Hofburg breezes half-mile in Kentucky Derby prep

INDIANTOWN GAP, Fla. - Florida Derby runner-up Hofburg got back to serious business just after sunrise Sunday morning at Payson Park, breezing an impressive-looking half-mile in 49.02 in company with the older, Grade 1-placed and multiple Grade 2 winner Good Samaritan.

The lightly raced Hofburg, beaten three lengths by Audible in the Florida Derby, will make his next start May 5 at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby.

With regular exercise rider Felipe Castro aboard, Hofburg broke off outside and just behind Good Samaritan, went an opening quarter-mile in 25.09, then finished with good energy about a head in front of his classy mate who was urged along a tad more to keep pace through the final furlong. The team galloped out extremely well, five-eighths in 1:01.37, before pulling up six furlongs in 1:15.30.

Hopefully Hofburg will get a better trip in the Derby than trainer Bill Mott had trying to get to Payson Park in time for Sunday’s work. Mott, who was at Keeneland the last several days, was unable to be on hand for the drill after missing his connecting flight to West Palm Beach on Saturday evening.

"You just can't get upset over something like that, especially since I have complete confidence in my staff including both my exercise rider and my assistant Neil Poznansky," said Mott by phone from North Carolina minutes after the work.

"I spoke afterwards with Neil and Christophe Clement, who was on hand for the work, and both said he went really well. And that gallop-out time is terrific for up there."

Both Poznansky, the Sovereign- and Eclipse Award-winning apprentice jockey in 1996, and Castro were equally enthused.

"I thought the work was perfect," Poznansky said. "They went off well, they finished together, the gallop-out was really strong and he looked good doing it."

"He just keeps getting better and better with every work," said Castro, who was instructed by Poznansky to go in :49 and followed those instructions to the letter.

Mott said he gave Hofburg plenty of time to recover from his big effort in the Florida Derby, which came in only his third career start and just his second this season.

“He’s been picking it up, picking it up in the morning prior to this morning’s breeze,” said Mott, who trains the homebred Hofburg for Juddmonte Farm.

“Although he’s short on seasoning, having made only three starts, he’s pretty professional acting," Mott said. "He was very professional down at Gulfstream Park, where he showed in the Florida Derby that he can take dirt well which is a good thing, particularly when you’re not a so-called speed horse. You have to be able to take the kickback and stay in the race. I know the field in the Florida Derby is probably half the size of what it will be in the Derby (Kentucky), but still he handled it well."

Mott said at the moment he's inclined to ship Hofburg to Churchill Downs prior to his next breeze, but added those plans are not etched in stone and are "weather dependent."

“That’s my initial thinking, but it’s not to say I couldn’t work him down here one more time before I go,” Mott said.

Hofburg will re-unite with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in the Kentucky Derby. Ortiz, who rode Hofburg to a fourth-place finish in his career debut last summer at Saratoga, replaces his brother Jose, who is committed to Blue Grass winner Good Magic in the Derby.