Kentucky Derby clocker: Essential Quality giving off positive vibes during early morning gallop
Tuesday, April 27
Churchill Downs
Weather: Sunny
Track: Fast
Temp: 67
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The gang’s all here.
All 20 Kentucky Derby starters are now on the grounds, 17 of whom went out to train in one form or another under balmy skies Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs. Unfortunately, the pleasant conditions may be short lived, with rain in the forecast for the local area on Wednesday and into Thursday morning.
As expected, you had to get up early to see the Derby favorite, Essential Quality, train immediately after the track opened at 5:15 a.m.. But it was worth the lost sleep as the undefeated Blue Grass winner looked as good as he has all week, relaxed and a picture of health, while galloping a mile and one-half giving off those positive vibes this morning. He was followed not far behind by Mandaloun, who continues to make an excellent impression of his own, turning in another impressive-looking gallop, albeit while a bit more keyed up than his mate.
Only two other Derby contenders trained under the lights, including Keepmeinmind, he of the sharp and surprisingly fast final Derby work last weekend, who was under a firm hold by his rider while obviously wanting to do more than allowed this morning. O Besos was the fourth and final of the pre-dawn Derby gallopers during a session that also featured an appearance by Oaks morning-line favorite Malathaat.
The bulk of the activity took place during the Derby-Oaks session with perhaps the biggest surprise the lack of activity by Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie, who never left his pony’s side and did little more than jog during his tenure on the track. I will be watching with interest to see what his itinerary might include on Wednesday before deciding if it’s time to bring out the red flag. Meanwhile, fellow California invader and Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World was out for a routine gallop and appeared to handle the new surroundings readily enough exiting a strong-looking final Derby workout last weekend on the West Coast.
Known Agenda, who unfortunately for his connections drew the dreaded inside post at the Derby draw several hours later, continues to look good on a regular basis, galloping along at an even and relaxed pace with those ears pricked throughout once again. He led a trio of Todd Pletcher Derby gallopers that included Dynamic One and Sainthood in the barn’s first set during the special session. They were followed a short while later by Bourbonic, who also fared poorly at the draw, winding up on the extreme outside in post 20.
I will also take close note of Highly Motivated on Wednesday after the Blue Grass runner-up did not appear to be moving as smoothly or with the same kind of energy he had displayed during routine gallops observed following his local arrival last week. Today marked his first serious morning session since a solid five-furlong work here Saturday.
The Mark Casse-trained pair of Soup and Sandwich and Helium had another uneventful day with the former, again not the prettiest mover during routine gallops, actually showing a little more spark than usual for a second consecutive morning.
The one Oaks filly most compromised by the draw for Friday’s big event was Millefeuille, who will break from the extreme outside in post position 14. She had a second straight good morning exiting an impressive-looking work of her own here Saturday.