LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jockey Kazushi Kimura has gotten acquainted with his Kentucky Derby mount T O Password the last couple of mornings at Churchill Downs. Tuesday was a better experience than Monday. After nearly being unseated by T O Password during a routine gallop Monday morning when the horse spooked from something in the stretch, Kimura got a much better feeling from his Derby longshot when he guided him through a five-furlong move in 1:00.06 over Churchill’s main track. T O Password and his more highly regarded Japan compatriot Forever Young put in the final two workouts for the 22 horses entered in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. T O Password only just arrived in Kentucky over the weekend and his first two mornings on the track he was getting quite hot. Monday, he shied from something while galloping through the stretch under Kimura. Tuesday, however, T O Password looked more polished. He started his work about 1 1/2 lengths behind work mate T O Saint Denis – who runs in Friday’s $750,000 Alysheba Stakes - came up alongside him near the quarter pole and got his final three furlongs in 35.82 seconds while finishing a half-length in front. “I want to teach [him to run] from behind and get kickback,” Kimura said. “He got some dirt but it was not a problem, it’s all a good sign. For Derby Day, 20 horses, you never know what’s going to happen.” :: DRF Kentucky Derby Package: Save on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more. T O Password worked in a set of clear blinkers that actually covered the top of his eyes. He will not wear them in the Derby, according to trainer Daisuke Takayanagi. T O Password has won his only two starts, though both were at 1 1/8 miles. He won the Fukuryu Stakes in front-running fashion, holding on by just a head. “He doesn’t have to get to the lead, we would say midpack or something, maintain his own rhythm and try to finish strong,” Takayanagi said. Leonatus in 1883 is the only horse to win the Kentucky Derby having made only two starts. Since 1937, only five horses have tried to do it, the last being Taiba, who finished sixth in 2022. Takayanagi said running “only twice may be a little bit of a negative but we would just say it’s a mystery but maybe make history.” Japanese-based horses are winless in six starts in the Derby. Derma Sotogake finished sixth last year. Forever Young comes in undefeated in five starts, including wins this year in the Saudi Derby and the UAE Derby. Tuesday, he worked five furlongs in 1:02,88, getting his final quarter in 23.78 seconds under Yusaku Oka, the assistant trainer to Yoshito Yahagi. He worked by himself whereas last week he followed another horse in a slower six-furlong move. “The ground was bad today, but he handled it very well,” Oka said. “He moved well and I think we did a good job for a final breeze.” Oka countered the theory last week’s work was too slow by saying “that was the plan. This is Japanese style.” On Tuesday, Forever Young did not wear the mask/hood that he wore in last week’s work. It is designed to help Forever Young handle the dirt being kicked back into his face. Oka said Forever Young will wear the mask in the Derby. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  Oka said he has a lot of confidence in Forever Young, but he admits the lack of success by Japanese horses in the Derby is concerning. Conversely, Yahagi won two Breeders’ Cup races in 2021 at Del Mar, including the Distaff with 49-1 shot Marche Lorraine. “Bottom line, the Kentucky Derby is one of the most difficult races to win, but the only thing I can say is team Yahagi stable has never lost in the U.S. and Forever Young is also unbeaten,” Oka said. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.