Kentucky Derby: Busy morning of workouts for contenders

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Beginning with Carpe Diem well before dawn at Keeneland and concluding with Dortmund later in the morning three time zones away at Santa Anita, a total of 10 prospects for the May 2 Kentucky Derby worked Saturday at seven different locales.

In addition to Carpe Diem and Dortmund, works were turned in by Firing Line at Santa Anita, Frosted and Upstart at Palm Meadows, El Kabeir at Belmont, Mubtaahij at Arlington, International Star at the Churchill Downs Training facility, and here at Churchill Downs by Keen Ice and Tencendur.

They are among 22 horses seeking spots in this year’s Derby field, which is limited to 20 runners. Entries are taken Wednesday. As of now, the two on the outside looking in, in points order, are Frammento and Bold Conquest.

Carpe Diem was timed in 48.60 seconds for a half-mile under jockey John Velazquez. He worked over a fast track before the rain arrived.

His trainer, Todd Pletcher, called it “a good, progressive breeze, every eighth faster than the previous.”

“When it was time to pull him up, Johnny had to reach up and grab him,” Pletcher said. “I didn’t expect anything different, but it’s good to see that all the same.”

Pletcher said it was so dark he had Velazquez wear a reflector so he could track the progress of Carpe Diem during the work.

“It was easier to see the horse than my stopwatch,” he said.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

Carpe Diem is scheduled to van over to Churchill on Monday. He remained at Keeneland because of his affinity for a track where he has won both the Breeders’ Futurity and Blue Grass.

“I think over the last 10 or 15 years or whatever it’s been since Funny Cide won the Derby without having a work over the track, it’s less and less important that horses breeze over the Churchill surface,” Pletcher said.

Dortmund, expected to be the second choice in the Derby behind his Bob Baffert-trained stablemate, American Pharoah, worked six furlongs in 1:13.60 on a fast track with jockey Martin Garcia aboard.

“Everything went well,” Baffert said by phone from California. “He really picked it up. He’s doing great. His mind is great. There’s been no regression.”

Earlier at Santa Anita, Firing Line worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 with jockey Gary Stevens. He had a stronger work a week earlier. This was strictly for maintenance.

“It was a chance to stretch his legs,” said trainer Simon Callaghan. “He doesn’t need to be doing super-quick breezes.”

Both Dortmund and Firing Line, along with Bolo, are scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Sunday.

At Palm Meadows, both Frosted (1:01.10) and Upstart (1:00.23) worked five furlongs over a fast track. Both are scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Tuesday.

At Belmont Park, El Kabeir zipped a half-mile in 47 seconds on a fast main track. He is scheduled to travel here by van, arriving Monday.

At Arlington, Mubtaahij worked a half-mile over Polytrack. The work was missed by track clockers. According to the electronic tracking devices trainer Mike de Kock outfits on his horses, Mubtaahij’s time was 49.70.

And finally here in Louisville, there were three works at two sites. Keen Ice (1:02.04) and Tencendur (1:00.07) both worked five furlongs at Churchill Downs, while International Star went a half-mile in 50.80 at the nearby Churchill Downs Training facility with jockey Miguel Mena aboard. The track surface was rated fast at both places as the heavier rain did not arrive until after the works were complete.

American Pharoah, the Derby favorite, is scheduled to work Sunday here at Churchill Downs. Baffert was scheduled to arrive here Saturday night after spending Saturday morning at Santa Anita.

– additional reporting by Steve Andersen, Jim Dunleavy, David Grening, Marcus Hersh, Byron King, Nicole Russo, and Mike Welsch