CHURCHILL DOWNS Friday, April 26 Weather: Clear Temperature: 51 Track: Fast LOUISVILLE, Ky – Fierceness was unquestionably the center of attention Friday morning at Churchill Downs, and the reigning juvenile champion certainly did not disappoint his ever-growing legion of supporters. He likely cemented his status as the Kentucky Derby favorite with an eye-catching work moments after the start of the special Derby-Oaks training session at 7:30 a.m. After watching Fierceness put in his penultimate Derby work a week earlier at Palm Beach Downs, it was hard to imagine he could improve on that performance. But one could make an argument he was just as good if not better Friday while again in company alongside familiar workmate Agate Road and with regular rider John Velazquez aboard. Breaking off at the half-mile pole, Fierceness cruised an easy opening quarter in 25.03 before picking up the pace without a hint of prodding from Velazquez to the wire. He negotiated the distance in 48.63 before pouring it on during the gallop-out, just as he had a week ago over a much more laboring strip in South Florida. Fierceness completed five furlongs in 1:00.51 before continuing with that long and effortless stride to get six panels in 1:12.50, ultimately easing up after seven-eighths in 1:26.11. His big effort completed a pre-Derby workout schedule somewhat reminiscent of Always Dreaming, trainer Todd Pletcher’s 2017 Derby winner. Always Dreaming posted a couple of nifty drills at Palm Beach Downs before shipping to Churchill to put a punctuation mark on his preparations with a bullet five furlongs eight days prior to a convincing 2 3/4-length victory as a tepid favorite. :: DRF Kentucky Derby Package: Save on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more. Fierceness was one of three potential Derby starters to work here on a very fast track under clear skies along with Endlessly and Seize the Grey. Endlessly, who has never raced on dirt, was a disappointment working over the main track here last weekend but did show a measure of improvement this morning with his regular rider, Umberto Rispoli, flying in from Southern California for the assignment. Going in company with Gottaneedforspeed just minutes after the racetrack opened at 5:15 a.m., Endlessly breezed a half-mile in 47.26. He broke a length behind his mate and held the edge through the wire, continuing five furlongs under some urging in 1:00.58 before easing up six panels in 1:13.98. Trainer Michael McCarthy remained undecided immediately afterward in regards to whether he plans to enter Endlessly on Saturday in the Kentucky Derby or put him back on grass for the American Turf earlier that same day. Seize the Grey is several spots down on the also-eligible list and still needs help to crack the Derby lineup. He went four furlongs in 24.15 and 47.58 while switching back to his left lead approaching the wire under some pressure before continuing five-eighths into the clubhouse turn in 59.87 for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Workout observers had to get here very early if they wanted to see Endlessly breeze this morning and even a tad earlier to get a look at trainer Brad Cox’s team of Kentucky Oaks-bound fillies Tarifa and Gin Gin, who had the honor of being the first names on a very busy work tab Friday. With regular rider Flavien Prat aboard, Tarifa broke a couple of lengths behind her mate, and got to the wire on even terms while in hand after an opening half-mile in 47.54. The pair remaining well matched on the gallop-out into and around the turn. Tarifa eased up after a strong six furlongs in 1:11.54, two ticks faster than her mate’s final clocking for the same distance. Both will join what is shaping up to be a very strong and highly competitive field in this year’s Oaks. Nobody has trained any better leading up to the Oaks than trainer Chad Brown’s Ways and Means, who like Fierceness, came out of South Florida off a couple of very impressive works before arguably revving it up another notch this morning. Working solo, as usual, Ways and Means breezed four furlongs in 46.18 before doing what she’s been doing on a regular basis of late, galloping out with tons of energy, easing up after six panels in a solid 1:11.89. She couldn’t be doing any better coming off a troubled second-place finish a month earlier in the Gulfstream Park Oaks. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  Thorpedo Anna has made a good appearance here this past week. She breezed five-eighths in company in 59.39 while in reserve to the wire, ultimately galloping out six furlongs, slightly best, in an okay 1:12.79. It will be interesting to see how UAE Derby winner Forever Young progresses moving forward the next few days after seemingly not being at his best this morning. He looked very average galloping to and through the wire while switching back to his left lead a bit prematurely along the way. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.