (Tyler Gaffalione, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Mo Donegal (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Tiz the Bomb (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Cyberknife (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Crown Pride (JPN) (Christophe Lemiere, Koichi Shintani); Taiba (Mike Smith, Tim Yakteen); Simplification (Jose Ortiz, Antonio Sano); Smile Happy (Corey Lanerie, Kenny McPeek); Classic Causeway (Julien Leparoux, Brian Lynch); Tawny Port (TBA, Brad Cox); Barber Road (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz); Un Ojo (Ramon Vazquez, Ricky Courville); Early Voting (TBA, Chad Brown); Messier (John Velazquez, Tim Yakteen); Zozos (Manny Franco, Brad Cox); Summer Is Tomorrow (Mickael Barzalona, Bhupat Seemar); Charge It (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher); Happy Jack (Rafael Bejarano, Doug O’Neill).



LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE – Six Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) probable entrants had their final works for next Friday’s $1.25 million race over a fast track.

Topping the sextet was the Todd Pletcher-trained trio of Nest (half-mile in :48.60), Goddess of Fire (five furlongs in 1:01) and Shahama (five furlongs in 1:01.20). Also working were Hidden Connection (a half-mile in :50.20) for trainer Bret Calhoun, Turnerloose (five furlongs in 1:01 for trainer Brad Cox) and Venti Valentine (five furlongs in 1:00.80) for trainer Jorge Abreu.

Scheduled to work here Saturday are Kathleen O., Nostalgic, Cocktail Moments and Candy Raid.



CANDY RAID – The Keith Desormeaux barn arrived Thursday afternoon, coming in from Keeneland. Don’t Tell My Wife Stables and Desormeux’s Candy Raid made her way to the track to gallop 1 1/2 mile at 7:30 a.m. under exercise rider Alex Cano. Desormeaux reported the last-to-first winner of the Bourbonette Oaks will breeze on Saturday.

Led by Kirk Godby, Don’t Tell My Wife Stables will be present en masse: “They’re coming on a 747 – 100 of them from Dallas. Likely just for the day [Saturday May 8th],” Desormeaux said.



COCKTAIL MOMENTS – Dixiana Farms’ Cocktail Moments galloped a mile and a half and is scheduled to have her final work for the Longines Kentucky Oaks on Saturday.

“She’s doing good coming into the race,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “She’s probably in the second tier of favorites, and has an outside chance.”

On April 22, she breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01.20 in her first work back since finishing second to Nest in the Ashland (GI).



GODDESS OF FIRE, NEST, SHAHAMA – Four-time Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer Todd Pletcher was “very pleased with all three” of his candidates for next Friday’s 148th running of the 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-old fillies.

Working first during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks runners was Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House’s Nest with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard.

Working inside of 3-year-old maiden filly Investing, Nest produced fractions of :24.20 and :48.60 and galloped out in 1:01 and 1:14.

“It’s 21 days after the Ashland (GI that she won at Keeneland) and it was a solid work,” Pletcher said. “She finished good and galloped out strong.”

Working together were Red Oak Stable’s Goodess of Fire with Humberto Zamora aboard and KHK Racing’s Shahama with Oaks rider Flavien Prat aboard.

Shahama was on the inside with fractions of :25.40, :37.20, :49.20, 1:01.20 and out in 1:13.60, 1:26.20 and 1:40.40. Goddess of Fire had fractions of :25.20, :37, :49, 1:01 and out in 1:13.40, 1:26 and 1:40.20.

“I wanted them to do a little more than Nest,” Pletcher said. “They both finished well and galloped out strong.”



ECHO ZULU – L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Echo Zulu came out to the track at 5:30 a.m. and made her way through a routine gallop with regular exercise rider Wilson Fabian on board.

Assistant trainer Scott Blasi reported all went well. The undefeated 2-year-old Eclipse Award-winning filly is scheduled to breeze Sunday morning.



HIDDEN CONNECTION – Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbreds’ Hidden Connection had her final move prior to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) with an easy half-mile move in :50.20 under jockey Rey Gutierrez.

“Her work last week was great and today, even though it was easier, it was just as impressive,” Gutierrez said. “This is one of the best group of 3-year-old fillies that there’s been in recent years. There are six or seven of them who have been so impressive in their races leading up to the Oaks. (Hidden Connection) ran a super race against Echo Zulu in the Fair Grounds Oaks. She got a lot out of that effort and she was so close to winning. The Oaks is going to be super competitive not only with those two horses but throw in the fillies from New York, Florida, Secret Oath who ran a great race against the boys. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

This will be the first time the 26-year-old New York-native will ride in the Kentucky Oaks.

