2023 Kentucky Derby Clocker Report: Rocket Can breezes five furlongs

Churchill Downs
Sunday, April 30
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 51
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 15 minutes of mayhem after the renovation break Saturday turned into “all quiet on the Derby front” Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, with only a handful of the 20 prospective starters out to train this morning. There was only one workout to report, a five-furlong breeze by Rocket Can over the fast track shortly after 7:30 a.m.

Rocket Can, equipped with blinkers, broke off several lengths behind stablemate and target Mr. McGregor (just nipped against maiden special weight opposition last out at Keeneland) from the five furlong pole and cruised through an opening three furlongs in 36.18 before slipping up the rail turning into the stretch.

Rocket Can finished with good energy to the wire, readily pulling clear of his mate, completing the distance in 59.80, going easily while flipping back to his left lead just before the finish line. He was then prodded some to gallop out a full seven furlongs in 1:26.84 before finally easing up midway down the backstretch. A solid move with the equipment change for the Holy Bull winner, who will race with blinkers for the first time in the Derby.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2023: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more

Sunday marked the first local appearance of the Tim Yakteen-trained duo of Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move and Reincarnate, the former among the first horses on the track today at 5:15 a.m., the latter coming out after the break, both doing little more than jog on the outside fence to stretch their legs and familiarize themselves with the local surroundings.

Disarm had himself another in a series of good mornings both prior to and since his sharp breeze here last week and is likely to blow-out an easy half-mile on Monday.

Neither Derma Sotogake or Continuar trained this morning, although Mandarin Hero, the third possible Japanese-bred Derby starter now on the grounds, did gallop this morning.

None of the as many as 11 potential Derby starters who worked here Saturday went to the track this morning either, with the special training session dominated by Oaks contenders, including the Brad Cox-trained trio of likely favorite Wet Paint, The Alys Look, and Botanical and the Todd Pletcher duo of Gambling Girl and Julia Shining. Both looked terrific during their routine session, Pletcher lamenting back at his barn several hours later that as well as she’s been training, Julia Shining may not draw into the field from off the also-eligible list.

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