2024 Kentucky Derby clocker report: Track Phantom lone Derby worker on Sunday

Churchill Downs
Sunday, April 21

Weather: Cloudy
Track: Fast
Temperature: 45 degrees

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Anybody wanting to see what little action there was on the Kentucky Derby and Oaks front Sunday at Churchill Downs needed to arrive early and would have been wise to have brought an extra jacket. The temperature was hovering in the mid-40s from the time the track opened at 5:15 a.m. until it closed for business following turf works nearly five hours later.

The lone Derby and Oaks workers on Sunday came from the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen, who sent out Derby contender TRACK PHANTOM in the second set of the morning and the filly, OUR PRETTY WOMAN, about 20 minutes earlier. Each worked five furlongs in company in separate sets with jockey Tyler Gaffalione aboard.

Track Phantom broke off about a half-length back and outside his stakes-placed stablemate Carbone, the two cruising through a pedestrian opening quarter in 26.23 before quickening steadily thereafter. Track Phantom held a slight edge at the wire after completing the distance in 1:00.73 before being prompted by Gaffalione to continue three-quarters into the clubhouse turn a length best in 1:13.59. The Grade 3 Lecomte winner then widened his advantage, easing up seven panels about four lengths clear in 1:27.19.

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Track Phantom wore blinkers for the work, and Asmussen said he will compete in them for the first time in eight lifetime starts on Derby Day.

Our Pretty Woman, likewise, broke off a half-length behind and outside her stakes-winning work partner Otto the Conquerer, the two posting splits of 25.12 and 36.94 for the opening quarter and three-eighths then sustaining good momentum to the wire covering five panels in 59.94 before going out six furlongs under some urging in 1:13.30. They eased up after seven-eighths in 1:27.12. They began the drill several lengths behind a Brad Cox worker, slipping inside that one at the head of the lane with the trio coming to the wire on near even terms.

With more than a dozen Derby and Oaks starters turning in official works on Saturday, the special training session reserved for starters in both races between 7:30-7:45 a.m. daily was a quiet one on Sunday.

Only three potential Derby runners made an appearance, RESILIENCE, HONOR MARIE and ENCINO, all turning in routine gallops with Encino hard held by his rider wanting to do more. His Derby status is still to be determined by Cox and owner-breeder Godolphin.

Gazelle winner WHERE’S MY RING did not have an official published work Sunday morning. But she did gallop at a strong pace at well better than a two-minute clip for six furlongs from the wire to the quarter pole before blowing out down the lane in :23.75, easing up after three furlongs in :37.07 for trainer Val Brinkerhoff, who reported afterwards that she is scheduled to have a more serious work for the Oaks on Saturday.

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