“It feels like just yesterday I was in my cap and gown walking across the stage when I graduated SUNY-Courtland,” Gutierrez said. “I’ve been around horses my entire life with my dad (Luis) training at Finger Lakes. At the end of my senior year of college I decided to pursue my career as a jockey. It’s pretty amazing to be where I’m at today. I’m riding at Churchill Downs with a mount in both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby (Barber Road).”

Hidden Connection will have a scheduled walk day Saturday.



KATHLEEN O. – Winngate Stables’ Kathleen O. kept to her schedule, walking the track and then galloping 1 1/4 miles under David Jego at 7:30 a.m. for trainer Shug McGaughey, who won the 1993 Kentucky Oaks with Ogden Phipps’ Dispute.

McGaughey reported that owner Patrick Kearney would arrive Wednesday or Thursday. Kathleen O. is scheduled to work Saturday.



NOSTALGIC – Godolphin’s Nostalgic is scheduled to work Saturday at Churchill Downs, according to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

The Gazelle (GIII) winner continued her normal training Friday with a 1 3/8-mile gallop with Penny Gardiner in the saddle.



SECRET OATH – Briland Farm’s Longines Kentucky Oaks contender Secret Oath was one of the first horses on the Churchill Downs surface Friday morning for a one-mile jog and about one-mile gallop under exercise rider Danielle Rosier.



TURNERLOOSE – Ike and Dawn Thrash’s Turnerloose had her final work prior to the Kentucky Oaks with a five-furlong move in 1:01.20 under exercise rider Edvin Vargas.

“She’s fit and ready to go,” trainer Brad Cox simply stated.

Cox has not confirmed a rider for the Oaks.



VENTI VALENTINE – NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Gazelle (GIII) runner-up Venti Valentine put in her final workout for next Friday’s Longines Kentucky Oaks, with Tyler Gaffalione aboard Friday morning during the period reserved for Oaks and Derby horses.

She worked five furlongs in 1:00.80, with splits of :13, :24.80 and :36.80, galloping out to 1:14 for the six furlongs.

“That’s the way she gallops,” said Francisco Abreu, brother to trainer Jorge Abreu, who supervised the filly’s workout and was satisfied with her efforts. “The first part, she’s a little anxious, then she calms down a little. It was just a maintenance work for her; she had a strong final work was a week ago.”

In looking ahead to the Oaks, Francisco Abreu said, “It’s coming up pretty tough. It’s going to be a good Oaks. She’s had five starts, with two wins and two seconds. Now it’s just galloping, with some schooling, going to the paddock and going to the gate. All the work is done now.”

Jorge Abreu will be at Churchill on Saturday.



ALSO-ELIGIBLES:



BEGUINE – Charles Matses’ Beguine worked five furlongs in :59.40 under jockey James Graham for trainer Danny Peitz.

Runner-up in the Fantasy (GIII), Beguine would need four defections from the roster of likely Oaks entrants to make the field when entries are drawn Monday.



SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY OAKS – Here’s the Top 14 horses on the leaderboard for the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) (with jockey and trainer): Kathleen O. (Javier Castellano, Shug McGaughey); Echo Zulu (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen); Nest (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Yuugiri (Florent Geroux, Rodolphe Brisset); Desert Dawn (Umberto Rispoli, Phil D’Amato); Nostalgic (Jose Ortiz, Bill Mott); Venti Valentine (Tyler Gaffalione, Jorge Abreu); Secret Oath (Luis Saez, Wayne Lukas); Goddess of Fire (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher); Turnerloose (TBA, Brad Cox); Hidden Connection (Rey Gutierrez, Bret Calhoun); Cocktail Moments (Corey Lanerie, Kenny McPeek); Candy Raid (Rafael Bejarano, Keith Desormeaux); Shahama (Flavien Prat, Todd Pletcher).

[Kasept]

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

[Kasept]

11 hopefuls complete major drills at Churchill Downs for Kentucky Derby 148



LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, April 30, 2022) – The action started when the track opened for training at 5:15 (all times Eastern) on a cloudy but mild Saturday morning at Churchill Downs when the Brad Cox-trained duo of Cyberknife and Zozos worked six furlongs together in 1:11.20 and 1:11.40, respectively.

Following during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses beneath the Twin Spires were Cox’s third Derby hopeful Tawny Port (five furlongs in 1:01.60); the Todd Pletcher trio of Mo Donegal (half-mile in :48.60), and Charge It and Pioneer of Medina who worked a half-mile together in :47.40; the Kenny McPeek tandem of Smile Happy and Tiz the Bomb who worked a half-mile together in :48; Barber Road (a half-mile in :48.80) for trainer John Ortiz; Classic Causeway (six furlongs in 1:13.20) for trainer Brian Lynch and Un Ojo (a half-mile in :47.60) for trainer Ricky Courville.

