2023 Kentucky Derby Clocker Report: A day after breezing, Forte turns in a spirited gallop

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Saturday, April 22
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 46
Track: Sloppy

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With trainers Todd Pletcher and Brad Cox working their plethora of potential Derby starters here Thursday and Friday and rain soaking the racetrack overnight, Saturday was a quiet one locally on the Kentucky Derby watch.

Even activity during the special 7:30-7:45 a.m. training session that began Saturday for Derby and Kentucky Oaks starters was sparse with the connections of potential Derby workers opting to wait for dryer conditions on Sunday.

The most relevant Derby activity here Saturday came well before sunrise when Pletcher sent out his first set of the morning shortly after 6 a.m. The set included Derby favorites Forte and Tapit Trice, both coming off excellent works the previous morning and returning 24 hours later not to jog but turn in strong gallops, evidence that both horses exited their works the previous morning in excellent condition.

Forte went a mile and three furlongs from the wire back around to the five-eighths pole while showing plenty of energy along the way over the sealed and sloppy strip.

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Aside from the Pletcher and Cox Derby contenders, there are only six others among the top 20 points earners currently on the grounds at Churchill Downs and of that group only two, Rocket Can and Disarm, galloped during the Derby-Oaks training session. Disarm was a lot more relaxed Saturday and looked sharp over the drying out surface.

Japanese contenders Derma Sotogake and Continuar came out shortly after the first renovation break and turned in another extended training session in the one-mile chute, with neither returning to the main track this morning.

Only two potential Oaks runners took advantage of the special session, with Defining Purpose full of run the second time by the grandstand and into the clubhouse turn before proving a bit of a handful pulling up midway down the backstretch.

* At Gulfstream Park, Florida Derby runner-up Mage was given another stamina-enhancing breeze, going six furlongs in 1:14.28, completing his final quarter in 24.14 while kept well off the inner rail. He remained wide while galloping out a mile in 1:40.98 and a mile and one-eighth in 1:54.40.

“We were very pleased with the work and the way he recovered afterwards, he was catching his breath quickly and bouncing around back at the barn shortly thereafter,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., assistant for his father, trainer Gustavo Delgado. “This was a maintenance work for stamina, not speed. We kept him out in the track on purpose. We were afraid he would show too much speed on the rail.

“My father also believes that although it would be nice if all our horses were able to race on the rail, that doesn’t happen often, and he likes them to work out where they’ll most likely be running in their races.”

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Delgado said Mage would van to Kentucky on Sunday and have his final work, plus get in some serious gate schooling, at Churchill Downs prior to Derby Day.

Mage has not broken well in either of his last two starts. Delgado said his father and the owners have narrowed their final selection for Mage’s Derby rider down to two and planned to announce their decision by the end of the day on Saturday.

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