2024 Kentucky Derby Clocker: Final impressions of this year's field

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 67°
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The final special training session for Kentucky Derby and Oaks participants went off without incident Thursday at Churchill Downs. However, Domestic Product, who came out to train nearly 30 minutes later with the general population, did have to delay his gallop briefly due to a horse who lost its rider and got loose in his vicinity while he stood calmly along the outside rail about 100 yards from the finish line.

With Churchill Downs requiring all Derby participants to be on the grounds a full week out from the race for the first time this year, the majority of the field got in their final works locally, including both Fierceness and Sierra Leone, the two clear-cut favorites in Derby 150.

Who appeared to be doing best in the weeks leading up to the big event? The following is a brief rundown of the field, roughly in post position order, with observations made during training hours on a daily basis at Churchill Downs over the past 12 mornings.

Dornoch has looked slightly best working in company with fellow Derby starter Society Man each of the last two weeks, the pair zipping a very fast but relatively easy half-mile in tandem last weekend.

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Sierra Leone has made a terrific impression since shipping over from Keeneland, both he and Domestic Product turning in one of the stronger final Derby preps in company. Domestic Product was well held while more than holding his own with his more heralded mate.

Mystik Dan flashed big speed in his penultimate Derby drill and has shown good energy during routine training on a regular basis ever since.

Catching Freedom has been strong and steady in each of his last two works, showing no reason why he shouldn’t be primed for another big effort Saturday.

Catalytic was not as sharp as usual in his final South Florida work but has looked good and seems to be thriving since arriving locally.

Just Steel had a bit of an eventful mile work two back, shortening stride in the last part after posting fast early splits before getting caught in traffic a couple of times along the way.

Honor Marie is not the smoothest mover during daily gallops but flashed surprising speed and looked very good in his final Derby drill.

Just a Touch has worked solo twice since his impressive Blue Grass effort, getting more serious in the second of those drills. He was full of energy and visually impressive galloping Wednesday.

T O Password won’t inspire confidence from watching routine gallops, but he showed a nice turn of foot completing his only local drill in company with an older mate earlier in the week.

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Forever Young comes into the Derby with high expectations but has looked just average, at best, during morning gallops and in a pair of local drills. It is difficult to know whether this is typical of his training style.

Track Phantom has been working in blinkers, which he will wear in a race for first time on Derby Day. He rated off, but hung a bit late working in company last weekend.

West Saratoga also is not the prettiest mover in the morning. He has done little more than blow out an easy three-eighths since arriving locally.

Endlessly has never raced on dirt, and the first of his two main-track works here was not pretty, although his energy level has remained high on a regular basis since.

Grand Mo the First was just average-looking getting in all his major work at Gulfstream Park, although his local gallops have all been good.

Fierceness turned in a huge work at Palm Beach Downs before leaving South Florida and posted far and away the most eye-catching local drill among the Derby contenders, galloping out forever under regular rider John Velazquez.

Stronghold seems to be holding his good current form in light of a very professional five-furlong breeze in company with an older, speedy, stakes-winning mate on Sunday.

Resilience has been giving off good vibes all week. His last two works, in blinkers, were solid, and he just gives the feeling he is sitting on another big one coming out of the Wood Memorial.

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