Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sent out Gamine and Thousand Words, bound for next week’s Kentucky Oaks and Derby, respectively, for final workouts this morning.
Gamine, a brilliant winner of the Test Stakes at Saratoga on August 8, is expected to vie for favoritism with Swiss Skydiver in Friday’s $1.25 million, G1 Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.
With Juan Ochoa in the irons, the daughter of Into Mischief owned by Michael Lund Petersen covered six furlongs in 1:11.60. Clocker Toby Turrell had interim splits of :24.40, :36.60 and :59.40 and commented she “exploded brilliantly.” Gamine’s workmate, Quality Response, a 3-year-old stakes-winning filly, was timed in :48.00 for a half-mile.“She worked beautifully,” Baffert said. “She’s coming into the race very well and I’m very happy with her right now. It’s going to be a tough race, very competitive, but we’re excited and she looks ready for it.”
Thousand Words, the upset winner over Honor A.P. in the Shared Belief Stakes here on August 1, got an official clocking of :59.80 for 5 furlongs. Turrell had the son of Pioneerof the Nile timed in :11.80 and :36 at the start with gallop-outs of 1:11.40 for 6 furlongs and 1:25.00 for seven-eighths. Workmate Tapitution, a 3-year-old maiden colt, was timed in 1:01.00 for 5 furlongs.
Storm the Court, whose 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile victory earned an Eclipse Award in the 2-year-old male division, worked six furlongs in 1:12.80 with the final half mile in :47.60 under exercise rider Austin Solis.
“A good work, all we were looking for,” trainer Peter Eurton said. “If he comes out of it well, we’re headed East.”
Another Kentucky Derby contender, C R K Stable’s Honor A.P. is scheduled to work 7 furlongs prior to Del Mar’s first race this afternoon.
The West Coast contingent to the Kentucky Oaks and Derby is booked to ship Monday. John Velazquez rides Gamine and Baffert’s top Derby contender Authentic, Florent Geroux has the call on Thousand Words and Julien Leparoux is slated to ride Storm the Court.
Photo Credit: Benoit Photo
