DERBY DIGEST: Last major works completed ahead of Monday draw

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CLASSIC CAUSEWAY MOVES BACK INTO DERBY PICTURE


LOUISVILLE, KY (Tuesday, April 26, 2022) – Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper’s Sam F. Davis (Grade III) and Tampa Bay Derby (GII) winner Classic Causeway will once again target this year’s $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI).

Classic Causeway, trained by Brian Lynch, will attempt to avenge his enigmatic 11th-place effort in last month’s Florida Derby (GI) in the Kentucky Derby. The Giant’s Causeway colt was scheduled to run in the $500,000 Pat Day Mile (GII) but Lynch reported Monday Classic Causeway will once again join the Derby fray.

In other Derby news, Teruya Yoshida’s Crown Pride (JPN) is scheduled to work Wednesday morning as is RED TR-Racing’s Rich Strike. Rich Strike is No. 24 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.



BARBER ROAD – WSS Racing’s Barber Road had an easy gallop Tuesday morning for trainer John Ortiz.

Barber Road, the runner-up to Cyberknife in the Arkansas Derby (GI), would be the first starter in the Kentucky Derby for Ortiz.

“This is a dream come true to even be here and participating in the Derby,” Ortiz said.



CLASSIC CAUSEWAY – Trainer Brian Lynch reported Monday afternoon that three-time winner Classic Causeway will now target the Kentucky Derby instead of the $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG and E & KU (GII).

“My owners have about 160 years, combined, and who am I to hold them back on running in the Derby,” Lynch said Tuesday morning. “You go back to his races at Tampa and he fits right in with this field. I think he can have an advantage on the pace.”

Classic Causeway galloped about 1 ½ miles around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday with Lynch’s exercise rider Calamity Compton in the saddle.

Julien Leparoux has the mount in the Derby.



CHARGE IT, MO DONEGAL, PIONEER OF MEDINA – Donegal Racing’s Mo Donegal and Whisper Hill Farm’s Charge It galloped 1 3/8 miles during the special 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks hopefuls.

Amelia Green was aboard Mo Donegal and Hector Ramos was on Charge It.

As for Sumaya U. S. Stables’ Pioneer of Medina, he had a walk day Tuesday following a :59.80 five-furlong breeze Monday morning. Pioneer of Medina is 21st on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, a spot that would leave him on the outside looking in should all the horses above him with more points enter on Monday.

“We got bumped yesterday,” trainer Todd Pletcher said alluding to the re-entry into the Derby picture of Classic Causeway.

And should there be one defection from the prospective Derby field, would Pioneer of Medina be a go on the first Saturday in May?

“We’re thinking about it,” Pletcher said.



CROWN PRIDE (JPN) – Teruya Yoshida’s Crown Pride (JPN) warmed up in the mile chute and then had a light gallop under exercise rider Masa Matsuda.

Winner of the UAE Derby (GII) in his most recent start, Crown Pride is scheduled to work Wednesday morning. His trainer, Koichi Shintani is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Sunday.



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. Tuesday.

Gold Star’s Arkansas Derby (GI) winner Cyberknife, who’s named after the non-invasive procedure that helped cure owner Al Gold’s prostate cancer, is scheduled to work Saturday along with Peachtree Stable’s Tawny Port.

Zozos, the runner-up in the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII) for owners Barry and Joni Butzow, is slated to work Friday.

Cox announced Monday that Zozos will be ridden in the Derby by Manny Franco. Florent Geroux has the call on Cyberknife while the jockey on Tawny Port has yet to be determined.



EPICENTER – Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Louisiana Derby (GII) winner Epicenter returned to the track Tuesday morning following his scheduled Monday walk day.

Epicenter jogged one mile and had a light one-mile gallop under exercise rider Roberto Howell.

The speedy Epicenter showed a new style of running in the Louisiana Derby and was able to track just off of the early leaders.

“To see the way Epicenter was able to sit just off the pace in the Louisiana Derby is very pleasing considering how fast the early pace is each year in the Derby,” Hall of fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. “With 20 horses in the Derby, the post-position draw matters. We obviously hope he’s able to get away from there cleanly but the success he’s had with variable styles is one less thing to worry about.”



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 with Edwardo Ruvalcaba aboard the former and Danny Ramsey on the latter.

The colts worked together last Saturday with their final pre-Derby drill penciled in for this Saturday, a day in which rain is in the forecast.

“I don’t worry about things I can’t control,” McPeek said. “I would have no problem working on an off track here.”



SUMMER IS TOMORROW – Michael Hilary Burke and Negar Burke’s Summer Is Tomorrow galloped a mile and a half under Heinz Runge.

Trained by Bhupat Seemar, who is scheduled to arrive in Lousville Wednesday, Summer Is Tomorrow is scheduled to work Sunday.



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

The Rebel (GII) winner is scheduled to have his final pre-Derby drill Saturday.



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

Trainer Chad Brown was on hand and watched his top Derby contender from the Churchill Downs clocker stand.

The Upstart colt is likely to 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); ~ Possible
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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LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS UPDATE

Winngate Stables’ Kathleen O., the leading point earner on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, arrived at Churchill Downs from Keeneland Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning galloped an easy mile under exercise rider David Jego.



COCKTAIL MOMENTS – Dixiana Farms’ Cocktail Moments galloped a mile and a half during the special Kentucky Derby and Oaks training window from 7:30-7:45 a.m.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, Cocktail Moments is scheduled for her final pre-Oaks work on Friday.



GODDESS OF FIRE, NEST, SHAHAMA – The Todd Pletcher-trained trio of Kentucky Oaks hopefuls all galloped 1 3/8 miles over a fast track on a brisk Tuesday morning.

Coming out at 7:30 were Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House’s Nest with Nora McCormack aboard and KHK Racing’s Shahama with Humberto Zamora in the saddle. Red Oak Stable’s Goddess of Fire was on the track a half-hour later with Zamora aboard.



HIDDEN CONNECTION – Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbreds’ Hidden Connection galloped about 1 ½ miles early Tuesday morning. She’s slated to work once more prior to the Oaks with jockey Reylu Gutierrez in the saddle.



KATHLEEN O. – Winngate Stables’ undefeated Kathleen O., the leading point earner on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks by virtue of her victories in the Davona Dale (GII) and Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII), got her first feel of the Churchill Downs racing strip Tuesday morning by galloping an easy mile under exercise rider David Jego.

Kathleen O. arrived at Churchill Downs Monday afternoon after spending a couple of weeks at Keeneland where she had two works. Trainer Shug McGaughey is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Wednesday afternoon.



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

“She got to Kentucky and seems to be thriving,” trainer Bill Mott said. “We’re happy with her preparation from New York and it’s translating here at Churchill.”



SECRET OATH – Briland Farm’s top Longines Kentucky Oaks contender Secret Oath had a walk day after her six-furlong move in 1:13 early Monday morning.



TURNERLOOSE – Ike and Dawn Thrash’s Turnerloose appeared on the Churchill Downs track around 8 a.m. Tuesday for a 1 ½-mile gallop under regular exercise rider Edvin Vargas.

Trainer Brad Cox has not finalized her jockey for the Kentucky Oaks.



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 (Reylu Gutierrez, Bret Calhoun); Cocktail Moments (Corey Lanerie, Kenny McPeek); Candy Raid (Rafael Bejarano, Keith Desormeaux); Shahama (Flavien Prat, Todd Pletcher).

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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.

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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).