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HK Cup Entries Hong Kong Cup works Hollywood Derby Day P. Elizabeth & Coronation Leparoux wins #3000 |
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 Mendelssohn was very talkative and a bit frisky on Thursday morning during his first visit to the track since clearing quarantine. |
Thursday morning was overcast and windy with temperatures in the mid 70's during training at Churchill Downs and the track was fast after the renovation break, but rain was expected later in the day. Most of the Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses came out for their special private workout session at 7:30 after the break, although Mendelssohn came out just after with the rest of Aidan O'Brien's horses and Enticed came out after the second break at 9am. Below are photos for 19 Derby horses and 9 Oaks fillies from this morning on the track with comments for each. To see the two missing Derby horses (Lone Sailor and My Boy Jack) check Wednesday. You can watch video of today's training session here.
Kentucky Derby
 Audible went about his business in professional fashion, going for a good gallop of 1 5/16 miles. Exercise rider Amelia Green on the Florida Derby winner Audible said, "He's so
easy to work with; so relaxed. He's the kind of horse that will do just what you want him
to do. He's a pleasure."
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 Bolt d'Oro galloped 1 1/2 miles and jogged 1 1/2
miles under exercise rider Jose Velazquez. Owner-trainer Mick Ruis said, "He galloped a mile and a half and then he jogged to the starting
gate and turned around. He didn't stand in it. Then he jogged one
and a half."
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 Bravazo galloped an easy 1 1/2 miles with
regular rider Danielle Rosier aboard. "It was just a routine gallop," Hall of
Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. "Not much more we can do now." Bravazo, who
is attempting to give Lukas his fifth Kentucky Derby victory and first since
1999, is scheduled to school during Thursday's first race.
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 Combatant had a 1 1/2-mile gallop under Angel Garcia. He has proven to
be a fighter on the track, but his name is being used to bring awareness to an
organization dedicated to helping disabled military veterans once their time
on the battlefield is over. Combatant will wear a camouflage blanket for the
walk over for the Kentucky Derby to promote the charity Home For Our Troops.
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  Enticed schooled in the paddock
before galloping 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Jason Gracia Thursday morning.
"He's doing great. All systems go," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "It's a
tough race. I hope things go our way. Everybody has to break well. There seems
like there's a lot of pace. We'll see what happens."
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 Firenze Fire open-galloped 1 mile. "He did a mile in 2:07. I was really happy with
it. He never took a breath. He hardly drank any water," trainer Jason Servis
said. Servis admits that the 1 1/4-mile distance of the Derby is somewhat of a
concern. "Do I wish the race was a mile? Yes. But it's a mile and a quarter,
so it is what it is," Servis said.
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 Flameaway jogged a mile with regular rider Chris
Garraway, ponied by trainer Mark Casse's assistant Nick Tomlinson, and
galloped a mile on his own. Casse said that he and his team did not realize
Flameaway was a special horse until three months ago. "That took a while,
honestly," he said. "Early on, we thought he was just a nice horse. He's a
horse that really developed."
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 Free Drop Billy had his regular 1 1/2-mile gallop at 7:30 a.m. for trainer Dale Romans.
"We're ready," Romans said. "This is a great week for everyone in
the community. We have a lot of friends that celebrate the Derby
with us and it will be a great day for my family and closest
friends."
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 Good Magic galloped about 1 3/8 miles Thursday morning under exercise
rider Walter Malasquez. "He went super again and couldn't be doing any
better," said trainer Chad Brown.
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 Hofburg had an uneventful gallop of about 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Penny
Gardiner. It was a more typical gallop for the
professional-acting Tapit colt, who the day before had gotten a bit aggressive
in the stretch when fellow Derby entrant Flameaway moved up beside him. "It
was an unwanted bit of company," Gardiner said. "When my horse feels a horse
at his hip he wants to go. But today he was so relaxed and in a rhythm. He was
perfect. I am so happy with how he's doing and can't see how he could be doing
any better."
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 Instilled Regard jogged to the paddock, where he schooled a
couple turns around its oval walking ring. Leaving the paddock through the
tunnel, he then jogged to the gate, where he stood before backing out,
galloping 1 5/8 miles and returning to Barn 41 through the six-furlong gap.
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 Justify galloped 1 1/2 miles under regular exercise rider Humberto Gomez.
