LEXINGTON, Ky.—Jeff Drown’s Zandon, winner of Keeneland’s $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on April 9, worked 4 furlongs in :48.60 Saturday morning over a fast track for trainer Chad Brown in his penultimate tune-up for the Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve. The colt is second on the Derby leaderboard with 114 points and is guaranteed a spot in the starting gate for the May 7, $3 million race at Churchill Downs.
The son of Upstart, a graduate of Keeneland’s 2020 September Yearling Sale, is scheduled to ship to Churchill Sunday morning and have his final workout there on Saturday, April 30.
With exercise rider Kriss Bon aboard today, Zandon clocked splits of :12.80, :25.20, and :37 as Brown and jockey Flavien Prat watched from the Grandstand. The colt galloped out in 1:00.80, 1:13.80 and 1:27.60.
“He was moving super; just what we wanted to see,” Brown said. “We just wanted to maintain where he is. He does not have to get any fitter. I was impressed with how he galloped out.”
Last October at Belmont Park, Zandon opened his career with a 1½-length triumph after lagging behind in the early part of a 6-furlong maiden special weight race. Two months later at Aqueduct, he battled through the stretch with Kentucky Derby contender Mo Donegal and was beaten a nose in the Remsen (G2). In his next start before the Toyota Blue Grass, Zandon was third behind Kentucky Derby hopefuls Epicenter and Smile Happy in the Risen Star (G2) Presented by Lamarque Ford at Fair Grounds on Feb. 19.
The 2-1 second choice in the Toyota Blue Grass, Zandon came from behind to catch favored Smile Happyin the closing yards to win by 2½ lengths.
“He has had a small number of races but those races were very meaningful,” Brown said. “We quite liked him by the time he debuted (but) I was surprised he won sprinting. When he won, he really picked my head up. (That is when) I thought he had way above average potential. Then he showed a lot in the Remsen going 1 1/8 miles. He has a lot of good experience in a small number of races.”
Kathleen O., Candy Raid Have Final Keeneland Works For Kentucky Oaks
Two fillies under consideration for the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (G1) put in their final Keeneland works for the race Saturday morning over a fast track.
Working at 7:30 a.m. after the first track renovation break, Winngate Stables’ undefeated Kathleen O. worked a half-mile in :48.80 under exercise rider David Jego. (Click here for a video of the work.)
Following a few minutes later was Don’t Tell My Wife Stables and trainer Keith Desormeaux’s Candy Raid, who covered the same distance in :49.20 under jockey Rafael Bejarano.
Kathleen O., the leading point earner on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks with 150 points from her victories in the Davona Dale (G2) and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), galloped out past the three-quarter pole under Jego, who has been her regular exercise rider all winter.
“She picked it up and galloped out strong,” said Anthony Hamilton, assistant to trainer Shug McGaughey. “We are in good shape. She’s a happy horse – that’s what you look for.”
Kathleen O. worked a half-mile in :48.60 here last Saturday in her first work back since winning the Gulfstream Park Oaks on April 2.
Hamilton said Kathleen O. would make the short trip to Churchill Downs Monday or Tuesday. He said McGaughey, who won the Oaks in 1993 with Dispute, would arrive in Louisville on Wednesday.
Candy Raid worked a half-mile in :50.40 last Saturday here. She is 13th on the Oaks leaderboard with 51 points of which 50 came from a victory in the Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park in her most recent start April 2.
“This was her last work here,” said Bejarano, who rode Candy Raid for the first time in the victory at Turfway. “She’s feeling good. I got her out five-eighths in 1:02 and change.”
Candy Raid is scheduled to ship to Churchill on Thursday and have her final pre-Oaks work there.
Royal Ascot Hopeful Golden Pal “Tearing The Barn Down”
Two weeks after his dominating, 4¾-length victory in the Shakertown (G2) on April 9, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg’s Golden Pal returned to the Keeneland turf course and galloped at a two-minute lick.
Trainer Wesley Ward said today’s exercise resulted from Golden Pal coming out of the Shakertown so well.
“He’s really feeling good,” Ward said about the 4-year-old Uncle Mo colt, who is pointed to the June 14 King’s Stand (G1) at Royal Ascot in England. “Our plan was to wait a little bit, but he’s just tearing the barn down right now. We decided to do a little something (extra) with him. We left the exercise rider on him who rides him every day: Jose Hernandez. I told him to go the easiest three-eighths that he can. And he did, so we’re really happy.
“These racehorses – especially ones like (Golden Pal) – just come on the track and he’s like dynamite. If you can take a little bit of the edge off them, it’s certainly going to help. No place better to do it than the Keeneland turf course.”
With nine wins during the first 10 days of Keeneland’s 15-day Spring Meet, Ward is atop the trainer standings.
Galloping Out
Vincent Cheminaud recorded his first Keeneland victory Friday afternoon when he won the final race on Shannon ($51) for trainer Ignacio Correas IV. The 28-year-old Frenchman had had one previous U.S. victory from 10 mounts: the 2015 Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga aboard Flintshire (GB) for trainer Andre Fabre.
Work Tab
Godolphin’s Mystic Guide, winner of the 2021 Dubai World Cup (G1) Sponsored by Emirates Airline), worked 3 furlongs in :37.40. … Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s Grade 1 winner Kimari worked 5 furlongs in 1:00 for trainer Wesley Ward. … Working over a turf course labeled as good was Klaravich Stables’ three-time graded stakes winner Public Sector (GB) with a half-mile in :51 for trainer Chad Brown.
Prospective Field For Closing-Day Bewitch
Entries taken Sunday. Race Friday, April 29.
$300,000 BEWITCH (G3) – Breeze Rider (trainer SteveManley), Family Way (Brendan Walsh), Queen Goddess (Michael McCarthy). Possible: Core Values (Vicki Oliver), La Lune (GB) (Edward Vaughan), Stand Tall (Rusty Arnold).
Official Keeneland Tours. Visit keeneland.com/tours for availability and to purchase.
Keeneland’s 15-day Spring Meet runs through Friday, April 29.
First post is 1 p.m. ET except April 29 when the first post is 12:30 p.m.
Keeneland Barn Notes
Photo: Zandon in a work. (Coady Photography)
