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Photos courtesy of Amber Chalfin of Downthestretchphotos.com. |
Here are a selections of morning workout photos for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks at Churchill Downs from the week before the Derby. Conditions have been pleasant during training hours with the temperature in the mid 50's, except for rain on Wednesday morning. Comments for the photos are from the morning workout reports from Churchill Downs.
Sorry to not be covering the Derby as I usually do, but we had a house fire on March 24 and lost just about everything, including our two cats. I have not be able to work like I usually do and we just moved out of a hotel into a rental house this week, so please understand.
Below are photos and comments for 22 Derby horses and 14 Oaks fillies plus last year's Derby champ Sovereignty.
Albus galloped a mile over a saturated surface shortly after the track opened for morning training on Wednesday. “I pulled an audible,” trainer Riley Mott said. “We were the first ones on the track because it didn’t look like it was going to get any better.” Trainer Riley Mott said, "This is a great experience for the whole team and crew to be a part of. And, it is nice to be able to stay in a routine with a full barn. We are creatures of habit and we like to stay with our routine. If you came in with just one horse, you are done by 7 and then what? What do you do? It is beneficial sticking with your routine."
Chief Wallabee backtracked to the finish line and then galloped a mile and a half under Marvin Orantes at 7:30 on Wednesday. Trainer Bill Mott has two horses in his barn with Derby saddle towels. The other belongs to reigning Horse of the Year and 2025 Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty. Mott does not keep the Derby towels. “I think Godolphin had it,” Mott said. “The owners usually have those.”
Commandment jogged about a mile in the first training set Monday at 5:15 a.m. following their final published works over the weekend. “Commandment isn’t the best horse in the morning,” trainer Brad Cox said. “He trains a lot better with company, so we put him with another horse this morning for a more energetic gallop. He’s different than Further Ado and Fulleffort, who both get a lot out of training on their own.”
Danon Bourbon recorded another strong gallop Monday morning under assistant trainer Satoshi Oshita as preparations continued for Kentucky Derby 152. Oshita said. “Mentally, he’s nice and settled, and as for his feed, he’s been cleaning everything up ever since the trip over, without leaving a bite. So there are no concerns on that front.”
Emerging Market galloped 1 1/2 miles during the special training session for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders between 7:15 and 7:30 a.m. “He went a little easier today with the sloppy track (Wednesday),” trainer Chad Brown said. “But he’s moving well and doing great. “He did great (during paddock schooling). He has such a wonderful mind and is so calm and collected.”
Fulleffort jogged about a mile in the first training set Monday at 5:15 a.m. following his final published works over the weekend, but was scratched on Thursday by trainer Brad Cox.
Further Ado jogged about a mile in the first training set Monday at 5:15 a.m. following his final published works over the weekend. He drew post 18 and his trainer Brad Cox said, “Further Ado should be able to work out a good stalking trip from there and settle into the race.”
Golden Tempo galloped Thursday morning after jogging over the wet track Wednesday for trainer Cherie DeVaux. "He looked great this morning," DeVaux said. "He galloped well and has really moved forward in his training these past couple weeks. “He’s such a professional (during paddock schooling). He knows exactly what to do and when to do it.”
Incredibolt galloped a mile over a saturated surface shortly after the track opened for morning training on Wednesday. Trainer Riley Mott said, "This is a great experience for the whole team and crew to be a part of. And, it is nice to be able to stay in a routine with a full barn. We are creatures of habit and we like to stay with our routine. If you came in with just one horse, you are done by 7 and then what? What do you do? It is beneficial sticking with your routine."
Intrepido continued on his path to the Kentucky Derby on a wet morning at Churchill Downs. The racy colt, who has been in the care of Alejandro Galindo as they await the arrival of trainer Jeff Mullins from California on Thursday, went trackside under Galindo during special training session for all Derby and Oaks horses. "I stood him in the gate, then we went around there twice – some jogging, some galloping," Galindo said afterward back at Barn 41. "He's doing good."
Litmus Test headed out at 7:15 under exercise rider Talia Viscusi for a solid mile and a half gallop during the special Derby/Oaks training session. Trainer Bob Baffert looked on from the gap near the 5 ½-furlong pole on the Churchill backside, just down from his Barn 33. Litmus Test is scheduled to break from Post 4 Saturday and be ridden by Martin Garcia.
