2025 Kentucky Derby Clocker: Owen Almighty, Built work as stamina test nears

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Thursday, April 24
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 60
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A horse whose connections originally planned on bypassing the Kentucky Derby and a second whose status remains up in the air took center stage during training hours Thursday at Churchill Downs.

Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty had briefly targeted the Pat Day Mile for his next start before being rerouted back to the Derby. Built has earned enough points to qualify for the race, although his ownership group, which also has a share in Derby favorite Journalism, has yet to confirm whether his name will be in the box when entries are drawn Saturday evening for the Run for the Roses.

Both horses worked five furlongs over a fast track during the special Derby/Oaks training session after the renovation break, their drills orchestrated in quite different fashion. Owen Almighty went in company from the five-furlong pole, Built was solo while working from the 4 1/2-furlong marker before finishing a sixteenth of a mile past the finish line.

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Even though Owen Almighty is expected to be on or with the pace from the outset in the Derby, trainer Brian Lynch chose to rate him off his target, stablemate Nosleeptilbrooklyn, in his final pre-Derby breeze. Owen Almighty appeared to settle in nicely behind his mate early on, accelerated a bit to pull alongside at the top of the stretch, and then drew off readily to and through the wire. He completed the distance in 1:01.38 off a leisurely 37.49-second opening three-furlong split before galloping out with nice energy into and around the bend, completing six furlongs in 1:13.75, up seven-eighths in 1:27.27. It was an encouraging show of late energy for a horse whose ability to handle the Derby distance is in question.

Built appeared a lot more comfortable in work mode than he has on a regular basis during recent morning gallops. He covered his first three-eighths in 35.88, then responded to some late urging to and through the wire to get his five furlongs in 59.33 before galloping out in a somewhat average 1:13.38. Like Owen Almighty, Built went in blinkers, equipment he wore for the first time during his fifth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby.

Both Derby favorite Journalism and potential second choice Sovereignty schooled in the starting gate Thursday. Journalism did so before turning in yet another strong and eye-catching 1 1/2-mile gallop. Sovereignty went to the gate after his daily gallop, during which he seemed a bit anxious early on before settling into a more relaxed stride during the latter portion of the session.

Sovereignty did get warm in the coat for the second straight morning, a bit more so today than Wednesday. This is something he did not appear to do in his work here last weekend or in earlier breezes this winter at Payson Park.

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Thursday marked the first local appearance for Japanese invader Luxor Cafe after having been released from quarantine the previous day. He spent quite a while jogging in the mile chute, then returned to the barn without ever setting foot on the main track.

The decision on whether or not to enter Built will likely determine the Derby fate of Neoequos, who is currently 21st on the points list and looking for one defection to get into the field. He prepped for a potential Derby start over his home base at Gulfstream Park on Thursday, working four furlongs in 24.18 and 48.13 before galloping well clear of his overmatched company in 1:01.60.

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