Kentucky Derby: Messier reloads, then fires off impressive work

ARCADIA, Calif. – Notwithstanding drama that preceded the workout and the noise he made during the work, Messier posted a visually impressive drill on an eventful Friday morning at Santa Anita.

Runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby and among the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby, Messier was about to commence his six-furlong workout following the 6:30 a.m. track renovation when another horse lost its rider and ran loose into the far turn.

Trainer Tim Yakteen, communicating via radio, cautioned jockey Drayden Van Dyke to delay the work until an outrider caught the loose horse. Messier backed up, and after a delay that lasted just two minutes, Yakteen gave the go ahead.

“Take two,” he said.

Messier and Van Dyke broke off at the five-furlong pole, without company. Messier glided through the first three furlongs in 35.40 seconds on Yakteen’s watch, with five furlongs in 59.20. Messier worked a furlong past the finish line and was given an official six-furlong work time of 1:11.60. He galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25. Visually, the workout was rock solid.

“That was nice,” an enthusiastic Van Dyke said afterward.

Racing manager Tom Ryan watched the workout with Yakteen, and said “He looks like a Derby colt to me.”

Yakteen said the work “was very straightforward.”

“He moved really nice,” Yakteen said. “You’re hoping to get what you are looking for, and I got what I was looking for, which is something you probably hear very often.”

In fact, Messier moved comfortably throughout the drill, finished in full stride, and appeared on his toes leaving the track afterward. He does make perceptible breathing noise while working, a matter that is subject to interpretation. Messier has made noise in previous works, and several trackside observers Friday said the noise was even louder in Messier’s final workout. It might be nothing.

Messier and Yakteen-trained Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba, who worked six furlongs in blinkers on Thursday, are scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday. Yakteen flies to Kentucky on Saturday in advance of the Derby colts.

“I’m very happy,” Yakteen said. “We’re all set.”

John Velazquez will ride Messier in the Kentucky Derby; Mike Smith will ride Taiba.