Derby clocker: J Boys Echo shows more enthusiasm than usual in work

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Rainy
Track: Good
Temp.: 65

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Some major rainstorms passed through the area early Saturday morning and continued intermittently during training hours, but nothing could deter J Boys Echo from getting in his final Kentucky Derby work over a racetrack upgraded from muddy to “good” after the renovation break and which yielded some quick workout times after being tightened up by the precipitation.

“It never rains on Derby horses,” trainer Dale Romans said when asked if he was worried about the weather after some foreboding clouds moved right over the racetrack about 20 minutes before J Boys Echo was scheduled to work.

With regular exercise rider Tammy Fox aboard, J Boys Echo was full of run, breaking off at the half-mile pole about 1 1/2 lengths in front of stablemate Little Irishdancer, a 3-year-old maiden filly.

J Boys Echo went his opening quarter in a swift 11.97 and 23.49 seconds, then maintained a short advantage to the wire without urging but with ears pinned, as usual, after a half in 48.37 before continuing under some encouragement into the clubhouse turn to complete the drill solo in 1:01.21.

J Boys Echo continued very willingly on the gallop-out, getting six furlongs in 1:14.12. Generally a pretty lackluster work horse, this was arguably his most impressive breeze since early this winter at Gulfstream Park.

It was a relatively quiet morning on the Derby front, with eight members of the prospective 20-horse field having worked the previous day.

McCraken had an easy morning, jogging about three-quarters of a mile before reversing direction and galloping just short of one mile during the Oaks-Derby training session. He is likely to have his final Derby breeze on Sunday.

Both Lookin At Lee, before dawn, and Untrapped, a couple of hours later, had another good morning, both feeling good and looking full of life during their routine galloping session. Hence also went well, although he did get quite warm, which does seem to be a bit out of character for him. All three will have their final Derby works for trainer Steve Asmussen on Monday.