Kentucky Derby contender Girvin recorded his first breeze since winning the Louisiana Derby (G2) with a half-mile move in :47.80 on Saturday morning at Trackside Louisville, Churchill Downs' satellite training center located five miles from the home of the Derby.
Girvin, with regular exercise rider and former jockey Rosie Napravnik aboard, breezed in company with stablemate Cool Arrow. The official clocker caught the 3-year-old son of Tale of Ekati in splits of :11.60, :23 and :35.20 before galloping out 5/8 in 1:02.80 over a fast surface.
"It was a little quicker than I would have liked for his first work back," said 32-year-old trainer Joe Sharp. "Both he and Cool Arrow were on the bridle which is good. Rosie was happy with it and he seems to be cooling out well which will set him up for his work next week."
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who has signed on to ride the colt on the first Saturday in May, will fly to Louisville for next week's workout. Sharp was unsure if Girvin would breeze at Trackside Louisville or van to Churchill Downs.
Girvin has a career record of 4-3-1-0 with all three wins coming at Fair Grounds. Prior to his 1 1/4-length triumph in the Louisiana Derby, the colt was the two-length conqueror of the Feb. 25 Risen Star (G2). Girvin will be owner Brad Grady and Sharp's first Kentucky Derby entrant.
Spiral Stakes (G3) upset-winner Fast and Accurate recorded a five-furlong breeze in :59.60 on Saturday morning at the Trackside Louisville training center in preparation for a start in the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on Saturday, May 6.
The 3-year-old Hansen colt trained by Mike Maker worked in company with stablemate On John and was credited with fractional splits of :12, :24, :35.80 and :47.60. Fast and Accurate galloped out 3/4 in 1:13.80.
Fast and Accurate is not nominated to the Triple Crown but owners Kendal Hansen and Skychai Racing have said they will pay the $200,000 supplemental nomination to become eligible for the Kentucky Derby.
With a career record of 6-3-1-0, Fast and Accurate has recorded all three of his victories on a turf or a synthetic surface. Fast and Accurate is stabled in Maker's Barn K at Trackside Louisville and is
expected to breeze there next Saturday.
Farrell, a top contender for the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) after winning the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Friday, May 5 race.
The 3-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon went to the "fast" track at 6 a.m. and clipped through fractions of :13, :25, :36 and :48.40, before galloping out 3/4 in 1:14.40. "She worked great," said Fernando Canteria, assistant to trainer Wayne Catalano. "It was a very solid work."
Farrell has a career record of 7-5-0-1 and has banked earnings of $601,357. She is stabled in Barn 30.
Peacock Racing Stables' Gunnevera breezed five furlongs in 1:00.60 Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park West in South Florida. The 3-year-old son of Dialed In is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Saturday, April 22.
The Mark Casse-trained duo of State of Honor and Salty are expected to record breezes Sunday at Churchill Downs when the racetrack opens at 6 a.m. Florida Derby (G1) runner-up State of Honor is targeting the Kentucky Derby, while Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) winner Salty is one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Oaks.
Reminder: Late nominations for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Derby Week stakes races close on Saturday, April 15. The stakes races for Derby week are: April 29: $100,000 William Walker; May 4: $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile; May 5: $150,000 Edgewood (G3), $200,000 Eight Belles (G2), $400,000 Alysheba (G2), $300,000 La Troienne (G1) and $150,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3); May 6: $250,000 Pat Day Mile (G3), $300,000 American Turf (G2), $500,000 Churchill Downs (G2), $300,000 Distaff Turf Mile (G2) and $300,000 Humana Distaff (G1).
2017 Triple Crown quick links:
Tapwrit wins the 2017 Belmont Stakes (G1) - Tapwrit ran down favorite and pacesetter Irish War Cry to win the 2017 Belmont Stakes (G1) by 2 lengths on Saturday with one-eyed Patch finishing third. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Belmont Undercard Stakes Results - There were nine other stakes on the 2017 Belmont undercard, including the Manhattan Handicap (G1), Just a Game Stakes (G1), Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Acorn Stakes (G1), and Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) won by Ascend, Antonoe, Mor Spirit, Abel Tasman, and Songbird. Plus a world record was set by Disco Partner in the Jaipur Invitational Stakes (G3). Get the results, charts, and photos for all nine here.
2017 Belmont Festival Friday Stakes Results - Friday at Belmont Park had 5 stakes races: the True North (G2) won by Roy H, the New York Stakes (G2) won by Hawksmoor, the Belmont Gold Cup Invitational (G3) won by Red Cardinal, the Bed o'Roses Invitational (G3) won by By the Moon, and the Tremont Stakes won by He Hate Me. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Intercontinental (G3), Wonder Again (G3), and Astoria Stakes - The Belmont Stakes Festival kicked off on Thursday with three stakes races, the Intercontinental (G3) won by Mississippi Delta, the Wonder Again Stakes (G3) won by New Money Honey, and the Astoria Stakes won by I Still Miss You. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Thursday Belmont Photos - Check out photos of 10 of the Belmont Stakes horses from Thursday morning at Belmont Park along with Songbird, Cloud Computing, Mor Spirit, and Abel Tasman.
