Kentucky Derby clocker: Master Fencer makes an appearance

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Sunny
Track: Fast
Temp.: 66

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The first local appearances of Japan’s Master Fencer and New York invaders Tax and Haikal were among the highlights during the Oaks/Derby training session that took place under ideal conditions Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

Invoking memories of countryman Lani’s marathon training sessions prior to the 2016 Derby, Master Fencer was among the first horses on the track at 7:30 p.m., his head covered in what can best be described as a blinkered hood equipped with ear muffs. And while his training regimen Tuesday did not rival Lani’s exhausting routine three years earlier, Master Fencer, with his Derby rider Julien Leparoux aboard, did spend a full half-hour on the track and schooling in the paddock. He did get a little warm along the way, but overall made a decent first appearance here after having spent the previous several mornings training at Keeneland.

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Tax made the most favorable impression of all the new faces here today, turning in a strong and lively gallop, ears up, exiting his troubled second-place finish in the Wood Memorial and a solid work over the Belmont Park training track last Thursday. Haikal had himself a routine gallop, while Gray Magician merely jogged over the course, going out well before the Oaks/Derby session.

Several hours before drawing post 12 and being established the 4-1 morning-line Derby favorite, Omaha Beach looked every bit the one to beat following yet another very impressive morning, dragging his rider around, head bowed, while training without the draw reins he was equipped in on Monday.

Plus Que Parfait also got another big thumbs up while continuing to flourish exiting his final Derby work on Saturday.

Game Winner has taken things relatively easy since his arrival on Saturday. After simply jogging the previous two mornings, the Santa Anita Derby runner-up schooled in the starting gate then galloped just a leisurely six furlongs before pulling up and returning to the barn on Tuesday. He was last of all the Derby contenders to train for a second consecutive morning, immediately after the final renovation break.

War of Will remains sharp exiting his much-heralded work this past Saturday, although his Derby stock may have dipped a bit in some eyes after he drew the dreaded rail at Tuesday’s post-position draw.

Tuesday also marked the first local sighting of Oaks favorite Bellafina. She certainly doesn’t have the prettiest way of going in the morning, although West Coast regulars report that’s pretty much par for the course for her during training hours. Visual impressions aside, her biggest issue Friday may be staying nine furlongs in an Oaks lineup loaded with speed.

Positive Spirit, another recent arrival, also had a very good morning galloping aggressively with her ears pricked throughout, while Chocolate Kisses caught the eye for a second straight morning, at one point covering a mile in 2:03, while galloping in the middle of the racetrack throughout. She has the look of a live, late-running longshot in the Oaks.