Kentucky Derby Clocker: Improbable leads the way on busy morning

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Conditions were perfect at Churchill Downs on Monday morning, both weather- and track-wise, a combination that kept the local clockers extremely busy from the time training hours began at 5:15 a.m. right up to the closing bell. The five-hour session included the specially designated 15-minute window for Derby/Oaks training that begins daily at 7:30 a.m.

Four potential Kentucky Derby starters and two Oaks fillies worked under sunny skies as the temperature rose into the mid-50s by the time they made their way onto the track following the first renovation break. The group included Improbable, with trainer Bob Baffert having flown in Sunday night to be on hand for his first work since a second-place finish in the Arkansas Derby on April 13, and Wood Memorial winner Tacitus

Improbable wasted little time starting the show, breezing four furlongs in quick splits of 23.22 and 48.09 seconds before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.87 and easing up three-quarters in 1:16.94. The chestnut just cruised to the wire after proving a bit eager away from the pole in a maintenance-type drill made noteworthy by the fact he was not equipped with blinkers. Improbable ran with blinkers on in the Arkansas Derby. It was a very promising prelude to what figures to be a more serious drill here next weekend.

By My Standards was up next and, fitting of a horse who will have six weeks between starts by the time he steps into the starting gate for the Derby, was asked to do more than the others this morning, going six furlongs from the five-eighths pole with jockey Gabe Saez aboard. The Louisiana Derby winner impressed once again, posting a final clocking of 1:12.80 while finishing on the clubhouse turn after registering early splits of 24.69, 36.22, and 1:00.08 to the wire. As has been the case in his previous two works, By My Standards was full of run but well held early and galloped out with terrific energy. He pulled up after seven-eighths in 1:25.92.

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Rebel winner Long Range Toddy, like Improbable back to work just nine days after a very disappointing performance over the sloppy racetrack in the Arkansas Derby, breezed five furlongs in splits of 25.16, 36.84, and 1:02.48, going easily throughout, before going out six panels in 1:16.31 in somewhat typical fashion for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Tacitus was the fourth and last of the Derby workers, biding his time galloping a full mile before breezing four furlongs inside stablemate Ballagh Rocks in splits of 25.72 and 50.11. Tacitus maintained a short advantage over his workmate going easily down the stretch before drawing off readily. He galloped out strongly in 1:02.93 and eased up three-quarters of a mile in 1:16.25. Tacitus has never been much of a work horse, and while the final time was average at best, the energy he showed finishing – and especially on the gallop-out – seemed much improved over previous breezes witnessed prior to his final two Derby prep races.

Monday’s two Oaks workers were Champagne Anyone, with Chris Landeros aboard, going five furlongs outside stablemate Kearny County in 59.80, and Street Band, who completed the same distance in 1:00.40 going solo with jockey Sophie Doyle up.

At Gulfstream Park, Cookie Dough, who is a terrific work horse, exploded through five furlongs from the 4 1/2-furlong marker in 57.32 with splits of 11.01, 22.01 and 45.41 along the way, timing the move off the XBTV video. She was urged along some through the finish line, completing her work a sixteenth of a mile past the finish line, then was tapped with a right-hand stick three times to gallop out six panels in 1:11.06, continuing out with excellent energy to ease up seven-eighths in 1:25.65 and a mile in 1:40.42. Cookie Dough, third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Champagne Anyone, after setting the pace in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, will need one defection to draw into the starting lineup when the Kentucky Oaks is drawn Monday.