Cloud Computing wins the Preakness (G1) - Cloud Computing pressed the pace and got up to win the 2017 Preakness (G1) by a head over Classic Empire with Senior Investment third. Favorite Always Dreaming faded to 8th. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Preakness Undercard Stakes Results - There were 7 other stakes on Preakness day, highlighted by the Dixie Stakes (G2) on the turf won by World Approval, the Gallorette (G3) won by Cambodia, and the Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) won by Whitmore. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 7 races here.
Black-Eyed Susan Day Results - Actress broke her maiden in the mud to win the 2017 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico on Friday. There were 6 other stakes on the card including the Pimlico Special (G3) won by Shaman Ghost, the Allaire Dupont Distaff (G3) won by Terra Promessa, and the Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) won by Vertical Oak. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 7 races here.
Thursday Preakness Photos - Two photos each and comments for all 10 Preakness horses from Thursday morning at Pimlico. Everyone galloped today since training ends early Friday.
2017 Alibi Breakfast - The traditional Alibi Breakfast was held on Thursday May 18, before the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes. Connections of some of the 10 Preakness entrants were on hand to swap stories about their horse as well as watch the presentation of the annual awards.
2017 Preakness Entries - A field of 10 was entered for the 142nd Preakness on Saturday, with Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming drawing post 4 as the 4-5 favorite. Classic Empire is second choice at 3-1 from post 5. Get the horses, posts, odds, and free past performances here.
Wednesday Preakness Photos - Two photos each and comments for all the Preakness horses from Wednesday afternoon at Pimlico, except Multiplier who arrived late yesterday.
Tuesday Preakness Photos - Photos and comments for seven of the Preakness horses from Tuesday afternoon at Pimlico, including Always Dreaming, Classic Empire, and five others who arrived today.
Analyzing the top Preakness Contenders - Our annual analysis of the contenders to see who best matches the profile of a Preakness winner. The tie for top pick is a bit of a surprise this year.
Preakness Weather Forecasts - up to 15 days in advance. Looks good for now and hopefully it will be drier than the Derby!
Preakness Entry Rules - the field is limited to 14 starters, here is how they determine the order of preference if more than that enter.
Preakness Infield - After the massive tightening of the rules which resulted in a huge drop in attendance in 2009, things have relaxed slightly and you can buy a special "all you can drink beer" Mug Club ticket now.
Preakness Traditions - Black-eyed Susans to the winner, the Woodlawn Vase trophy, the Alibi Breakfast, painting the weather vane, and more.
Always Dreaming romps in the 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) - Favorite Always Dreaming led most of the way to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) by 2 3/4 lengths in the slop at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Longshots Lookin at Lee and Battle of Midway finished second and third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Kentucky Derby Undercard Stakes Results - There were 6 other stakes on the card today with the Derby, including the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) won by Divisidero, the Humana Distaff (G1) won by Paulassilverlining, the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) won by Roca Rojo, the Churchill Downs Stakes (G2) won by Limousine Liberal, the American Turf (G2) won by Arklow, and the Pat Day Mile (G3) won by Wild Shot. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Abel Tasman wins the 2017 Kentucky Oaks (G1) - Abel Tasman came from last early on to win the Kentucky Oaks (G1) by 1 1/4 lengths in the slop at Churchill Downs on Friday. Daddys Lil Darling was second and Lockdown was 3rd while favorite Paradise Woods faded to 11th. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Kentucky Oaks Undercard Stakes Results - There were 5 other stakes on the card today with the Oaks, including the La Troienne (G1) won by Big World, the Alysheba (G2) won by Bird Song, the Eight Belles (G2) won by Benner Island, the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) won by Green Mask, and the Edgewood Stakes (G3) won by La Coronel. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
2017 Kentucky Derby Track Notes
Kentucky Derby contender Girvin recorded his first breeze since winning the Louisiana Derby (G2) with a half-mile move in :47.80 on Saturday morning at Trackside Louisville, Churchill Downs' satellite training center located five miles from the home of the Derby.
Spiral Stakes (G3) upset-winner Fast and Accurate recorded a five-furlong breeze in :59.60 on Saturday morning at the Trackside Louisville training center in preparation for a start in the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on Saturday, May 6.
Farrell, a top contender for the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) after winning the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Friday, May 5 race.
