Exaggerator, Danzing Candy drill for Kentucky Derby
ARCADIA, Calif. – Kentucky Derby hopefuls Exaggerator and Danzing Candy worked in Southern California on Saturday, two weeks after finishing first and fourth in the $1,000,690 Santa Anita Derby on April 9.
Exaggerator worked five furlongs in 1:00 at Santa Anita, while Danzing Candy worked six furlongs in 1:12 at the San Luis Rey Downs Training Center in San Diego County.
Exaggerator worked alone and ran the final three furlongs in 36 seconds, according to trainer Keith Desormeaux.
“We weren’t looking for him to do anything special,” Desormeaux said. “It was nice and smooth.”
By Curlin, Exaggerator has won 4 of 9 starts and earned $1,671,120 for a partnership that includes
Big Chief Racing and the Head of Plains partnership. Exaggerator is rated as a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7 on the basis of his win in the Santa Anita Derby on a wet racetrack.
Desormeaux said Exaggerator is scheduled to be flown to Churchill Downs early Wednesday morning, with a final workout tentatively scheduled for next Saturday.
“It’s early enough that we can postpone if there is any bad weather,” Desormeaux said. “It shouldn’t matter to him. He loves the mud.”
Danzing Candy started his workout slowly but finished rapidly, according to trainer Cliff Sise. Danzing Candy worked the last three-eighths in 35 seconds, Sise said.
Sise said Danzing Candy will have a workout next Saturday before being flown to Kentucky on May 2.
Danzing Candy has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $358,650 for Ted Aroney and Jim and Dianne Bashor. By Twirling Candy, Danzing Candy won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 12 in his stakes debut.
Smokey Image, the winner of the California Cup Derby in January and four other stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds in 2015, worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Owned by Irvin Racing Stables, Smokey Image was seventh in the Santa Anita Derby. Trained by Carla Gaines, Smokey Image has won 6 of 8 starts and earned $443,445.
Gaines said she timed Smokey Image galloping out five furlongs in 59.20 seconds and six furlongs in 1:11.80. The colt was eager for exercise after a disappointing performance in the Santa Anita Derby.
“He always gallops out well,” she said. “He didn’t have much of a race.”
Gaines said the $150,000 California Chrome Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles at Los Alamitos on April 30 is a possibility for Smokey Image, but she stopped short of committing to that race.
“I haven’t really made any plans for him,” Gaines said.
Kobe’s Back, the leading sprinter in California this year, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 on Saturday in advance of the $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes at seven furlongs on May 7.
Trainer Peter Eurton timed Kobe’s Back galloping out six furlongs in 1:13 after an opening quarter-mile in 25.40 seconds.
“He came home very nice,” Eurton said.
Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Kobe’s Back has won two Grade 2 races this year – the Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs on Feb. 7 and the San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 12.
Kobe’s Back is scheduled to be flown to Churchill Downs on May 2 and will not have a workout there before the Churchill Downs Stakes.