Kentucky Derby clocker report: Epicenter among the early birds training in the rain
CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Raining
Temp: 65
Track: Sloppy
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Weather was the story on Tuesday at Churchill Downs, with rain, heavy at times, beginning just as the track opened for training and continuing right up to the first renovation break nearly two hours later. The strip was sealed and sloppy the entire morning, including during the special Kentucky Derby/Oaks session at 7:30 a.m.
Rain gear was a necessity for the riders of a handful of Derby contenders who trained pre-dawn. That group was led by EPICENTER, the second choice in the morning line for this year’s Run for the Roses, and also included all three of trainer Brad Cox’s entrants, CYBERKNIFE, ZOZOS and TAWNY PORT. CLASSIC CAUSEWAY also was among the early group. None did much more than light gallops over the wet track. Three of the big four in Friday’s Oaks also trained in the rain, beginning with SECRET OATH and followed shortly by ECHO ZULU and the undefeated KATHLEEN O., with caution the order of the day under the prevailing conditions.
The Derby/Oaks session began with the first WHITE ABARRIO sighting here, although the Florida Derby winner, equipped with bell boots, did little more than jog after not arriving here until 4:30 a.m. Monday morning. Recent arrival MESSIER and TAIBA also got in routine gallops for a second straight morning. Taiba made a very favorable impression, looking quite happy with ears pricked coming by the wire and continuing into and around the clubhouse turn.
Trainer Chad Brown called an audible because of the weather and track conditions, sending the Derby morning-line favorite ZANDON out for an easy jog at 7:30 while saying afterward he prefers not to gallop him over the sealed/sloppy going while hopeful the strip will dry out sufficiently to have the Blue Grass winner back on his normal routine here Wednesday.
SMILE HAPPY and TIZ THE BOMB looked good again this morning over the wet footing, with Smile Happy picking up the bit and finishing his gallop full of energy upon entering the backstretch the second time around. The Oaks entrant COCKTAIL MOMENTS ran up on stablemate Tiz the Bomb at the wire. The frisky Cocktail Moments continues to prove a handful no matter the track conditions.
SIMPLIFICATION had another routine morning. The Fountain of Youth winner is not one to wow anybody during his regular gallops but has been as good as anyone in the field on work day over the past several weeks.
TURNERLOOSE was full of herself again today, obviously having no issue with the sloppy footing, although she did not fare well at Monday’s draw when assigned the outside post 14 for Friday’s Oaks.
The weather could also prove a major factor for the Oaks, with a forecast still calling for an 80 percent chance of rain Friday.