2023 Kentucky Derby Clocker Report: Skinner gallops powerfully, boosting his stock

Churchill Downs
Thursday, May 4
Weather: Sunny
Temperature: 43
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A busy and very eventful morning on the Kentucky Derby/Oaks watch Thursday at Churchill Downs with arguably the most impressive training session of the morning saved for last when Skinner came out at his usual time, shortly after 9:00 a.m., to turn in an eye-catching gallop over the freshly harrowed strip.

There’s never a good time for the warning siren to blare during training hours at any track, anywhere. But it’s especially worrisome when it occurs, not once but twice, during the special Derby/Oaks training session as it did here Thursday.

The first incident occurred on the track after Derby contender Verifying lost his rider in the vicinity of the five-eighths pole while nearing the end of his routine gallop. Fortunately, the Churchill outriders, who are as good as any in the business, were able to quickly corral him and return him safe and sound to his connections.

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Several minutes later, the siren went off again after Oaks hopeful And Tell Me Nolies got loose shortly after walking off the track. She too was rounded up with no apparent problems for horse or rider.

The Derby/Oaks session marked the first time Practical Move galloped with the rest of the gang in the light of day since his arrival on Sunday. Prior to this morning, the Santa Anita Derby winner’s training regimen this week seemed a bit on the light side in comparison to the rest of the field and consisted of two one-mile jogs sandwiched around a couple of mornings when he seemed conspicuous by his absence to regular observers.

Practical Move was announced as a scratch early Thursday afternoon by trainer Tim Yakteen.

Both Rocket Can and Sun Thunder will wear blinkers for the first time in the Derby and both were sharp as a tack once again this morning showing off their high energy levels, as did Oaks rivals Gambling Girl (again) and Defining Purpose (again).

Those who stuck around for the next hour and 15 minutes were treated to a very visually impressive 1 1/2-mile gallop from Skinner, who picked up the pace and was allowed to really stretch his legs today after several leisurely gallops earlier in the week.

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Skinner came through the wire the second time around with his ears up, moving smoothly and at a far quicker pace than a two-minute mile before pulling up midway down the backstretch. The effort bolsters his Derby stock even further following his well-graded third-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby and a very strong six-furlong breeze over his home track last Saturday.

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