Baffert watches Derby Weekend runners train

[bc_playlist_id:289889:]

LOUISVILLE, Ky.– Bob Baffert, conspicuous by his absence considering that his Derby favorite American Pharoah has been on the grounds at Churchill Downs for more than a week, made a cameo appearance here Tuesday morning. He stayed just long enough to watch American Pharoah gallop and one of his two possible Oaks contenders, Maybellene, breeze during the 15-minute Derby-Oaks training session, which began at 8:30 a.m.

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 46
Track: Fast/turf good

The main track dried out nicely overnight after being muddy/good the previous morning and produced some swift work times, including the 46.97-second half-miles posted by the Baffert duo of Lord Nelson and Callback (19th on the Oaks points list) about 20 minutes after the renovation break. The turf course, however, was deemed “good” by track clockers for the eight horses who worked on the grass later in the morning.

American Pharoah turned in another routine gallop, going at the same time as Maybellene and her workmate, Holiday Camp, began revving up for their breeze. The team appeared to be in work mode by the time they hit the 4 1/2-furlong marker (breaking horses off at the short pole is a tactic Baffert has used on numerous occasions), covering a half-mile to the sixteenth pole in 48.40. They continued out past the wire, completing five-eighths in 1:01.12 with Maybellene, closest to the rail and with jockey Chris Landeros up, having to be urged some to keep pace at the end with her well-held mate.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY WORKOUTS: Video analysis, news, and times

The most impressive of the Oaks candidates to train Tuesday was Oceanwave, who turned in a very high-energy gallop while kept out near the middle of the course. The runner-up in both the Grade 3 Honeybee and Grade 3 Fantasy in her last two starts, Oceanwave appears primed for a work within the next couple of days.

The best of the Derby gallopers Tuesday was Danzig Moon, who worked swiftly Saturday and looked very sharp for the second consecutive morning. Danzig Moon cruised around the track at about a two-minute lick, ripping off several 14-and-change eighth-mile splits prior to pulling up near the five-furlong pole.

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker

Tuesday marked the first local appearances by Derby contender Tencendur and the speedy Condo Commando, among the favorites for the Oaks, who both got in from New York the previous afternoon. Tencendur made a favorable first impression, while Condo Commando did little more than jog a mile the wrong way while getting acclimated to her new surroundings.

Expected to work here Wednesday were War Story, who was the first Derby runner out to train on Tuesday, and Mr. Z.

Lord Nelson and Callback really sizzled after the break, going a half-mile from the pole and having to fan a bit wide off the turn around a slower D. Wayne Lukas-trained worker. Lord Nelson, the hero of the Grade 2 San Vicente this year, held the edge over his Grade 1-winning mate. He was going easiest of the pair, with jockey Miguel Mena up, both at the wire and around to the seven-eighths pole, where he held a head advantage after completing five furlongs in 59.84.

The majority of Tuesday’s turf workers are pointing for graded stakes on the Oaks and Derby undercards. Arguably the most impressive of the group was Golden Soul, the runner-up in the 2013 Kentucky Derby for trainer Dallas Stewart who completed five furlongs over the somewhat-giving course in 1:03.62, with his final quarter in 23.83. Chocolate Ride, a candidate for the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, negotiated the same distance in 1:03.70 but did not finish quite as strong, while Good Deed posted the fastest half-mile clocking, 49.95, despite switching back to her left lead nearing the wire.