Kentucky Derby: Kingsbarns, Major Dude work 'textbook' five furlongs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As the trainers of Kentucky Derby and Oaks hopefuls continued to monitor the coming April showers, Kingsbarns was the first of Todd Pletcher’s major prep winners to turn in his penultimate breeze toward the Run for the Roses on Thursday morning at Churchill Downs.

Kingsbarns, who is unbeaten in three starts including the Louisiana Derby, worked following the morning renovation break, in company with Major Dude; both colts are owned by Spendthrift Farm. Major Dude, a multiple graded stakes winner on turf and third in the Jeff Ruby on synthetic, needs three defections to make the Kentucky Derby field. He would be a candidate for the American Turf on the Derby undercard if he does not draw in to the classic.

Pletcher described the work as “textbook” as the colts breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80, according to Churchill clockers. Kingsbarns, on the outside of Major Dude, got his opening quarter in 24.40 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.20 after surging ahead at the wire while in hand.

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Pletcher-trained champion juvenile and Florida Derby winner Forte, the acknowledged Derby favorite, and Blue Grass Stakes winner Tapit Trice turned in routine gallops Thursday morning shortly after those works and are expected to breeze Friday morning before rain moves into the area.

“We’ve been watching the forecast very closely the last few days,” Pletcher said. “Depending on when you looked at it, it looked like we could start getting some rain Friday morning, so I said you know what, I’m going to go ahead and get these two horses’ works in. That way if things change overnight and we have to go really early tomorrow morning, we’d be able to do that. It’s easier to do that with just two of them.

“Kind of splitting hairs,” Pletcher added. “It’s one of those things that, as trainers, we worry about for 24 hours, and it probably doesn’t make a big difference.”

Kentucky Oaks works

Also working Thursday morning at Churchill Downs were several major Kentucky Oaks contenders. Wet Paint, who will be one of the favorites off multiple graded stakes victories at Oaklawn Park, worked five furlongs in 1:00.20, starting two lengths back of stablemate The Alys Look and finishing slightly ahead. The Alys Look was credited in 1:00.60.

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“Good move,” trainer Brad Cox said. “It was our main move – come back and work next week as well, but we were looking to really do something with them this morning, and I feel like we accomplished what we needed to.”

Cox also sent out Botanical from his arsenal of Oaks hopefuls, with the multiple Turfway stakes winner going five furlongs in 1:00.60 outside Flashy Gem.

“Super happy with all four fillies,” Cox said. “Very productive morning.”

Cox is likely to work his Derby candidates – Angel of Empire, Hit Show, Veryifing, and Jace’s Road – on Friday, depending on the weather.

One of the sharpest works of the morning was turned in by Fair Grounds Oaks winner Southlawn, who zipped five furlongs in 58.80 for Norm Casse. She galloped out in 1:11.60.

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