Kentucky Derby clocker: O Besos finishes strong in work
Churchill Downs
Weather: Clear
Track: Fast
Temperature: 36
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The snow was gone but the cold weather lingered at Churchill Downs on Thursday, where the temperature hovered at a chilly 36 degrees when the racetrack opened for business at 5:15 a.m.
You had to get up early to see the highlight of Thursday’s training session, which was turned in by O Besos, the lone Kentucky Derby worker of the morning, who came out to breeze under the lights shortly after 5:30 a.m. The work was designated as four furlongs from the three-eighths pole by trainer Greg Foley, but it turned out to be so much more.
Working in blinkers, O Besos, a late-striding third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in his most recent start, breezed to the wire in 36.24 seconds. That’s where the real running began. Set down for his best at that point, O Besos responded, completing four furlongs on the clubhouse turn in 48.14 before really accelerating on the bend, hitting the five-furlong mark in 59.70, and continuing down the backstretch to complete six furlongs in 1:12.59 under additional rousing before easing up seven-eighths in 1:26.27.
A son of Kentucky Derby winner Orb, O Besos exits far and away his best effort yet, and gave every indication this morning he handles the local surface well and continues to progress in the right direction. He gave every indication he deserves consideration as one of the liver longshots in this year’s Derby field.
The rest of the morning consisted solely of routine gallops, with everybody looking just to maintain where they are at heading into those key final Derby breezes, the majority of which are scheduled for Friday or Saturday.
Thursday turned out to be gate-schooling day for trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Essential Quality, Caddo River, and Mandaloun. All three went to the track during the special Derby-Oaks training session from 7:30-7:45 rather than their normal time, which is usually before dawn. All three turned in routine gallops once their schooling sessions ended, with Caddo River looking particularly sharp.
As usual, trainer Todd Pletcher sent out the familiar threesome of Derby runners Known Agenda and Dynamic One alongside potential Oaks favorite Malathaat almost immediately after the track reopened following the renovation break. All three looked happy and on their toes, ears pricked, as they have for the last several mornings. They were followed in the next set by Sainthood and Bourbonic, who seemed not quite as aggressive as he had been the previous couple of days.
Trainer Chad Brown’s Derby/Oaks pair of Highly Motivated and Search Results continue to make favorable impressions since shipping locally from Keeneland earlier in the week. Crazy Beautiful is another who repeatedly has touted herself in the morning since returning to Kentucky from Fair Grounds, putting in another strong gallop during the designated training session.
O Besos was one of several pre-dawn Derby/Oaks sightings that included a strong gallop by Travel Column, who may vie for favoritism in the Oaks with Malathaat. Super Stock made a nice appearance in draw reins per usual, and the Mark Casse duo of Soup and Sandwich and Helium showed a sharp contrast in style again Thursday. Helium was full of energy, and noticeably stepped up the tempo once turning down the backstretch to complete his final quarter-mile. Soup and Sandwich, who turned in one of the more impressive pre-Derby works here last weekend, is not the prettiest or most energetic mover around. He just lopes through his morning routine, showing little enthusiasm for his job aside from when it counts, on work and race days.