Always Dreaming, Gunnevera put in final Florida workouts for Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Always Dreaming and Gunnevera will say goodbye to south Florida in the next few days – but not before the winners of the Grade 1 Florida Derby and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here this winter turned in their final local workouts Friday for the Kentucky Derby.

Always Dreaming and stablemate Patch, who is also being pointed to the Derby by trainer Todd Pletcher, worked at their winter home, the Palm Beach Downs training center in Delray. Gunnevera worked at his permanent residence at Gulfstream Park West.

Going solo shortly after sunrise with jockey John Velazquez aboard, Always Dreaming eased away from the five-furlong pole in 13.22 seconds, at which point Pletcher, via walkie-talkie, asked Velazquez to pick up the pace just a bit. Always Dreaming complied, hitting the top of the stretch after three-eighths in 37.46 while hugging the rail leaving the turn.

Pletcher again instructed his rider to let Always Dreaming run on just a bit from the eighth pole. The Florida Derby winner completed five furlongs in 1:01.56, his ears pricked at the wire, before galloping out with his usual good energy, six furlongs in 1:14.25, up seven-eighths in 1:29.44.

Pletcher was noticeably pleased after the work.

“That was typical from Always Dreaming – nice, steady, smooth, relaxed, strong gallop-out, moving well,” Pletcher said. “I’m very happy. [It was] just more of the same. The track is a little deeper, a little demanding. For him to gallop out like he did over this track was great. From watching all the horses we breeze here on this track, not too many of them make it that far.”

Patch began his work as Always Dreaming was pulling up, going in company with Sonic Mule. The pair left the five-furlong pole with good energy, clipping off splits of 12.11, 23.80, and 36.53 before completing the distance in 1:01.30, with Patch, nearest the rail, under more encouragement to finish than his mate. Patch did gallop out best of the duo, finishing six furlongs about a length clear in 1:15.35.

“That was pretty much typical Patch right there,” Pletcher said of the Louisiana Derby runner-up. “He’s pretty much a workmanlike breeze horse, but it was fine.”

Velazquez will be aboard Always Dreaming in the Derby; Pletcher said Friday he has not yet firmed up a rider for Patch.

Gunnevera had his regular work rider, Edgard Zayas, up again Friday, although Javier Castellano will be aboard in the Derby. Gunnevera broke off at the five-furlong pole and was under some encouragement from Zayas down the backstretch, posting early splits of 12.08, 24.59, and 36.53 to the top of the stretch. He finished willingly while never really asked much down the lane, completing five furlongs in 1:00.88 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.38.

“I am very happy with my horse,” trainer Antonio Sano said. “He did it very easy. The Derby will be a very difficult race, but my horse ... I think he has a very good chance to win.”

When asked if he was nervous before Gunnevera’s final major Derby prep, Sano said, “I’m nervous every day, but I am confident my horse will get a mile and one-quarter. The extra distance will be better for me.”

Zayas said he believed Friday’s work was even better than Gunnevera’s five-furlong breeze one week earlier.

“Last week, I thought he was a little bit lazy, but today, he was a little bit better,” Zayas said. “At the beginning, I got him into the bit, then sat on him, and in the stretch, I let him run a little, and he finished up very well. I think the track was a little deep today. I thought he went faster than the final time.”

Sano said he might work Gunnevera again at Churchill Downs.

“I might have Castellano breeze him a very easy half-mile next Saturday,” Sano said. “I’m not sure yet.”

Gunnevera was scheduled to leave by van for Louisville, Ky., at 8 a.m. Saturday, while the Pletcher pair is scheduled to be flown to Kentucky on Tuesday.

Slacks of Course wins maiden

Jacks or Better Farm’s homebred Slacks of Course won the season’s first open maiden 2-year-old race of the season, edging out a game The Chamo for a hard-fought victory under Tyler Gaffalione on Thursday.

Slacks of Course, a full brother to Grade 3 winner Dogwood Trail, battled eyeball to eyeball with The Chamo while nearest the rail throughout the 4 1/2-furlong dash before narrowly prevailing in his debut. He paid $2.80.

“He still has a lot to learn, he’s still a baby,” winning trainer Ralph Nicks said. “[Owner and breeder Fred Brei] obviously gets them very ready at the farm. When they come in, it’s more of an education thing. He’ll get better down the road.”

Slacks of Course was one of four winners on Thursday’s card for Gaffalione, the meet’s leading rider. Jockey Leonel Reyes also had a big day Thursday, registering a hat trick that included both ends of the late daily double.