Kentucky Derby clocker: Omaha Beach, War of Will looking strong

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Sunny
Track: Fast
Temp: 49

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The skies were clear, the track was fast, and the action hot and heavy during the 15-minute training session reserved for prospective Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks starters Saturday at Churchill Downs. It was a sharp contrast to the past couple of mornings, when stormy weather and a wet racetrack reduced most of the activity during the Derby/Oaks training window to routine gallops.

OMAHA BEACH, whose scheduled work on Friday was postponed a day due to the prevailing conditions, and WAR OF WILL, coming off a couple of bullet works this month at Keeneland, were the stars of the show on a crisp, clear, and absolutely gorgeous morning under the twin spires.

Omaha Beach, with Julien Leparoux deputizing for regular rider Mike Smith, broke off four lengths behind workmate Kowboy Karma, a 4-year-old stakes winner from the barn of trainer Larry Jones. Omaha Beach quickly made up most of that ground after posting a 23.84-second opening quarter, ranged up on even terms outside his target while starting to get in gear after a 35.02 three-eighths split, then readily drew five lengths clear to the wire, completing five furlongs in 58.91 without any encouragement from Leparoux.

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with comments from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker

The Arkansas Derby winner continued into the turn with nice energy, galloping out six panels in 1:12.69 before gradually beginning to ease up. The work was a culmination of an excellent week here for Omaha Beach and did little to temper the notion that he will likely be the post-time favorite in this year’s Derby field.

War of Will, who shipped over from Keeneland midweek, was no less impressive while returning to a track he has already had success on. With regular rider Tyler Gaffalione in the irons, the multiple graded stakes winner broke at the half-mile marker several lengths behind the older, conditioned-claiming type Starinthemaking. War of Will took a little dirt behind his target on the turn, fanned about five paths wide off the turn, easily overtook his overmatched stablemate nearing midstretch and readily pulled about four lengths clear after completing four furlongs in 47.36, his final quarter in a solid 23.70 under a hold to the wire.

War of Will then extended his advantage with an extremely impressive gallop-out into and around the turn, completing five-eighths in 59.88 before finally easing up three-quarters in 1:13.70. Ready to draw a line through the disappointing performance in the Louisiana Derby off this effort.

PLUS QUE PARFAIT turned in his second work since capturing the UAE Derby on March 30 but only his first official one, fog obscuring his easy, maintenance-like half-mile breeze here last Sunday. Plus Que Parfait went in company this morning with stablemate Al Taweel, an older, midpriced conditioned-claiming winner in his last start at Tampa Bay Downs.

The pair were on even terms through an opening quarter in 23.96 before Plus Que Parfait edged a length clear turning into the stretch after three-eighths in 35.81. He then maintained the advantage going easily to the wire after completing five furlongs in 1:01.84 before galloping out six panels more than four lengths best in 1:15.81.

SIGNALMAN still needs some help to draw into the Derby lineup. A good work horse by nature, the Grade 2 winner covered five furlongs in company in 1:00.35, his final quarter in 25.01, drawing well clear of his mate on the gallop-out after six panels in a respectable 1:13.81.

Like Signalman, DUNBAR ROAD needs a couple of scratches to run in the Oaks, much to the dismay of trainer Chad Brown, who is bullish on her chances if she does start. The lightly raced but talented filly was the first to breeze over the freshly renovated track during the Derby/Oaks session, going five furlongs in company with Alter Moon in 24.94, 36.55, 1:01.41, sticking her head in front at the wire while well within herself throughout. She gradually extended her advantage galloping out a very strong three-quarters in 1:14.55.

Oaks contender CHOCOLATE KISSES was one of the first workers of the morning, going shortly after the track opened at 5:15 a.m., an easy half-mile in 48.00, out five panels in 1:01.

Among the more prominent non-Derby/Oaks workers here Saturday were MCKINZIE, who zipped five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 58.81 before galloping out an eye-catching six panels in 1:11.26 in company with Solomini, and NEWSPAPEROFRECORD, a super easy main-track half-mile in 49.63, out in 1:02.64, with recent Grade 3 stakes winner Cambier Parc.