Working at Keeneland was Calumet Farm’s Happy Jack, who covered a mile in 1:39.60 under jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Scheduled to work Sunday at Churchill Downs are Epicenter for Steve Asmussen and Crown Pride (JPN) for Koichi Shintani. Scheduled to work after the 10th race this afternoon at Gulfstream Park is C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio.



BARBER ROAD – WSS Racing’s Barber Road had his final move prior to the Kentucky Derby with a half-mile move in :48.80 under trainer John Ortiz’s exercise rider Elexander Aguilar.

“We’re ready,” Ortiz said. “We’ve had a really strong campaign leading into the Derby and he has a lot of good seasoning underneath him. We know we have a fit horse and will be ready for the mile and a quarter.”



CLASSIC CAUSEWAY – Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper’s Classic Causeway had his final Derby work Saturday morning with a strong six-furlong move in 1:13.20 outside of three-time winner Sounion.

Classic Causeway, ridden by jockey Julien Leparoux, clipped through early fractions of :24.60, :36.60 and :48.60. Classic Causeway started about one length behind Sounion and drew away inside the eighth pole. Classic Causeway galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27.

“He’s been doing everything right on the track to earn his spot in the Derby,” trainer Brain Lynch said. “With the way he’s training, I don’t want to be the one to hold him back.”

Classic Causeway, the winner of the Sam F. Davis (GIII) and Tampa Bay Derby (GII), will be ridden in the Derby by Leparoux.



CHARGE IT, MO DONEGAL, PIONEER OF MEDINA – The trio of Todd Pletcher trainees took advantage of the special 7:30-7:45 a.m. training period on the Churchill Downs racetrack reserved for Derby and Oaks contenders to put in their final serious exercises for next Saturday’s 148th edition of the Run for the Roses.

Working inside stablemate My Prankster (who had Hector Ramos up and a date in next Saturday’s Pat Day Mile), Mo Donegal covered a half mile in :48.60 with a gallop out in 1:01.80 with Derby rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. at the controls.

Pletcher watched his colts’ drills from the Churchill grandstand and called Mo Donegal’s move “excellent.”

“He was in hand and it was a good controlled work and gallop out,” the Hall of Fame conditioner offered afterward on the backside. “I was very happy with it.”

Next up was the stable’s duo of Charge It and Pioneer of Medina with the former, handled by Derby rider Luis Saez, inside of his partner, who had exercise rider Carlos Perez in the saddle.

The roan Charge It and the bay Pioneer of Medina moved as one through splits of :12.20, :23.60, :35.80 and :47.40 with out times of :59.60 and 1:12.40.

“It was a solid move,” Pletcher said. “I got them in :23 and one for the last quarter. I was in touch with them on the radio and we had that scary moment when the siren went off (a workmate of an Oaks horse on the track lost the rider) just as they were at the wire so I alerted them. But I saw they picked up the loose horse right away and I was able to let them know about that, too.”

Mo Donegal, who has won three of five lifetime starts, most recently in New York’s Wood Memorial (GII), and Charge It, a winner of one of three outings, but second in Gulfstream’s Florida Derby (GI) in his latest attempt, are both assured of a starting spot in the Derby. But Pioneer of Medina, a double winner from six starts with a third-place finish in the Louisiana Derby (GII) as his latest effort, is currently listed as No. 21 on the Derby roster that only allows for 20 runners. But with the connections of at least one of the top 20 Derby eligibles indicating they’ll wait for another day, it appears likely that “Pioneer” will suit up for the mile and one-quarter classic.

“From here,” Pletcher concluded, “we’ll do the usual stuff – like visiting the gate and galloping. We’ll be galloping up to the Derby.”



CROWN PRIDE (JPN) – Teruya Yoshida’s Crown Pride (JPN) galloped under regular morning partner Masa Matsuda and is scheduled for a half-mile work Sunday morning at 7:30.

The UAE Derby (GII) winner will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire who rode at Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup in 2010 and 2011.



CYBERKNIFE, TAWNY PORT, ZOZOS – Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Cyberknife, Tawny Port and Zozos all had their final works prior to the “Run for the Roses” Saturday.

At 5:15 a.m., Gold Square’s Cyberknife worked outside of Barry and Joni Butzow’s Zozos through swift opening eighth-mile fractions of :23, 34.60, :47 and :58.80. Cyberknife began the work about one-length back of Zozos and the duo finished on even terms.

At 7:30 a.m., Tawny Port, with newly named jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 outside of stablemate Shared Sense.

“There’s a lot of excitement leading into these final Derby works,” Cox said. “You start to get a little anxious as the days near closer to the Derby. Things went very smooth this morning.”

Jockey Florent Geroux was aboard Cyberknife for his work Saturday. The 35-year-old native of France spent some time outside of Cox’s barn following the work as he was anxiously awaiting for his brother to arrive from France.

