LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Under foggy conditions at Churchill Downs, John Oxley’s $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (Grade III) winner Enforceable continued his preparation for the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) with a six-furlong move on Sunday in 1:12.20 under jockey Adam Beschizza.
The fog moved into the Louisville area just past midnight and the conditions did not improve at the start of training on Sunday at 5:15 a.m. Enforceable, outside of stablemate Ghost Fighter (six furlongs, 1:13.80), worked from the five-furlong pole to the wire in :59.20 and the duo continued their work around the turn to the seven-eighths pole.
“It was a really good work from what I could see,” trainer Mark Casse said. “From the videos I’ve seen over the last couple of weeks I’ve been really excited how he’s doing at Churchill. We’re hoping that it is a fast early pace in the Derby because we know with his running style he’ll be making a run from off the pace.”
Sunday’s 7:30-7:45 a.m. training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks only saw two participants: George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds’ $1 million Travers Stakes (GI) third-place finisher Max Player and Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Bonny South. Derby contender Max Player, ridden by Juan Vargas, galloped about 1 ½ miles while Oaks contender Bonny South, ridden by Gustavo Abrego, galloped about the same distance. Max Player is scheduled to breeze on Monday.
Other Kentucky Derby contenders on the track Sunday included Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister’s $200,000 Ellis Park Derby runner-up Attachment Rate, who worked a half-mile in :48.60 at 9 a.m. under exercise rider Faustino Herrarte. Attachment Rate is also nominated to the $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU (GII) on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
Lloyd Madison Farm’s $300,000 Indiana Derby (GIII) runner-up Major Fed returned to the track early Sunday morning following a scheduled walk day Saturday with a one-mile jog under exercise rider Margarito Fierro. Another Derby contender that returned to the track Sunday following a scheduled walk day was West Point Thoroughbreds and Pearl Racing’s $600,000 Arkansas Derby (GI) third-place finisher Winning Impression, who jogged one-mile with exercise rider Emerson Chavez in the saddle.
Following his speedy five-furlong move in :58.20 on Saturday, Victoria Ranch’s King Guillermo had a scheduled walk day along with fellow Derby contender Necker Island.
Bruce Lundsford’s recent Ellis Park Derby hero Art Collector is scheduled to arrive back to trainer Tommy Drury’s Churchill Downs base in the upcoming days and will have one local work prior to the Kentucky Derby.
KENTUCKY DERBY FIELD RUNDOWN: The possible field, in order of preference, for the 146th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) (with jockey): Tiz the Law (Manny Franco); Authentic (John Velazquez); Art Collector (Brian Hernandez Jr.); Honor A.P. (Mike Smith); Ny Traffic (Paco Lopez); King Guillermo (Samy Camacho); Thousand Words (Florent Geroux); Dr Post (TBA); Max Player (Ricardo Santana Jr.); Caracaro (Javier Castellano); Enforceable (Adam Beschizza); Rushie (TBA); Major Fed (James Graham); Storm the Court (Julien Leparoux); Attachment Rate (Joe Talamo); Sole Volante (Luca Panici); Finnick the Fierce (Martin Garcia); Winning Impression (Joe Rocco Jr.); Necker Island (Miguel Mena); and Shirl’s Speight (Corey Lanerie).
ARRIVAL INFORMATION – Several Kentucky Derby contenders have yet to converge on Churchill Downs but are scheduled to arrive in the upcoming week. The following is the latest arrival information, according to senior director of the stable area Steve Hargrave:
~ Monday or Tuesday via van from Skylight Training Center to Churchill Downs: Art Collector (trainer Tommy Drury)
~ Tuesday via flight from San Diego to Louisville: Rushie (Michael McCarthy)
~ Aug. 30 via flight from New York to Louisville: Caracaro (Gustavo Delgado) and Ny Traffic (Saffie Joseph)
~ Aug. 30 via van from Florida to Louisville: Sole Volante (Patrick Biancone)
~ Aug. 31 via flight from San Diego to Louisville: Authentic (Bob Baffert), Honor A. P. (John Shirreffs), Storm the Court (Peter Eurton); and Thousand Words (Baffert)
~ Aug. 31 via flight from New York: Dr Post (Todd Pletcher) and Tiz the Law (Barclay Tagg)
Details on the arrivals of Finnick the Fierce (Rey Hernandez) and Shirl’s Speight (Roger Attfield) have not been finalized.
On the Longines Kentucky Oaks front, $600,000 Alabama (GI) winner Swiss Skydiver is expected to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday via plane from New York. Swiss Skydiver’s main rival in the Oaks, multiple Grade I winner Gamine, is scheduled to arrive with the other Baffert trainees on Sunday, Aug. 31.
KENTUCKY OAKS FIELD RUNDOWN: The possible field, in order of preference, for the 146th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kerntucky Oaks (GI) (with jockey): Swiss Skydiver (TBA); Speech (TBA); Bonny South (TBA); Shedaresthedevil (Florent Geroux); Venetian Harbor (TBA); Tonalist’s Shape (TBA); Project Whiskey (TBA); Donna Veloce (TBA); Gamine (John Velazquez); Hopeful Growth (TBA); Tempers Rising (Julien Leparoux); and Dream Marie (TBA).
KENTUCKY DERBY, OAKS WORKOUTS TO BE STREAMED LIVE MONDAY – Churchill Downs Racetrack will provide live online streaming of Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders’ workouts when the exclusive 7:30-7:45 a.m. (all times Eastern) training window starting on Monday.
The live stream presented by TwinSpires.com will be available at multiple sources including on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kentuckyderby; on Twitter via @KentuckyDerby and www.twitter.com/kentuckyderby; on YouTube at www.youtube.com/kentuckyderby; and www.kentuckyderby.com/workouts
The live video will include graphics to identify each horse and commentary from an array of industry experts including: Churchill Downs Host and Racing Analyst Joe Kristufek along with TwinSpires.com Racing Experts Scott Shapiro, Ed DeRosa, Brandon Stauble and Chantal Sutherland.
A special 15-minute session from 7:30-7:45 a.m. is exclusive to Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks participants and any workmates. The specially-made Derby and Oaks saddle towels must be worn to gain access to the racetrack during that window.
Press Release
Photo: Enforceable August 17 workout at Churchill Downs. Credit: Coady Photography
