Clocker: Always Dreaming looking more relaxed

Churchill Downs

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Temp. 53

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - All the works are in the books, but there is still plenty of work left to do as horsemen put the key, final touches preparing their horses for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

As of Tuesday, 19 of the 20 prospective Derby starters were on the grounds, with Girvin scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday evening. The weather was crisp and clear for Tuesday’s training session, which included the first local sightings of Irish War Cry, Dubai invader Thunder Snow, and Oaks favorite Paradise Woods.

The biggest question on Tuesday was how would ALWAYS DREAMING react to galloping in draw reins for a second consecutive morning. The answer came early and was good news for trainer Todd Pletcher and the connections of the Florida Derby winner, who was clearly more subdued and cooperative during his 1 3/8-mile gallop than he had been on Monday, or at any time since his arrival here last week other than during his impressive five-furlong work on Friday. With exercise rider Nick Bush aboard, Always Dreaming had his head tucked and appeared resigned to the fate of training in the restrictive equipment, beginning his gallop at a controlled pace. He did swap leads and swerve slightly near midstretch and tossed in a couple of buck jumps for good measure at the usual spot on the clubhouse turn, but otherwise he cooperated completely until he got his head up just a bit moments before being reined in by the pony rider near the half-mile pole. All an all, it was a good and much-improved morning for the highly regarded 3-year-old, whose demeanor from now through post time could go a long way in deciding the outcome of this year’s Derby.

THUNDER SNOW seemed a bit anxious when he first stepped on the track before jogging one mile and galloping a second during the Oaks-Derby session. Although he was a bit amped up at times, it was behavior not unexpected from a young horse making his first visit to Churchill.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays, and analysis

The same could be said for IRISH WAR CRY, who was also on his toes, even tossing his head around several times, while taking in his new surroundings during a routine gallop 48 hours removed from his final Derby work, which came Sunday morning at the relatively tranquil Fair Hill training center.

Recent arrivals GORMLEY and ROYAL MO both galloped two miles for trainer John Shirreffs, each getting his first real feel for the local surface.

Among the most impressive gallopers on Tuesday, as they have been on a regular basis since working here 96 hours earlier, were STATE OF HONOR, PRACTICAL JOKE, and TAPWRIT. State of Honor was particularly strong, cruising along at better than a two-minute pace down the stretch and around the clubhouse turn. Practical Joke trained again without blinkers and will not wear blinkers in the Derby, trainer Chad Brown announced earlier in the morning. He has made a terrific appearance here over the past several days. Tapwrit visited the starting gate along with stablemate PATCH, after which he turned in another strong gallop for Pletcher.

CLASSIC EMPIRE has not looked as flashy in the morning as his stablemate State of Honor, but he does seem to have exited his easy half-mile breeze on Friday in good order while going through his daily paces without any sign of trouble, whether mental or otherwise.

The Bill Mott-trained LOCKDOWN was the only worker during the Oaks-Derby session on Tuesday, blowing out three-eighths, in company, in 34.65. She went easily throughout before pulling up a half-mile in 48.80 for the Oaks.

PARADISE WOODS made a great first appearance since her arrival from California, looking relaxed and happy with her ears pricked while calmly taking in her new surroundings.

TEQUILITA did not turn in an official work, but she did open gallop at better than a two-minute clip, covering a mile from the six-furlong pole back around in 1:55.40 for trainer Michael Matz.