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who has been aboard Justify
for his last two wins and has the Derby mount, assessed the
gallop from the 5/8 gap with Hall of Fame trainer Bob
Baffert. "He looks amazing," Smith said. "I don't look as good
as him but I feel good. He's just athletic, getting over the
ground and didn't seem to struggle with it, looks happy,
switching leads good. That's all you can look for and you
don't know until they run but he sure looks the part."
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 Magnum Moon went about his
business in professional fashion, going for a good gallop of 1 5/16 miles.
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  Mendelssohn had his first feel of the Churchill Downs
racing surface on Thursday morning. Leaving Barn 17 at 7:45 a.m under exercise rider Dean Gallagher, the Aidan
O'Brien trainee was the third of a single-filed Coolmore quartet. The four O'Brien pupils entered the main track at the 5/8 gap and
proceeded to walk and jog a clockwise 1 1/4 miles. They then reversed course and
cantered one mile before exiting through the 6f gap and taking the
scenic route back to Barn 17.
Assistant trainer Pat Keating said, "He did a very gentle exercise around the track. They're all doing well and all shipped in good. We just
wanted to get him out there and stretch his legs. We're very happy with him
and there were no problems. We couldn't be happier with how he's doing, so we
just need some good luck on Saturday."
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 Noble Indy went about his
business in professional fashion, going for a good gallop of between
a mile and a quarter to a mile and three-eighths.
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 Promises Fulfilled had his regular 1 1/2-mile gallop
Thursday at 7:30 a.m. for trainer Dale Romans.
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 Solomini galloped 1 1/2 miles, also
with Humberto Gomez aboard.
"He looked more relaxed today, for sure," said Zayat Stables racing manager
Justin Zayat. "It's the same-old Solomini. He's holding his weight, holding
his energy. All systems go."
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 Vino Rosso went about his
business in professional fashion, going for a good gallop of between
a mile and a quarter to a mile and three-eighths.
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 Blended Citizen, the lone also-eligible in the field went on
a gallop for 1 3/8 mile.
If Blended Citizen is to compete in Derby 144, there has to be a
withdrawal of one of the current 20 horses entered for the race.
And it has to happen before 9 a.m. Friday. Should the Greg Hall and
SAYJAY Racing colt get to do his thing Saturday, he'll be handled by
his regular rider of late, Kyle Frey.
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Kentucky Oaks Sassy Sienna (post 1) went out to train at 7:30 a.m. and galloped
1 1/2 miles. "This was their last day to train," Cox said. "They'll all just
walk tomorrow. Everything's good. I was happy with how they all gate schooled
yesterday. We're ready."
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 Coach Rocks (post 2) galloped 1 1/2 miles Thursday morning at 7:30 for Churchill Downs'
all-time leading trainer Dale Romans.
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 Wonder Gadot (post 5) galloped 1 1/4 miles with regular rider Orlando
Cross during the 7:30-7:45 training period for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.
Owner Gary Barber was on site to watch her train. Trainer Mark Casse's ideal
scenario for the running of the Oaks is simple: "A lot of speed, we sit
mid-pack and come running." John Velazquez, who won the 2004 Oaks on Ashado,
has the mount Friday.
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 Kelly's Humor (post 6) went out to train at 7:30 a.m. and galloped
1 1/2 miles. "This was their last day to train," Cox said. "They'll all just
walk tomorrow. Everything's good. I was happy with how they all gate schooled
yesterday. We're ready."
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 Rayya (post 7) was out during the Oaks and Derby training session to gallop about 1 1/4 miles
under exercise rider Dana Barnes. "She just floats over the track, she's such
a nice mover," Barnes said. "We're very happy with her."
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 Take Charge Paula (post 9) galloped 1 3/8 miles
under exercise rider Jason Gracia before visiting the starting gate Thursday
morning.
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 Midnight Bisou (post 10) went for a stroll
around the Churchill Downs paddock, then went back to the main track
for a mile and three-quarters gallop that finished up with an "open
gallop" through the lane. "She went well today," Camacho said. "She
was more relaxed. The last part of the gallop we went 'open' and she
felt like she was doing :13s to me for the last three eighths."
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 Eskimo Kisses (post 13) galloped 1 1/2 miles Thursday under exercise rider Mario Conbento for
trainer Kenny McPeek.
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 Monomoy Girl (post 14) went out to train at 7:30 a.m. and galloped
1 1/2 miles. "This was their last day to train," Cox said. "They'll all just
walk tomorrow. Everything's good. I was happy with how they all gate schooled
yesterday. We're ready."
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