Kingsbarns (outside) and Major Dude (inside) out on the Churchill Downs main track. (Coady Photography)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Spendthrift Farm’s duo of TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (Grade II) winner Kingsbarns and Jeff Ruby Steaks (GII) runner-up Major Dude had their penultimate works prior to Kentucky Derby Day when they breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 Thursday morning at Churchill Downs.
Kingsbarns, who is qualified for the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 6, worked outside his Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Major Dude, who is No. 24 on the Derby preference list but is also nominated to the $500,000 American Turf (GII). The duo clipped through opening eighth-mile fractions of :12.60, :24.40 and :36.20. They galloped out together through six furlongs in 1:13.40.
“I think people gave Kingsbarns a discount because of the time of the Louisiana Derby,” Spendthrift Farm President Eric Gustavson said. “I don’t think you should be penalized by going to the front and putting everyone else to sleep like he did. We’re pretty confident coming into the Derby.”
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard Major Dude while Pletcher’s exercise rider Humberto Zamora was in the saddle on Kingsbarns.
“Both of them went pretty well,” Pletcher said. “I thought it was a good, steady work with a strong gallop out. Kingsbarns accomplished a lot in a short period of time. I thought his debut was very professional. It’s hard to win going one mile first time out and he did it getting an education being behind horses. For his first start I thought that was impressive. We went the Tampa Bay Downs route to get a two-turn allowance race into him. I thought that worked out well. He made a big step forward then in the Louisiana Derby.”
Pletcher reported Kentucky Derby favorite Forte will breeze Friday along with Blue Grass Stakes (GI) winner Tapit Trice.
Oaks Contenders Get Busy
It was a busy morning on the Thursday work tab at Churchill Downs for several 3-year-old fillies that are preparing for the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday, May 5.
At 7:30 a.m. (all times Eastern), Botanical (five furlongs, 1:00.20), Southlawn (five furlongs, :58.80), The Alys Look (five furlongs, 1:00.60) and Wet Paint (five furlongs, 1:00.20) all recorded published workouts. About 90 minutes later at 9 a.m., Gambling Girl breezed a half-mile in :49.40.
Trainer Brad Cox worked The Alys Look and Wet Paint together. Wet Paint, with jockey Flavien Prat aboard, began two lengths back of her stablemate, who was ridden by Florent Geroux, and finished even at the wire. Wet Paint completed a six-furlong gallop out in 1:13 while her stablemate finished in 1:13.40. Immediately following their work, Botanical, with jockey Chris Landeros in the irons, worked outside stablemate Flashy Gem. The duo galloped out six furlongs together in 1:13.40.
“I thought it was a really good morning for all of our fillies,” Cox said. “The Alys Look (pronounced Alice) began about two lengths in front of Wet Paint, and they finished well together and galloped out well together. I thought it was a very solid move. I let Botanical do a little bit more today than last week just to see how she’d really handle the dirt. She was actually here at Churchill last summer and we breezed her on the turf then and thought she handled it well. She didn’t quite have a lot of early speed so that’s why we started her going long on turf. Flashy Gem is a very good work horse, and the two fillies ran first and second last time out at Turfway.”
Southlawn, trained by Norm Casse, started five lengths back of stablemate Burning Bright. The winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) blazed through fractions of :24 and :35.20 with rider Rey Gutierrez in the saddle. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.60, according to Churchill Downs Clocker John Nichols.
Gambling Girl worked with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. on board and was outside her Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Cairo Consort. The duo completed early fractions of :12.60 and :24.60 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.20.
In other Kentucky Oaks news, UAE Oaks (GIII) winner Mimi Kakushi is on her way from Dubai to the U.S. She’s scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Saturday and will be stabled in Quarantine Barn 2.
Derby News And Notes
Gotham Stakes (GIII) winner Raise Cain worked five furlongs in 1:03.40 on Thursday at Keeneland. The Ben Colebrook-trainee is likely to stay at Keeneland until Kentucky Derby Week. He’ll be ridden in the Derby by Javier Castellano.
Raise Cain at Keeneland.
Holy Bull (GIII) winner Rocket Can is likely to work Sunday at Churchill Downs, according to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Depending on the weather, the colt could have his work moved to Saturday. …
The special Derby and Oaks saddle towels have been passed out at Churchill Downs and several trainers plan to put them on their horses Friday morning.
