Clocker: American Pharoah goes fast effortlessly

[bc_playlist_id:289889:]Churchill Downs

Weather: Clear

Temperature: 48

Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - They saved the best for last Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, the much anticipated final work for Kenetucky Derby favorite American Pharoah, who did not disappoint with an eye-catching five-furlong breeze which took place shortly after the renovation break during the special session reserved for Derby and Oaks horses.

American Pharoah was the last of the locally based Derby contenders currently in the starting lineup (Bold Conquest, still on the outside looking in, will breeze Monday) to have a significant workout prior to the race. Steady showers throughout the local area on Saturday had trainer Bob Baffert ready to call an audible and push the work to Monday if the track did not dry out to his satisfaction, but that issue was never in doubt as the course was listed as fast from the time it opened at 5:45 a.m.

American Pharoah actually got into stride leaving the 5 1/2-furlong pole, quickly settling into a comfortable rhythm while just cruising along throughout under jockey Martin Garcia. Glancing down at the watch, it was hard to believe American Pharoah was clipping off splits of 11.59 seconds, 23.30, and 34.77 for his opening three-eighths as easy as he appeared to be travelling into and around the turn. Turning for home, he changed leads right on cue, continuing to eat up the ground with massive, long strides while moving effortlessly to the wire, ears pinned, in 58.62 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.01.

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Any doubts who the horse to beat will be in this year’s Derby were erased by American Pharoah this morning.

Four Oaks contenders worked on Sunday, the best of the group being the Bill Mott-trained PUCA, who went in company with her now regular workmate Japan. Puca, by design, broke off at the half-mile pole 1 ½ to two lengths in front of her mate and maintained that advantage through a 24.80 opening quarter. Japan, a massive 3-year-old colt, ranged up alongside Puca once settling into the stretch, at which point the smaller filly pinned her ears and readily turned back the challenge, doing so while remaining well in hand to the wire. Puca completed her final quarter in a sharp 23.40 and then pulled well clear of her partner with a strong gallop-out, shading 13 seconds to the mile pole before continuing out willingly around the clubhouse turn.

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“I put him [Japan] in behind because he needs a little education,” explained Mott. “They work nicely together. I thought they were a good team last week so we just did the same thing.”

This morning’s work put the punctuation mark on a very good week for Puca, who may just be sitting on her best yet in the Oaks.

Trainer Larry Jones’ Oaks duo of I’M A CHATTERBOX and LOVELY MARIA both breezed five furlongs, with Lovely Maria the most impressive of the pair. I’m a Chatterbox, perfect in three starts at 3, completed the distance in 1:01.08 under Florent Geroux, showing good speed posting splits of 23.35 and 35.64 for the opening three-eighths before tiring just a bit at the end albeit without a hint of pressure from her rider.

Lovely Maria turned in a swift five-eighths drill while being nudged along regularly to keep her about her business, shading 24 for her final quarter before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13 and change.

SHOOK UP was the first of the Oaks workers this morning, turning in a maintenance half-mile in 49.80 shortly before 6:30 for trainer Steve Asmussen. Shook Up did have her head cocked some around the turn before fanning four to five paths wide into the stretch, perhaps by design to keep her from doing too much just five days out from the race, although she had shown a propensity to toss her head about on occasion during routine gallops earlier in the week.

Among other Derby prospects, TENCENDUR was back on the track and appeared to have good energy one day after working five furlongs here early Saturday morning. FAR RIGHT was his usual, eager self again today, flying by the wire out past the middle of the track as he has done on a somewhat regular basis throughout the week. DANZIG MOON, WAR STORY, OCHO OCHO OCHO, and MR. Z also galloped during the Derby-Oaks training session.

- additional reporting by David Grening