Ballagh Rocks, Kasaqui work bullets for Woodford Reserve Turf Classic

Two horses that could join the lineup for the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic in the race preceding the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs turned in bullet workouts Tuesday morning, with Ballagh Rocks breezing five furlongs in 1:00.60 around the cones on the Churchill turf and Kasaqui working the same distance in 59.80 seconds on dirt at Keeneland.

They are expected to be a part of what should be a large, closely matched field. Others considered as possible starters by Dan Bork, Churchill’s assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator, include Bal a Bali, Beach Patrol, Can’thelpbelieving, Conquest Panthera, Divisidero, Enterprising, Flatlined, Oscar Nominated, and World Approval.

Of that group, Bal a Bali, Beach Patrol, Divisidero, and World Approval are already Grade 1 winners, with Divisidero notably winning this stakes a year ago.

Kasaqui also competed in last year’s Woodford Reserve and was fortunate to escape injury when he fell after he clipped heels midway on the second turn, unseating jockey Paco Lopez. The horse quickly recovered from the spill, taking the Arlington Handicap and running second in the Arlington Million last summer.

This year, Kasaqui has been the runner-up twice in as many starts, in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes on Feb. 11 in his seasonal bow and then most recently in the Mervin Muniz Memorial at Fair Grounds on April 1, a race in which he finished between victorious Enterprising and third-place Oscar Nominated in a three-horse photo finish.