Kentucky Derby: Crown Pride takes it easy
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Crown Pride, Japan’s hope for the Kentucky Derby, had, by his standards, a relatively sedate morning of training Saturday. Crown Pride did his usual assortment of figure-eights and circles in the Churchill Downs chute before venturing onto the main dirt oval, where he galloped about 1 1/2 miles, according to rider and assistant trainer Masa Matsuda.
Crown Pride spent more time on the track than any of the American hopefuls for the Derby but wasn’t out as long as during some other recent sessions here. At home, Matsuda said, Crown Pride might spend as much as 90 minutes going through his training regimen.
Crown Pride, winner of the UAE Derby on March 26, will train Sunday much like he did Saturday, but has a lighter day scheduled for Monday, Matsuda said. Trainer Koichi Shintani arrives Tuesday, and Crown Pride will have a full-on timed workout Wednesday.