Charge It, Simplification get back to work for Kentucky Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Charge It and Simplification, the second and third finishers respectively in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on April 2 at Gulfstream Park, each turned in the first of their three scheduled works prior to the Kentucky Derby approximately 30 minutes and 40 miles apart early Friday morning in South Florida.

Charge It, who finished second – just 1 1/4 lengths behind White Abarrio – despite racing greenly through the stretch in the Florida Derby, was the first of the two Kentucky Derby hopefuls to work Friday. He went four furlongs in 47.77 seconds at Palm Beach Downs, per trainer Todd Pletcher.

“He worked super,” said Pletcher, who timed Charge It going an opening quarter in 24.60 and galloping out five-eighths in 1:00.60. “He was straight as an arrow and changed leads right on cue this morning. A couple of more breezes like that should have him a lot more professional when he runs in the Derby.”

Charge It did not keep a straight path, lugging in on a couple of occasions, during the stretch run of the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, which was only the third lifetime start for the relatively inexperienced Whisper Hill Farm homebred. Pletcher said Charge It would ship to Louisville on Saturday and have his penultimate Derby work next Friday at Churchill Downs.

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Simplification worked shortly after the renovation break over his home base at Gulfstream Park, breezing an easy five furlongs in 1:01.83, his final quarter in 24.02 under jockey Junior Alvarado, who sat still as a statue aboard the Fountain of Youth winner throughout. Simplification then proceeded to gallop out with plenty of energy, going six furlongs in 1:14.74 before ultimately easing up after a mile in 1:40.58 while finishing into a moderate headwind down the stretch.

The work was the first for Simplification since he finished third, one length behind Charge It, after prompting and contesting much of the early pace in the Florida Derby.

“He worked very well,” trainer Antonio Sano said immediately afterward. “He went very easy, very quiet. It was a different work than the one before the Florida Derby, when he went too speedy. He galloped out very nicely today. Just the way we wanted.”

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Simplification, who will have all of his serious Derby preparations at Gulfstream Park, also is scheduled to work again next Friday.

Although Alvarado was aboard for the work, Sano said that as of now he is expecting to have Jose Ortiz ride Simplification once again in the Derby. Ortiz, who rode Simplification in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby, also is the regular jockey for Wood Memorial runner-up Early Up, who as of Friday was also under consideration to compete in this year’s Derby.