“I think this is the part of Derby Week that is special because a lot of family and friends are here to support you,” said Geroux, who hasn’t seen his brother for more than two years due to COVID-19 restrictions in France. “I’ve been watching his plane on my phone and my family is excited to spend some time with him once he arrives.”



EARLY VOTING – Trainer Chad Brown reported a decision will come Sunday morning whether Klaravich Stable’s Wood Memorial (GII) runner-up Early Voting will run in this year’s Kentucky Derby.



EPICENTER – Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Epicenter visited the paddock before galloping under exercise rider Roberto Howell.

Epicenter is scheduled to work Sunday morning, rain or shine, according to assistant trainer Scott Blasi.



HAPPY JACK – While Kentucky Derby horses populated the work tab at Churchill Downs, Calumet Farm’s homebred Happy Jack, 20th on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard, was 75 miles east at Keeneland, where he worked a mile in 1:39.60 over a fast track under jockey Rafael Bejarano.

The colt by 2013 Preakness (GI) winner Oxbow had arrived at Keeneland the previous weekend from trainer Doug O’Neill’s Southern California base.

“We’ve had some good fortune doing this before,” O’Neill said about shipping to Keeneland prior to heading to Churchill for the Derby. “We did it with Nyquist where we came here and did our final prep (before winning the 2016 Derby). It’s so quiet; the track’s got a good cushion so it’s a little bit demanding, which we think they get a little bit better exercise out of it. Very happy with the way it went this morning.”

O’Neill, who also won the Derby in 2012 with I’ll Have Another, said working Happy Jack a mile was a good test.

“(He’s a) horse who’s got the potential but he hasn’t put up the numbers that we need to be a huge player in the race,” O’Neill said. “We wanted to ask him firmly and make sure he was fit and ready. To me, he answered that question, and he’s ready.”

Happy Jack is scheduled to leave Keeneland for Churchill around 1 p.m. Sunday.



MESSIER, TAIBA – Trainer Tim Yakteen reported from Santa Anita Saturday morning that his two Kentucky Derby colts, the bay by Empire Maker named Messier, and the chestnut by Gun Runner named Taiba, were doing just fine and all but ready for their plane ride to Churchill Downs early Sunday morning.

“Messier (who had his final Kentucky Derby drill Friday morning at Santa Anita) just walked the shed today,” the 57-year-old conditioner said. “Taiba (who had his last Derby work Thursday, also at Santa Anita) had a jog day today and we had jockey Ryan Curatolo do the honors. He (Tabia) looked great on the track.”

Also on the plane will be his charge Doppelganger, who is bound for the Pat Day Mile (GII) on Derby Day.

Yakteen said he planned to catch the red eye out of Los Angeles Saturday night and was hoping to meet his trio at Churchill when they pulled in at approximately 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon following their flight to Indianapolis and their 2 ½-hour van ride to Louisville.



SIMPLIFICATION – Tami Bobo’s Simplification arrived at Churchill Downs early this afternoon following a van ride from Gulfstream Park in South Florida.

Trainer Antonio Sano is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Sunday afternoon and Simplification will go to the track Monday morning.

Jose Ortiz, who was aboard Simplification in his past two starts in the Fountain of Youth (GII) victory and a third-place finish in the Florida Derby (GI), has the call in the Kentucky Derby.



SMILE HAPPY, TIZ THE BOMB – Trainer Kenny McPeek was satisfied with the final maintenance work for his two Derby hopefuls – Magdalena Racing’s Tiz the Bomb and Lucky Seven Stable’s Smile Happy – despite a slight change in plans on the track.

They cruised together under the Twin Spires on Saturday in :48 for the half-mile and galloped out five-eighths in 1:00.20, with Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard Tiz the Bomb and Corey Lanerie on Smile Happy. The first quarter was clocked in :23.80.

“I had him at 12s all the way around,” Hernandez said of Tiz the Bomb, the Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) winner at Turfway Park. “Just kind of a maintenance half the Saturday before Derby. Just one of those deals that he did his half and galloped out just like we wanted him to. Now it’s all about getting to the Derby in good order.”

Smile Happy, who has only raced four times, finished second in the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) at Keeneland to Zandon, surrendering the lead in the stretch. “In the Blue Grass, that track was tiring,” Lanerie said. “I was disappointed when he let that horse come and get him so easy. But I think he’s doing better than ever. I like our chances.”

The two also worked together a week earlier, with Tiz the Bomb taking the position out in front. This time, plans called for them to swap roles, putting Smile Happy ahead, but that didn’t happen.

“It’s like the coach who calls the play, and everybody is supposed to do this and that, but that’s not what we called,” McPeek said. “Corey said he was worried about Brian’s horse getting a little keen in front of him. He was afraid they were going to go too fast. We wanted a 12s workout, and I think that’s how it played out. I wanted them to go 12s, kind of side by side, and not totally engage. I think they ended up going that, to 48. But no, that’s not the play I called.”