Pavlovian had ace exercise rider Tony Romero up for a mile and a half gallop that was 'super,' according to the rider. "He's a sure-footed dude," said trainer Doug O'Neill, who watched the exercise from a perch on the frontside. "It won't bother him what kind of track we come up with on Saturday."
Looking on Thursday morning was trainer Doug O'Neill, who has some very positive history already in the Kentucky Derby. He and Pavlovian's owner/breeder – J. Paul Reddam – have already won the race twice – with I'll Have Another in 2012 and Nyquist in 2016.
With a broad smile, O'Neill noted that 'Good things can happen in threes.'
Potente went trackside with exercise rider Humberto Gomez doing the driving for a mile and a quarter gallop. The racy bay youngster, who only has three starts under his belt so far, is owned by Speedway Stables and can brag of a score in a Grade II stakes and a second-place finish in a Grade 1 (Santa Anita Derby) so far with even bigger glory on the horizon.
Renegade, the Kentucky Derby morning line favorite, went to the racetrack at Churchill Wednesday morning with exercise rider Nora McCormack on his back during he special 7:15 to 7:30 training period for Derby and Oaks horses. The impressive winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby took a solid gallop of approximately a mile and a quarter on the wet track as trainer Todd Pletcher looked on through binoculars in the 5 ½ furlong gap on the Churchill backside. Pletcher had Renegade work a half mile in company in :50.94 for his final major Derby move on Thurday, April 23 at Palm Beach Downs in Delray Beach, Florida. The next morning the colt shipped to Churchill Downs via van and arrived early Saturday, April 25.
Right to Party galloped 1 1/2 miles in company Wednesday morning for trainer Kenny McPeek. Jockey Christopher Elliott was scheduled to be aboard, but his flight was delayed and he was due to arrive in Louisville later Wednesday morning. "He likes to have another horse out there with him," McPeek said.
Silent Tactic jogged for 10 minutes in the mile chute under Dass Garcia at 7:30. However, later in the morning trainer Mark Casse turned in a scratch card on Silent Tactic to the racing office because of a bruised foot.
Six Speed galloped about one mile Wednesday morning with exercise rider Declan Cannon aboard for trainer Bhupat Seemar before schooling in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. The UAE Derby (GII) runner-up also has schooled multiple days in the paddock as preparations continue for Kentucky Derby 152.
So Happy got in some light training during the special session for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders between 7:15 and 7:30 a.m. "He showed good energy,” trainer Mark Glatt said. “I chose to keep him a little light today since we got some rain, but he seemed like himself.”
The Puma galloped about 1 1/2 miles Wednesday morning for trainer Gustavo Delgado. “He’s a cool dude. He’s pretty easy to handle,” assistant trainer/co-owner Gustavo Delgado Jr. said.. “More importantly he seems to like it here.”
Wonder Dean recorded his final serious move prior to Kentucky Derby 152 Tuesday morning, working a half-mile in :54.60 under Takuya Nakano. Before the move, the UAE Derby (GII) winner warmed up in the chute for about 15 minutes. He began his extended gallop from the five-furlong pole and gradually increased his speed starting at the half-mile marker, working through an opening quarter-mile in :28.20 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:08.40. After completing the move, he schooled in the starting gate.
Nakano, who oversees Wonder Dean, was pleased with the breeze. "Everything went great, according to plan,” Nakano said. “I feel like he is taking to the track well. We will see tomorrow how tired he is. He will probably just walk.”
Great White galloped 1 ½ miles during the special training session for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders between 7:15 and 7:30 a.m. "He’s doing fantastic,” Ennis said. “He galloped a mile and a half and really picked it up late. I’m happy with how he is moving over the track. We just want to keep his head in the game with only a couple days until the race."
Ocelli moved into the main body of Derby 152 from the also eligible list with the defection of Fulleffort. "Back about a month ago, we were 30 (on the Derby leaderboard)," trainer Whit Beckman said of Ocelli, who galloped Thursday morning. "The way things have gone the past couple of years, you think you might have a chance after the one yesterday (Silent Tactic). "There were a couple of other races we were looking at (if he didn't get in the Derby)."
