Derby Clocker: Justify makes splendid first appearance
CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Clear
Temp: 50
Track: Fast
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Seventeen of the 20 members of this year’s Kentucky Derby field went to the track at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs, but there was no doubt who the center of attention was during the special Derby-Oaks training session. That would be the undefeated Justify, who arrived in Louisville Monday on a flight from California that included three other prospective Derby starters, Solomini, Bolt d’Oro, and Instilled Regard, all of whom also made their first local appearances on a gorgeous, sun-drenched morning Tuesday.
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As advertised, Justify made a spectacular appearance as he jogged clockwise along the outside fence nearly the length of the crowded grandstand before reversing direction and galloping approximately seven furlongs while proving a bit of a handful when finally asked to pull up in the vicinity of the three-eighths pole. The inexperienced Justify appeared to take in his new surroundings calmly and professionally in his first trip outside the confines of his home grounds at Santa Anita.
The remainder of the West Coast contingent had a relatively easy first morning in town as well. Solomini followed the same game plan as his stablemate Justify, jogging then galloping an easy seven furlongs. Bolt d’Oro came onto the track wearing bell boots (equipment that protects a horse’s front feet sometimes used during light training sessions) and simply jogged once around the one-mile oval. Instilled Regard, a strong, powerfully made colt, also jogged one lap accompanied by a stable pony.
Firenze Fire and Enticed were a little more active on their first day in town here Tuesday. Firenze Fire was quite rank at times during his one-mile gallop. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin elected to send Wood runner-up Enticed out late, at 9:15, to jog a half-mile then gallop nearly 1 ½ miles among the general population.
Several of his Justify’s rivals served notice they stand ready to give him all he can handle on Saturday. That group was led by Blue Grass winner Good Magic, who really caught the eye with a spirited gallop out near the middle of the track. Much of the gallop went at far better than a two-minute clip, in a style routinely employed by trainer Chad Brown to condition his horses between races.
Good Magic was followed shortly by Vino Rosso, the last of the Todd Pletcher quartet of Derby starters to gallop, who was on his toes and full of energy once again this morning, and Hofburg, the Florida Derby runner-up. Hofburg is giving every indication he’s come out of his impressive half-mile work on Sunday in good order, as he charged strongly down the stretch, ears pricked, and around the clubhouse turn near the end of the session.
Flameaway was his usual high-energy self again this morning, completing a strong gallop at a two-minute clip for trainer Mark Casse, while My Boy Jack got a little warm on a cool morning.
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