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Kentucky Derby clocker report: Crown Pride leaves his partner in the dust

Mike Welsch | Apr 27, 2022

LOUISVILLE, KY. – If there is a buzz horse going into the 2022 Kentucky Derby not named Zandon, it would be Crown Pride, whose stock has risen a long ways in a short time, not only from the attention he receives as a result of his somewhat unconventional training regimen, but also because of works like the one he posted during the Derby/Oaks training session Wednesday at Churchill Downs.

The skies were clear and the temperature in the low 40s in Louisville for a second straight morning, with the racetrack a bit on the quick side throughout training hours.

CROWN PRIDE spent a little time warming up in the chute before coming back on the main track to begin his drill while going in company with the Dale Romans-trained Southern Passage, who briefly was on the Kentucky Derby trail himself a year ago and more recently a good second against entry-level allowance company at Keeneland. Crown Pride, the UAE Derby winner, wore blinkers for the first time locally, an odd-looking set equipped with eye shields to protect him from any kickback that might occur from working behind another horse.

Although the work was officially called in as four furlongs by Crown Pride’s connections, he actually broke off at the five-eighths pole, about four lengths or so behind Southern Passage. After stretching his legs with a 13.01-second opening furlong, Crown Pride accelerated rapidly, readily running past his target while getting to the top of the stretch after three-eighths in 35.98. He continued to increase his advantage over a somewhat passive partner while working several paths out from the rail and under pressure to the wire. Crown Pride covered the distance in 59.25 before gearing down seemingly purposefully on the gallop-out, easing up after six furlongs in 1:13.43. This more serious and certainly no less impressive move was in contrast, by design, from several days earlier when he worked solo and breezed through the early stages before finishing full of run into and around the clubhouse turn.

RICH STRIKE will need a lot of help to get into the Derby lineup from his current position on the Kentucky Derby qualifying points list. He, too, went a swift five panels Wednesday, going in 59.70 off a 35.01 opening three-furlong split. Rich Strike was sent along for his best at the end while finishing on his left lead. He did sustain excellent energy on the gallop-out, covering six furlongs in 1:12.91 before pulling up after a mile in 1:40.23.

It was a busy morning aside from the two workers during the 7:30-7:45 training session reserved for the Derby-Oaks horses, many of whom spent time schooling at the gate, either the main or auxiliary one stationed in the one-mile chute.

The Todd (Pletcher) Squad was first on the track, with Derby contenders CHARGE IT, MO DONEGAL, and PIONEER OF MEDINA leading the way in that order. All three continue to make good appearances, especially Mo Donegal, who really seems to be enjoying himself while getting over the track extremely well since his maintenance-like breeze here last Friday.

EPICENTER, who figures to vie with Zandon for Derby favorite, and CYBERKNIFE, another quickly gaining plenty of respect following his easy Arkansas Derby victory and subsequent eye-catching work here last weekend, also schooled in the gate this morning before turning in routine gallops. Both looked well and appear to be progressing nicely toward the main event, with one more work scheduled for each over the upcoming weekend.

ZANDON was among the last Derby horses to come out to train this morning, again showing plenty of harnessed energy while kept well out from the rail and under a snug hold throughout.

Pre-dawn Derby gallopers included CLASSIC CAUSEWAY and BARBER ROAD, who also were in maintenance mode.