Always a Runner galloped 1 1/2 miles during the special training session for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders between 7:15 and 7:30 a.m. in final preparation for Friday's Longines Kentucky Oaks. “She had high energy and her ears were pricked this morning,” trainer Chad Brown said. “She is happy and healthy.”
Bella Ballerina trained over the muddy-turned-sloppy Churchill Downs surface Wednesday morning with Erin Campbell aboard and trainer Brendan Walsh accompanying on the pony. She was later declared out of the Kentucky Oaks because of an injury to her right front.
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Bottle of Rouge was scratched by trainer Bob Baffert after returning to the barn with a cough Wednesday after a workout.
Brooklyn Blonde who races for the partnership of Sun-Kissed Stable and Bobby Flay, was out early Thursday morning at Churchill Downs for a mile and a quarter gallop around the big oval. Juan Alverez and the chestnut daughter of Gun Runner were trackside at 5:30 on a chilly morning with an almost full moon still hanging low in the Louisville sky.
Counting Stars jogged a mile in the chute under Froylan Garcia Thursday morning for trainer Mark Casse. Terry Finley, the head of West Point, was on the scene and enthusiastic about his filly's chances. "I am very pumped; she's live," Finley said of the daylight Fantasy (G2) winner. "I know it is a bit cliché to say this, but it is an honor to be here and we don't take this lightly. This is our 35th year (as West Point)."
Dazzling Dame jogged a mile and galloped a mile under Emma Wolfe for trainer Brittany Russell. “I’d like to see her get away clean and get in a comfortable spot,” Russell said. “She doesn’t have to be on the lead and we are not going to be hellbent to get on the lead.”
Explora made it out onto the Churchill Downs strip Thursday morning right at the end of the 7:15 to 7:30 Derby/Oaks special training period. Exercise rider Humberto Gomez was at the controls and put the dark-hued lassie through a strong gallop of a mile and a quarter. 'She feels good,' Gomez offered. 'In fact, she feels great.'
Meaning galloped 1 1/4 miles Thursday under exercise rider Juan Alverez.
My Miss Mo was scratched at 12:30pm Wednesday by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Pashmina galloped a mile under Jesse Sauter for trainer Rob Atras. Pashmina will exit post 10 under Ramon Vazquez. "I want to see what everybody else does, have a clean break and get comfortable," Atras said. "I like the post and Ramon can get her in a good spot. There is a nice, long run to the first turn so being outside is not a concern like it would be if there was only 70 yards or so to the turn."
Percy's Bar jogged a mile under Rene Morales. "I think she will be a little more forwardly placed," trainer Ben Colebrook said. "If nobody takes the initiative (she could be on the lead), but I doubt that."
Search Party jogged for 15 minutes in the mile chute Wednesday after coming on the track at 7:30 under exercise rider Elver Vargas for trainer Mark Casse.
Zany got out of trainer Todd Pletcher's Barn 39 just after 6 a.m. Thursday for a solid gallop of a mile and three eighths under Nora McCormack. Pletcher looked on from the stand next to the 5 ½ furlong gap as the Repole Stable charge went through her exercises in the dark. 'We've been training her early to get her used to being under the lights,' the Hall of Fame conditioner noted. 'With the race so late (the Oaks is scheduled to go off at 8:40 p.m. Friday), we want her to be ready for that environment.'
Nycon was scratched by trainer Whit Beckman due to "inconsistencies" in Nycon's gait, though the filly is uninjured.
Resist moved into the main body of the field for the Kentucky Oaks with the defection of Bella Ballerina, galloped Thursday morning at 7:15 for trainer Tommy Drury. Resist will be making her dirt track debut in the Oaks and be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. from post 14. "We have trained like we were aiming for the Oaks," Drury said. It's a really exciting opportunity for all of us to be involved Friday.'
Sovereignty last year's Kentucky Derby winner was out several times this week. He is back in his old stall in trainer Bill Mott's barn at Churchill Downs after finishing second in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) on April 18.
Photos courtesy of Amber Chalfin of Downthestretchphotos.com.
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