Cyberknife, Zozos start busy morning of Kentucky Derby workouts
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Cyberknife and Zozos, two of the three horses trainer Brad Cox plans to run in the Kentucky Derby one week hence, were the first two Derby runners to drill Saturday morning here at Churchill Downs, beginning a parade of works that will pick up after the break at 7:30 a.m.
Cyberknife and Zozos were among the first horses on the track at 5:15 a.m. when the track opened. They began their works at the five-furlong pole, with Cyberknife starting about one length back. They were even at the finish line, so Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch credited Cyberknife with a five-furlong drill in 58.80 seconds, Zozos one-fifth slower, in 59 flat. Welsch had them going out the next furlong in 12.75.
Florent Geroux, who rides Cyberknife in the Derby, was aboard for the work. Flavien Prat worked Zozos. Prat rides Zandon for trainer Chad Brown in the Derby. Manny Franco rides Zozos in the Derby.
"Really liked it," Cox said of the works, which he watched from the front side. "Good works. Both seemed in hand, had a strong gallop-out."
Cyberknife most recently won the Arkansas Derby. Zozos was second in the Louisiana Derby to Epicenter.
Cox's third horse, Lexington Stakes winner Tawny Port, was among those scheduled to work at 7:30. Cox on Saturday said Ricardo Santana Jr. had been given the Derby mount.