Kentucky Derby: Smith, Shirreffs feeling good after Honor A. P.'s final drill
DEL MAR, Calif. – Honor A. P. is right where trainer John Shirreffs and jockey Mike Smith want him. In his final afternoon work here at Del Mar, his final work for the Kentucky Derby seven days hence, Honor A. P. worked a steady seven furlongs in 1:27.20, including a final quarter in 24.40 seconds, then galloped out a mile in 1:40.60.
“Really good,” Shirreffs said as Honor A. P. galloped back after the work. “I’m really happy. The only thing that could have gone wrong was to go too fast. He went nice and even all the way around.”
Smith had worked Honor A. P. on the two prior Saturdays as well, which both Smith and Shirreffs thought was essential for Honor A. P.’s progress towards the Derby.
“It gives Mike more confidence, and us more confidence,” Shirreffs said. “The horse responds.”
Both the previous works were shorter and faster.
“Those two works put some air in him,” said Smith, who was wearing the silks of owners Lee and Susan Searing. “This was just a maintenance work. He’s fresh and happy. He did this all on his own. I adjusted a little on him and he took off, all on his own. I’m really happy. He did that all within himself. A happy seven-eighths.
“He gave me goosebumps all over my body. He’s going in a happy and fit horse. That was above and beyond what I was hoping for.”
Honor A. P. came onto the track shortly after 12:45 p.m. local time and backed up with the pony to about the eighth pole before turning around. He jogged with the pony until about 100 yards past the wire, then broke away to commence his drill at the seven-furlong pole.
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He clicked off fractions of 13 seconds for the opening furlong, 25.80 for a quarter, 37.80 for three furlongs, 50.40 for a half-mile, 1:02.80 for five furlongs, and 1:14.80 for six furlongs.
Honor A. P. is scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Monday along with local Derby runners Authentic, Storm the Court, and Thousand Words.
Shirreffs and Smith combined to win the Derby in 2005 with Giacomo.