“Last week, I was on Tiz the Bomb, and we broke off about a half-length behind Smile Happy,” Hernandez said. “Today we were supposed to swap places, but when we got to the pole, Smile Happy was a little further back than we thought he would be. So I went on and worked my horse like I thought he needed to be worked. It wasn’t quite the work that Kenny was looking for, but it looked like both horses got what they needed out of it.”

“It happens,” McPeek said. “Brian’s horse is doing exceptionally well, and Corey was worried they were going to go too fast, because I was adamant that I didn’t want them to go too fast. They didn’t need to go down there in :46.”

“Once you’re in the process of working, you don’t want to stop and make it perfect,” Hernandez said. “Sometimes you’ve got to call an audible and unfortunately that’s what we had to do today. The biggest thing is you don’t want to overdo it … and blow your race in the morning.”

“I hope we get a good, clean break, and find a good position going into the first turn,” Lanerie said about where he wants to be in the Derby with Smile Happy. “Hopefully I’d like to be no further back than fifth or sixth, and get a good, clean trip. But it’s the Derby, you never know.”

“I like that this is a home game for us,” McPeek said. “Both Brian and Corey have been around this oval all their lives, and both are solid journeyman riders. I don’t have much concern about them finding their way around there. Both Corey and Brian are due a signature horse, so maybe one of them’s got it this week.”

McPeek also had Hernandez out with Rattle N Roll, who’s 24th in the Derby points standings, and would need a number of defections to make the field.

“I’m not intending on running him. The horse is doing fine, but he’s unlikely,” McPeek said of the colt, who finished fourth in the Louisiana Derby (GII) and sixth in the Blue Grass. “I’d like to get him back to his winning ways, maybe in a Grade III or a nice listed two-turn race somewhere, and get him back to winning, and start from there. It’s a long season.”



SUMMER IS TOMORROW – Michael Hilary Burke and Negar Burke’s Summer Is Tomorrow is scheduled to have his final work for Kentucky Derby 148 on Monday rather than Sunday.

“I like what I have seen so here so far,” said trainer Bhupat Seemar, who arrived in Louisville Wednesday night. “I usually work five days out from a race and I wanted to keep on the same schedule.”

Summer Is Tomorrow went twice around the track this morning with Heinz Runge aboard. Mickael Barzalona, who was aboard for the first time in Summer Is Tomorrow’s runner-up finish in the UAE Derby (GII), has the Derby mount and is expected to arrive in Louisville on Friday.

“It has been a long journey and it will be 11 days between works,” Seemar said. “He is putting weight back on and I wanted to give him an extra day.”



UN OJO – Cypress Creek Equine and Whispering Oaks Farm’s Un Ojo worked a half-mile in :47.60 under jockey Colby Hernandez. The work was the 14th fastest of 130 at the distance.

Working on his own, the Rebel (GII) winner posted fractions of :24.60, :36.40 and :47.60.

“I was worried about the weather last night and thought we may have to push it back a day,” trainer Ricky Courville said. “Colby has won a lot of races for us (in Louisiana).”

Ramon Vazquez will have the Derby mount.

Un Ojo worked without a piece of equipment that had been tested the day before to cover his missing eye.

“It was just a hood and he didn’t like it all,” Courville said. “He kept shaking his head.”



WHITE ABARRIO – Weather interrupted trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s plans for a final workout for Florida Derby (GI) winner White Abarrio at Gulfstream Park. The rain and a wet track means he’ll work at a special time Saturday afternoon in South Florida after the finale at Gulfstream Park.

“There was no rain at Palm Meadows, but Gulfstream Park got hit with a lot,” Joseph said by phone from South Florida. “It’s his last work before the Derby, an easy half-mile work. It looks like the weather is improving, but it takes just one shower to make a track bad.”



ZANDON – Jeff Drown’s Blue Grass Stakes (GI) winner Zandon had a scheduled walk day following his sharp five-furlong move in 1:00.40 Friday at Churchill Downs.

Zandon is scheduled to go to the track Sunday and school in the starting gate Tuesday.

Drown confirmed the pronunciation of Zandon is (Zan-Den).



ALSO ELIGIBLE – Trainer Kelly Breen confirmed Saturday morning that Edge Racing, Medallion Racing and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ In Due Time, No. 22 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, would not be participating in this year’s Run for the Roses.



SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Here’s the current Top 20 horses in this year’s Kentucky Derby (with jockey and trainer): Epicenter (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen); Zandon (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown); White Abarrio (Tyler Gaffalione, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Mo Donegal (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Tiz the Bomb (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Cyberknife (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Crown Pride (JPN) (Christophe Lemiere, Koichi Shintani); Taiba (Mike Smith, Tim Yakteen); Simplification (Jose Ortiz, Antonio Sano); Smile Happy (Corey Lanerie, Kenny McPeek); Classic Causeway (Julien Leparoux, Brian Lynch); Tawny Port (Ricardo Santana Jr., Brad Cox); Barber Road (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz); Un Ojo (Ramon Vazquez, Ricky Courville); Early Voting (TBA, Chad Brown); Messier (John Velazquez, Tim Yakteen); Zozos (Manny Franco, Brad Cox); Summer Is Tomorrow (Mickael Barzalona, Bhupat Seemar); Charge It (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher); Happy Jack (Rafael Bejarano, Doug O’Neill).



LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE – Four Kentucky Oaks candidates had their final works for Friday’s race this morning at Churchill Downs: Candy Raid (half-mile in :48.80), Cocktail Moments (five furlongs in 1:00.80), Kathleen O. (half-mile in :47.80) and Nostalgic (half-mile in :48.60).

Working this morning at Santa Anita was Desert Dawn (five furlongs in 1:00.60).

Scheduled for a final work Sunday is the undefeated Echo Zulu at Churchill Downs.



CANDY RAID – Trainer Keith Desormeaux said Saturday morning’s workout went well for Don’t Tell My Wife Stables and Desormeux’s Candy Raid.

Candy Raid worked a half-mile in :48.40 and galloped out five-eighths in 1:01.40 with exercise rider Alex Cano aboard. It was her first work here since she was stabled here last fall and made one start.

“She did great out there,” Desormeaux said. “She is very confident, very sound. Happy, fit, confident, sound—that’s all I can do.”



COCKTAIL MOMENTS – Dixiana Farms’ Cocktail Moments worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 with her Longines Kentucky Oaks rider, Corey Lanerie.

“She’s doing great, and she put in a good work. We worked her in the second set after the break today,” trainer Kenny McPeek said of Cocktail Moments who was second to Nest in the Ashland (GI) in her most recent start. “She’s going to have to have some things set up for her, and she’ll have to run the race of her life. It’s a good group, and our expectations are modest, but she’s ready.”



DESERT DAWN, AIN’T EASY – Trainer Phil D’Amato sent Desert Dawn, his 3-year-old daughter of Cupid through a five-furlong drill of 1:00.60 at Santa Anita Saturday morning with jockey Ryan Curatolo aboard. She went at about 6:30 on a fast track and made her conditioner “very happy.”

“It was a good work,” her 46-year-old horseman said. “She was breezing all the way. It made me very happy.”

The bay Arizona-bred miss has won twice in seven starts, but her most recent effort was her best when she dug in late to capture the Santa Anita Oaks (GII) at the California track on April 9 by a neck. Umberto Rispoli rode her that afternoon and will be in the tack for next Friday’s Kentucky Oaks.

Both Desert Dawn and stablemate Ain’t Easy – who was considered for the Kentucky Oaks but now has been shifted to a start in Friday’s Grade II Eight Belles – will be on a plane out of California early Sunday morning with several other runners with dates to dance at Churchill Downs next weekend, including the Kentucky Derby-bound duo of Taiba and Messier. The horses then will be vanned to Louisville in a trip that should take approximately 2 1/2 hours.

D’Amato will take a plane of his own from California and hopes to meet up with his charges Monday morning on the Churchill backside.



ECHO ZULU –– L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Echo Zulu galloped at her usual 5:30 time under exercise rider Wilson Fabian, preparing for her Sunday morning workout. With rain in the overnight forecast, according to assistant trainer Scott Blasi she will head out to the track rain or shine.



GODDESS OF FIRE, NEST, SHAHAMA – Trainer Todd Pletcher had his three Kentucky Oaks fillies work Friday morning at Churchill Downs. On Saturday he had two of them – Goddess of Fire and Shahama – merely walk the shedrow at his Barn 35. But the other, four-time winner and one of the Oaks favorites Nest, was the first one on the racetrack for the special Derby/Oaks training period between 7:30-7:45 a.m. at Churchill Downs.

With exercise rider Nora McCormack in the boot, the bay daughter of Curlin galloped a mile out in the middle of the racetrack, then easily sauntered back to the barn.

Nest will be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. when she goes in Friday’s Grade I, $1.25 million Run for the Lilies.



HIDDEN CONNECTION – Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbreds’ Hidden Connection had a scheduled walk day in trainer Bret Calhoun’s Barn 28 following her half-mile move in :50.20 Friday.



KATHLEEN O. – Winngate Stables’ Kathleen O. worked a half-mile in :47.80 with exercise rider David Jego up Saturday morning.

Working with 3-year-old allowance winner Smokin’ T, Kathleen O. produced fractions of :23.80, :47.80 and out five-eighths in 1:00.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said Kathleen O. works best with a target.

