ARCADIA, Calif. – The unbeaten and lightly raced Justify, the current favorite for the Kentucky Derby on May 5, turned in his penultimate drill for the race early Saturday morning at Santa Anita, officially going six furlongs in 1:13 after breaking off at the five-furlong pole. He was one of a number of top-class runners who worked shortly after 6:30 a.m., after the first renovation break, all with designs on stakes races in two weeks at Churchill Downs. Among those also working were Instilled Regard, who is still under consideration for the Derby, as well as Eclipse Award winner Abel Tasman, Kentucky Oaks prospect Rayya, and stakes-class runners like Restoring Hope and Skye Diamonds. But the focus of the morning was undoubtedly on Justify, who was working for the first time since his victory in the Santa Anita Derby two weeks ago. He started one length back of his workmate, was two in front at the wire after five furlongs that trainer Bob Baffert caught in 1:00.80, then continued to work to the seven-eighths pole, and he galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26.80 on Baffert's watch. Drayden Van Dyke was up. Mike Smith rides him in the Derby. "Looked good, didn't he?" Baffert said. "He's a machine." Santa Anita clockers had Justify in 25 seconds for his opening quarter, 37 for three furlongs, five furlongs in 1:00.80, and six in 1:13, meaning he went the final three furlongs in 36 seconds. “We let him gallop out a little bit,” Baffert said. “We never let him work fast. We knows he’s fast.” Justify will work once more at Santa Anita next weekend and is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs the week of the Derby. Instilled Regard, currently ranked 22nd on the points list for the Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:01 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer under jockey Flavien Prat. Instilled Regard needs two defections from the current top 20 in order to be assured a spot. Prat rides Solomini in the Derby. “He had a good work today,” Hollendorfer said before immediately inquiring, “Any scratches from the Derby today?” Told he remained 22nd on the points list as of Saturday morning, Hollendorfer said owner Larry Best “wants to run if he can.” Hollendorfer said he might consider the Pat Day Mile on the Derby card as a backup plan, but the focus at present was on the Derby. Abel Tasman, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2017, and the 3-year-old filly Rayya, most recently a distant second to the Derby-bound Mendelssohn in the United Arab Emirates Derby, worked six furlongs from the gate in company in 1:12.80 for Baffert for upcoming major races at Churchill Downs. Abel Tasman is ticketed for her 2018 debut in the La Troienne for older females. This was her second straight work from the gate. "She didn't break very well last week," Baffert said. Martin Garcia was aboard for the drill, but Smith has the mount in the La Troienne. Rayya, whom Baffert now trains, had Van Dyke up for the work. She broke quicker than Abel Tasman and was four lengths up with a half-mile to go, but Abel Tasman closed along the rail and was about a neck in front at the wire. Immediately after the work, Baffert asked Van Dyke if he wanted to ride Rayya in the Kentucky Oaks on May 4. "I'd love to," Van Dyke replied. Rayya, previously trained by Doug Watson, had two wins and three seconds in five starts at Meydan between Dec. 7 and March 31. Baffert also worked Restoring Hope for the first time since the Wood Memorial, and he looked terrific, going five furlongs in 1:00.20. He could run in the Pat Day Mile – stablemate Ax Man is also under consideration for that race – or could await the Preakness on May 19, Baffert said. The tiny but mighty River Boyne worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 with Prat up for trainer Jeff Mullins as he readies for the American Turf at Churchill Downs. On the training track, Madame Stripes went a half-mile in 49.40 seconds for trainer Neil Drysdale in preparation for the Churchill Downs Distaff Mile, and Skye Diamonds went five furlongs in 1:01.80 for trainer Bill Spawr for the Humana Distaff. :: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays, and analysis