2026 Kentucky Derby Clocker: Further Ado continues to add to the hype with sharp final work

Churchill Downs
Saturday, April 25
Weather: Hazy
Temperature: 58°
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Brad Cox took center stage Saturday morning at Churchill Downs and got rave reviews for the workout performances from all three of his Kentucky Derby contenders – Further Ado, Commandment, and Fulleffort. Cox's trio worked five furlongs from the 4 1/2-furlong pole, Further Ado and Commandment over a racetrack officially listed as “good” when opening at 5:15 a.m. following overnight rains, the latter on a track upgraded to “fast” by the time he breezed two hours later.

Further Ado was first of the Cox trio to go and the Blue Grass winner set the tone for the morning, turning in yet another razor-sharp drill over the local surface with jockey John Velazquez aboard. Working solo, Further Ado was a bit eager to begin, before coming to hand nicely on the opening bend. Further Ado posted a 36.61-second opening three-furlong split, before completing five furlongs, a sixteenth of a mile past the wire, in 1:00.21. He continued to cruise along strongly into the turn, to gallop-out six furlongs in 1:13.06. He was then forced to ease up a bit prematurely at the end of the gallop-out, with the siren blaring noting there had been an incident elsewhere on the track.

Further Ado has looked as good as any member of the prospective Derby lineup since his arrival locally earlier this month and as a result, is among the buzz horses coming into the race.

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Commandment worked in company with the lightly-raced maiden Rock Music, covering the same five furlongs in 25.63, 49.16, 1:01.23 in easy fashion. He responded when nudged a bit into the turn to gallop-out six furlongs very willingly, in 1:14.41, running well clear of his mate in the process. He then proceeded to continue out the length of the backstretch before finally pulling up well past the half-mile pole.

Never the flashiest of work horses, but steady once again while always showing off a high-level of endurance during the latter stages of his breezes.

Fulleffort highlighted the special Derby-Oaks training session at 7:15 with another very impressive effort over the main track, pretty much answering the question about his ability to handle the transition from synthetic to dirt track. The Jeff Ruby winner went five furlongs in 59.09, completing his final three furlongs in 34.59 seconds under just a little light encouragement at the end. He then maintained that pace into and around the turn, going out six furlongs in 1:11.51 before easing up seven furlongs in 1:25.24.

Fulleffort has certainly raised his status since coming to town and could prove a live Derby longshot at double-digit odds next Saturday despite being poorly drawn in post 20.

Right to Party joined Fulleffort on the Derby work tab after the renovation break, getting five furlongs in 1:01.47 off a 36.73 opening three-furlong split, sticking his head in front at the wire inside work mate Very Connected but while being sharply roused to do so. He remained under some urging to maintain that advantage going out six furlongs in 1:14.76, ultimately easing up a mile in 1:43.01.

There was only one Oaks worker during the course of the morning, Gazelle runner-up Pashmina, who was under a good hold completing a maintenance half-mile over the fast track in 50.15.

Other noteworthy developments during the Derby-Oaks training window included yet another terrific looking appearance by Chief Wallabee, who has also flourished training under the Twin Spires over the past couple of weeks. With or without the blinkers he will wear for the first time on Derby day. He is scheduled to work on Sunday along with California invaders Pavlovian, Potente and Intrepido as well as the Riley Mott trained duo of Incredibolt and Albus.

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