“She’s not necessarily a strong morning worker,” McGaughey said. “So we’re very pleased with what we saw today. I’m excited … we’re excited. We got through today and we know she always shows up on race day.

“This morning was right up there with some of her best. We’re glad to be back in Kentucky with her and we’re thinking with her running style she’ll appreciate the longer stretch here (at Churchill Downs).”



NOSTALGIC – Godolphin’s Nostalgic completed her major preparation for this year’s Longines Kentucky Oaks with a half-mile move in :48.60 inside of stablemate Mendenhall.

Nostalgic, ridden by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott’s go-to exercise rider Penny Gardiner, completed early fractions of :12.40 and :24.40. The Gazelle (GIII) winner galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.60.



SECRET OATH – Briland Farm’s Longines Kentucky Oaks contender Secret Oath was one of the first horses on the Churchill Downs surface Saturday morning and galloped 1 ½ miles with regular exercise rider Danielle Rosier in the saddle.



TURNERLOOSE – Ike and Dawn Thrash’s Turnerloose had a walk day in trainer Brad Cox’s Barn 22 following her five-eighths work Friday in 1:01.20.



VENTI VALENTINE – NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Gazelle (GIII) runner-up Venti Valentine had a light day walking the shedrow after putting in her final workout a day earlier for Friday’s Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI). With Tyler Gaffalione aboard, she worked fivefurlongs in 1:00.80.

Trainer Jorge Abreu said she came out of her Friday breeze in good shape. “All she’s gonna do now is jog tomorrow (Sunday) and gallop into the race.”



YUUGIRI – Tsunebumi and Sekie Yoshihara’s Fantasy GIII) winner Yuugiri put in her final work for the Kentucky Oaks by breezing a half-mile in :49.20 in company with Barossa over a fast track Saturday morning at Keeneland.

“We wanted to beat the rain (that was in the forecast), so we worked today,” said trainer Rodolphe Brisset, who was aboard for the work.

Fractions on the work were :12.80, :25.40, :37.80 and :49.20. Yuugiri galloped out the five furlongs in 1:01.80 in what was her third work since winning the Fantasy on April 2 at Oaklawn Park.

“I was very happy with the work; it was similar to her last work before the Fantasy,” Brisset said. “Hopefully she looks good tomorrow morning and we will bring her over in the afternoon.”

Florent Geroux, who has won the Oaks twice, will have the mount.



SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY OAKS – Here’s the Top 14 horses on the leaderboard for the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) (with jockey and trainer): Kathleen O. (Javier Castellano, Shug McGaughey); Echo Zulu (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen); Nest (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Yuugiri (Florent Geroux, Rodolphe Brisset); Desert Dawn (Umberto Rispoli, Phil D’Amato); Nostalgic (Jose Ortiz, Bill Mott); Venti Valentine (Tyler Gaffalione, Jorge Abreu); Secret Oath (Luis Saez, Wayne Lukas); Goddess of Fire (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher); Turnerloose (TBA, Brad Cox); Hidden Connection (Rey Gutierrez, Bret Calhoun); Cocktail Moments (Corey Lanerie, Kenny McPeek); Candy Raid (Rafael Bejarano, Keith Desormeaux); Shahama (Flavien Prat, Todd Pletcher).

[Kasept]

Kentucky Derby clocker report: Cyberknife, Zozos team up for sharp workout

Mike Welsch | Apr 30, 2022

Churchill Downs
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 65
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Saturday was the busiest morning yet on the Kentucky Derby/Oaks workout front at Churchill Downs. The majority of the action took place during a very hectic special training session that happens daily beginning at 7:30 a.m. and is restricted to horses competing in the two big events here next weekend.

A dozen likely starters turned in their all-important final works for this year’s Derby, 11 of them locally and a 12th, Happy Jack, about 70 miles down the turnpike at Keeneland. Four potential Oaks runners also worked here on a bulky (213 horses) and star-studded workout tab Saturday.

The weather has moderated some over the past 24-48 hours, with temperatures in the mid-60s when stablemates Cyberknife and Zozos kicked off the action just minutes after the racetrack, which was definitely on the quick side this morning, opened for training at 5:15 a.m.

CYBERKNIFE and ZOZOS proved a well-matched team going in tandem much of the way, the former getting a slightly faster final time after breaking off a length behind and outside his mate, completing five panels in 58.94 seconds before continuing six furlongs in 1:11.55 and out seven-eighths in 1:24.56. Both horses were pretty much on their own throughout, with Cyberknife, Florent Geroux aboard, perhaps holding the slight edge running out on the turn with Zozos, Flavien Prat in the saddle, not giving an inch while turning in a second straight very encouraging work of his own.

