2024 Kentucky Derby Clocker: Encino outshines top contenders with flashy work

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Saturday, April 27
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 65 degrees
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Any doubts about whether the connections of Encino would decide to enter their lightly raced, but rapidly improving colt, in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday were answered in a mere 59.44 seconds early that morning. That was the time it took the Lexington Stakes winner to work five furlongs in company with his more heralded and also Derby-bound stablemate Catching Freedom over a very fast and almost totally deserted Churchill Downs racetrack within minutes of its opening at 5:15 a.m.

The Brad Cox-trained duo were the first of nine potential Kentucky Derby starters to get in their final works on a clear morning that was easily the warmest for training at Churchill over the last couple of weeks.

With jockey Florent Geroux aboard, Encino broke off about three-quarters of a length behind and outside Catching Freedom at the 4 1/2-furlong pole, as the majority of Cox’s horses will do when working five furlongs at Churchill. Encino, who had been eye-catching on a regular basis during routine training throughout the week, readily stuck his head in front of the Louisiana Derby winner near midstretch, with Geroux still looking loaded, his feet on the dashboard, as the pair passed through the wire. Encino then maintained his advantage despite continuing widest around the turn on the gallop-out, posting splits of 23.98 and 36.03 en route to a 59.44 final clocking. He continued three-quarters in 1:12.11 before ultimately easing up a full seven furlongs in 1:26.51.

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The other seven Derby workers here Saturday waited to do their thing over a freshly renovated strip during the 7:30-7:45 a.m. window set aside each morning for Kentucky Derby and Oaks hopefuls. That group was led by Sierra Leone, who will go postward the second betting choice behind Fierceness in this year’s Derby, and his stablemate Domestic Product, who may be flying under the radar a bit and potentially one of the sleepers to consider in this year’s Derby field.

Sierra Leone, in blinkers, and Domestic Product broke off at the five-eighths pole and posted splits of 25.24 and 36.52 en route to a 1:00.31 final clocking.

Sierra Leone never let his mate quite get on even terms at any point while traveling easily throughout. To his credit, however, Domestic Product hung right in with his more highly regarded mate, nearly stride for stride while in reserve much of the way and widest of the team going out a full six furlongs around the turn in a strong 1:12.87.

Dornoch and his barn mate Society Man also went in company for trainer Danny Gargan, as they had here one week earlier. Dornoch held the edge, going easiest to the wire in 22.94 and 47.03 before the pair were both asked some to continue five furlongs in 59.58. They eased up six furlongs in 1:12.87. It is hard to fault either in their preparations leading up to Derby since arriving locally earlier this month.

Mystik Dan eased back on the throttle some this week after a fast work last Saturday. He went in company with last-out maiden special weight winner Elephants Ear, with both riders gearing their mounts down during the latter stages and completing five-eighths in 1:00.87 off a 36.19 opening split. They went out in 1:13.89.

West Saratoga, one of the newer arrivals on the grounds, got a feel for the track, blowing out three furlongs in 37.78 and pulling up a half in 50.78.

Oaks workers on Saturday included Brown’s Regulatory Risk, who went a maintenance-like half-mile in 49.83, and Lemon Muffin, who worked a bullet five-eighths, per track clockers, in 58.20, getting a little leg weary at the end off blistering early splits.

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