2025 Kentucky Derby Clocker: Beckman works Flying Mohawk with Oaks hopeful Drexel Hill

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Friday, April 25
Weather: Showery
Temperature: 62
Track: Sealed/Good

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mother Nature was the main story Friday at Churchill Downs, where rain that began the previous afternoon and continued into the morning hours altered training plans for many barns, most notably those with horses pointing to next Friday’s Kentucky Oaks.

Only three of the eight scheduled Oaks workers made the tab here Friday, while one Kentucky Derby candidate, Flying Mohawk, also got in his final prep. There were two other Derby workers around the state, with Grande turning in his one and only pre-Derby breeze at Keeneland and Chunk of Gold working at Turfway Park.

Flying Mohawk went in company with his Whit Beckman-trained, Oaks-bound mate Drexel Hill, both looking sharp over a track sealed and officially upgraded from muddy to good after the first renovation break.

Flying Mohawk was well reserved throughout while working nearest the rail. The pair completed five furlongs in 35.47 seconds and 59.99 before galloping out extremely well with six panels in 1:12.71 and up seven-eighths in 1:26.34. Flying Mohawk kept his head in front throughout, albeit with the filly hanging in quite gamely every step of the way.

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Grande, with John Velazquez aboard, stalked and proved slightly best in company with the entry-level allowance-placed Valentinian while cruising along pretty much on his own accord just moments before a steady downpour turned the Keeneland strip into a sea of slop. The Wood Memorial runner-up completed five-eighths in 1:01, per track clockers, before being urged on some by Velazquez to go out a full seven-eighths willingly enough into and around the turn.

Chunk of Gold looked very sharp rating off a workmate before edging away. He covered five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 47.56 and 59.36, per Daily Racing Form, with plenty left in the tank at the end of the drill.

Simply Joking was extremely impressive while best in company with Drexel Hill last week and gave every indication she continues to sustain that top form after breezing a solo, maintenance-like half-mile over the wet strip here Friday morning in 47.69. She had tons left galloping out into and around the turn, once again with jockey Florent Geroux aboard, running out five furlongs in 1:00.74 and six furlongs in 1:14.25.

Oaks favorite Good Cheer was the first worker during the special Derby/Oaks training session and is another who seems to have exited her most recent start as sharp as ever. She completed five panels from the 4 1/2-furlong pole over the soggy footing in 48.40 and 1:00.27, while just cruising along and best in company outside her lightly raced maiden partner Saucier. Good Cheer had plenty left at the end, easing up after six furlongs midway on the turn in 1:13.66.

Citizen Bull, who arrived locally along with trainer Bob Baffert on Thursday, made an awesome first impression despite the fact he did little more than jog around the outside rail immediately after the break. He appeared to want to do a whole lot more despite having worked a quick five furlongs and galloping out a full seven-eighths just 48 hours earlier at Santa Anita.

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A few other Derby horses who caught the eye included, of course, Journalism, who continues to strut his stuff locally; Publisher, a maiden who has obviously blossomed with the addition of blinkers and looms as perhaps a real sleeper in this Derby field; American Promise, who appears to really be enjoying himself during his regular morning gallops, and Sovereignty, who was a lot more settled early on and not quite as warm in the coat on Friday as he was Thursday.

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