CHARGE IT and PIONEER OF MEDINA were the first workers after the renovation break and likewise were pretty nicely matched, with the former perhaps slightly best of the good-looking, Todd Pletcher-trained duo who breezed four furlongs in 23.71 and 47.66 before continuing full of run into and around the club turn, getting five furlongs under just a hint of encouragement in 59.91 before easing up three-quarters in 1:12.66 and pulling up a full mile in 1:39.68. Regular rider Luis Saez put Charge It, who has thrived since arriving locally nearly two weeks earlier, through his paces during a work that concluded while the warning siren was blaring, indicating a loose horse on the track at the time.

Pletcher also had to be pleased with what he saw from MO DONEGAL just moments later, with the Wood Memorial winner going in company with My Prankster and holding the edge throughout under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Mo Donegal, who has also looked good here on a regular basis this past week, went an easy half in 23.56 and 48.83 in hand to the wire before galloping out very willingly, five furlongs in 1:01.56, up six panels in 1:14.57.

The teamwork for the Kenny McPeek-trained duo of TIZ THE BOMB and SMILE HAPPY obviously didn’t go quite as planned after the latter dropped about five lengths behind his mate, breaking off at the half-mile pole. Tiz The Bomb maintained a comfortable advantage going easily throughout under Brian Hernandez Jr., with Smile Happy not mustering much of a closing response, making up a length or so to the wire while being nudged a tad by Corey Lanerie in an attempt to bridge the gap. Daily Racing Form had the leader in 24.13 and 49.03 and out in 1:02.06, as Tiz the Bomb was arguably the more impressive of the pair today.

CLASSIC CAUSEWAY, a late addition to the race after a nice five-furlong drill last week, stretched to six panels for his final Derby prep and looked good again, breaking behind workmate Soumion and readily drawing well clear of his pressured mate while traveling easily throughout under jockey Julien Leparoux. Classic Causeway, who figures to be part of the early pace in the Derby, completed the distance in 36.97, 48.69, and 1:13.26 before being allowed to ease up around the clubhouse turn.

TAWNY PORT, the third of Cox’s Derby trio, had Geroux up going an easy four furlongs in 49.42 out in 1:02.40, shading 36 seconds for his final three-eighths after walking away from the half-mile pole at a leisurely pace.

Nothing to knock about UN OJO, a decided Derby longshot, who drilled a relatively easy half-mile in 47.39 before going out five panels in 1:00.07 over a very fast track.

:: Get Derby Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the DRF Clocker Team to access exclusive insights from the morning workouts

BARBER ROAD was very workmanlike in what appeared to be strictly a maintenance drill this morning, showing good energy again on the gallop-out while kept out near the middle of the track to prevent him from doing too much a week out from the big event. Barber Road is another who has made a favorable impression this past week.

At Keeneland, HAPPY JACK had a set-down mile work to cap off his serious Derby preparations, going in splits of 26.05, 51.53, and 1:16.72 before completing the distance in 1:40.36 while put to a race-like drive by his rider from the half-mile pole to the wire.

On the Oaks ledger, the most noteworthy work was turned in by the undefeated KATHLEEN O., who posted a decent 24.47 and 48.05 half-mile clocking but struggled to keep pace late with stablemate Smokin’ T, a 3-year-old first-level allowance winner, while being set down hard to the wire and never able to get on even terms with his partner despite being kept under pressure into and around the turn.

It was NOSTALGIC’s partner Mendenhall who lost the rider and briefly ran loose at the start of the Derby-Oaks session. She was quickly corralled and returned to Nostalgic’s side, serving as an escort for the Grade 3 Gazelle winner who breezed an easy, maintenance-like half in 49.06 looking happy and with plenty in reserve going out five-eighths in 1:02.38.

Oaks candidate CANDY RAID was among the final workers during the special session, breezing a half in 48.88, and up in 1:02.32.

CROWN PRIDE showed off that abundant energy level again in a carbon copy of his Friday training session and seems primed for another big work.

[Kasept]

Derby-bound White Abarrio has impressive work between Gulfstream races

Mike Welsch | Apr 30, 2022

After having his final Kentucky Derby work postponed this morning due to wet track conditions, White Abarrio finally got to strut his stuff shortly after 6 p.m. and between the final two races on Saturday’s Gulfstream Park program, working four furlongs in 48.11 followed by a very strong and impressive gallop out.

White Abarrio went easily to the wire, was urged on to complete five-eighths into the turn in 1:00.12 then continued full of run, completing six panels in 1:11.94 and seven furlongs in 1:24.81 before pulling up after a mile in 1:41.64.

“It was a super work,“ trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “I don’t know if he went out that good because it’s a faster track since it’s a race day, but he went phenomenal. We’re thankful for Gulfstream for having the track in such good shape and for allowing us to work. We’re happy where we’re at. Fingers crossed now.”

White Abarrio will van to Churchill Downs on Sunday.