Kentucky Derby Clocker: War Story, Mr. Z work five furlongs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After several slow days on the Kentucky Derby workout front, things began to pick up Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs, where both War Story and Mr. Z turned in five-furlong works and American Pharoah really got to stretch his legs for the first time since arriving here last week.

The weather was overcast, with a brief shower thrown in shortly before the renovation break, while the temperature hovered in the low to mid-50s throughout the morning.[bc_playlist_id:289889:]

WAR STORY was among the first horses on the track when the gates opened at 5:45 a.m., although it took him a while before he began his work. He spent some time loosening up by jogging to the half-mile pole and back again before finally breaking off at the five-eighths marker about 10 minutes later.

War Story then cruised through what appeared to be little more than a maintenance-type breeze, posting splits of 24.74 seconds and 36.44 before completing the distance in 1:01.79 while never being asked. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.60. Nothing flashy here and quite a turnabout from the bullet 58.80-second drill he turned in 10 days prior to his third-place finish in the Louisiana Derby.

MR. Z came out immediately after the renovation break, and unlike War Story, he wasted little time before getting down to business. Mr. Z was rank and eager to go approaching the pole but quickly settled into a comfortable stride after breaking off a length behind stablemate Majestico. Mr. Z was on even terms with his partner turning for home after a 36.73 opening three-furlong split. The duo remained noses apart to the wire, with neither under much encouragement to the end.

Mr. Z, who completed five furlongs in 1:00.99, maintained a straight path to the line, something he has not always done on race day, but dropped about two lengths back on the gallop-out. This was a decent workout but nothing likely to enhance his status as one of the longer shots in this year’s Derby lineup.

“I thought it was fine. It was OK,” said trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “We don’t get paid at 8:30 in the morning. He’s run a lot. He’s probably the most seasoned horse in the race. We didn’t want to do a lot. He seems to have an affinity for the racetrack.”

AMERICAN PHAROAH kicked it up a notch or two Wednesday after just turning in routine gallops over the previous few mornings. The Derby favorite cruised around at better than a two-minute lick most of the way, going from the three-eighths pole to the wire in 43.09. He looked happy and healthy as he passed by the wire and continued about his business, still moving strongly into and around the clubhouse turn. American Pharoah is scheduled to have his final Derby work here Sunday.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

Trainer Todd Pletcher had four of his five potential Derby starters on the track here for the first time Wednesday, with only Carpe Diem left behind at Keeneland. MATERIALITY obviously traveled and bounced out of his sharp work last Saturday at Palm Beach Downs very well. The Florida Derby winner came down the stretch alongside the energetic DANZIG MOON, both making favorable impressions, as did Wood Memorial runner-up TENCENDUR.

Down in south Florida, UPSTART mirrored American Pharoah’s midweek training session by two-minute licking a mile Wednesday at Palm Meadows.

“He had a big, open gallop,” said trainer Rick Violette. “He literally went a mile in two minutes. He pulled up great, continues to move forward. He’s doing terrific.”

Violette said Upstart, the Holy Bull Stakes winner and Florida Derby runner-up, will have his final Derby work at Palm Meadows either Saturday or Sunday.

At Santa Anita, OCHO OCHO OCHO, third last time out in the Blue Grass Stakes, worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:13.60 on Wednesday for trainer Jim Cassidy.

Elvis Trujillo was up for the work. Cassidy said Trujillo will have the mount for the Derby.

Last week, Cassidy said he hoped to get Kent Desormeaux for Ocho Ocho Ocho, but Desormeaux has another option, Keen Ice, currently 21st on the points list but expected to make the Derby field since at least two of the current top 20 – Madefromlucky and Stanford – are far from certain to run.

Cassidy said Ocho Ocho Ocho will fly Friday to Kentucky and work three furlongs there next Wednesday.

– additional reporting by Nicole Russo and Jay Privman