Churchill Downs Weather: Sunny  Track: Fast  Temp.: 42 LOUISVILLE, Ky. - There was a time not too long ago when the special training session for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks starters only two Sunday’s out from those races would be frenetic, with horses working everywhere, simultaneously, during the special 15-minute window reserved exclusively for contenders for the two big events.  But not so much nowadays, with more trainers opting to complete preparations for the Derby and Oaks at their home tracks before shipping to Churchill Downs early Derby week. Such is certainly the case this year, with only two Oaks starters working Sunday morning under clear but crisp skies at Churchill Downs. Those two were stablemates and Stonestreet homebreds Pauline’s Pearl and Clairiere, from the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen. With owner Barbara Banke looking on from the finish line up on the fourth floor of the grandstand, Fantasy winner Pauline’s Pearl was the first to go, approximately 30 minutes after the track opened for training at 5:15 a.m.  Working in company and inside stablemate Abrogate, Pauline’s Pearl eased away from the five-furlong pole in 12.90 seconds before increasing the tempo steadily. The team turned for home after posting a 36.41 half-mile clocking, finishing willingly and well within themselves in 1:00.30 before galloping out six furlongs on even terms in 1:13.90. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Asmussen waited nearly two hours, until the Derby/Oaks session, to breeze Fair Grounds Oaks runner-up Clairiere in almost identical fashion, in company and inside her partner Finite. They, too, were well reserved throughout, posting splits of 24.23 and 35.72 through the opening three furlongs before coming home in 24.98 to complete five-eighths in 1:00.70, neither pushed by their riders at any point. They ran out the full six furlongs in 1:14.30, pulling up seven-eighths in 1:27.65 with Clairiere keeping her head in front at the wire and throughout the run-out into and around the clubhouse turn. Asmussen did not wait for the special training session to send out his two Derby contenders, with both Midnight Bourbon and Super Stock galloping on Sunday shortly after sunrise and just minutes before the first renovation break. Midnight Bourbon had a long and very useful session, showing good energy passing by the grandstand twice as a final prep before a scheduled breeze Monday.  Super Stock, upset winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby just eight days earlier, also looked good while galloping in a set of draw reins as he had the previous morning as well. Among the Derby contenders to train at 7:30 were the Pletcher pair of Bourbonic and Sainthood, with stablemates Known Agenda and Dynamic One not sighted during the special session. All four Pletcher runners had their penultimate Derby works here Friday. Keeneland At Keeneland, Highly Motivated, second by a neck to unbeaten Derby favorite Essential Quality in the Blue Grass after setting the pace, worked a half-mile in company in 47.20 seconds, the fastest of 27 at the distance on the fast main track. Working inside of stablemate Founder, a maiden-winning 3-year-old, Highly Motivated came to the finish line about a quarter-length ahead of Founder, who was being encouraged. Highly Motivated galloped out in front around the clubhouse turn, with Keeneland clockers catching him going five furlongs in 1:00.20. “It was a little quick, he’s sharp," trainer Chad Brown said in New York. "He had a couple of jog days during the week due to weather. He was feeling himself a little bit. It was pretty impressive, he galloped out in hand and did it well within himself.” Highly Motivated will van to Churchill Downs on Monday and will have his final pre-race breeze next weekend as Brown's Derby week contenders begin to converge in Louisville. Unbeaten Search Results, who worked toward the Kentucky Oaks on Saturday at Belmont, will travel to Kentucky on Monday. Belmont At Belmont Park on Sunday, Kentucky Oaks prospect Maracuja worked a half-mile in 51.28 seconds over the training track. Maracuja, runner-up to Search Results in the Grade 3 Gazelle on April 3, went in company with the 3-year-old gelding Horn of Plenty, the pair going their opening quarter in 26.41 seconds and finishing up in 24.87, with neither rider asking for much. “She breezes a little better in company, she’s a little more focused, but it was just meant to be a maintenance breeze,” trainer Rob Atras said. “She puts a lot into her gallops during the week, so I didn’t want to do too much. If she comes out of this good, we’re probably going to come back in six days anyway. If everything goes well with that, we’ll ship the next day.” Maracuja, a daughter of Honor Code, has one win from four starts. She did earn a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 88 in the Gazelle, her first time in a two-turn race and a stakes. “She did come out of the race really well, which is good because it was a big step up in class and distance so it was very important she did that,” Atras said. Kendrick Carmouche will ride Maracuja in the Oaks. - additional reporting by David Grening and Nicole Russo