Kentucky Derby workers across the country

[bc_playlist_id:289889:]CHURCHILL DOWNS

Weather: Showery

Temperature: 52

Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ten potential Kentucky Derby starters worked on Saturday, with only two of those breezes coming at Churchill Downs, where the weather was cloudy early and showery late, and the racetrack remained fast throughout the four-hour training session.

TENCENDUR and KEEN ICE were the two locally based Derby hopefuls to work at Churchill Downs. Trainer Mike Maker opted to keep INTERNATIONAL STAR over at the Churchill Downs Training Center for his easy four-furlong breeze, while at Keeneland, CARPE DIEM went a sharp half-mile immediately after the track opened at 5:30 a.m.

The other likely Derby starters to work on Saturday included DORTMUND and FIRING LINE at Santa Anita, UPSTART and FROSTED at the Palm Meadows training center in south Florida, EL KABEIR at Belmont Park, and MUBTAAHIJ at Arlington Park.

Tencendur went early for trainer George Weaver, going in company with stablemate Wake Up in Malibu. Tencendur, with jockey Manny Franco aboard, broke off at the five-furlong pole, about a half-length behind and on the outside of Wake Up in Malibu. The pair cruised along at a good early clip over a track packed down and quickened by overnight showers, posting splits of 23.40 for the opening quarter and 35.29 for the half. Tencedur remained on his left lead turning into the stretch and began to lean in on his partner just a bit at the head of the lane. Franco got him to switch back and straighten away before reaching the furlong marker. The duo then got to the wire pretty much on even terms after five furlongs in 1:00.07, Tencendur galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.70. There was nothing flashy, but nothing to really knock, either, about today’s move.

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Keen Ice breezed after the renovation break with light rain falling and exercise rider Tammy Fox aboard. In typical Dale Romans fashion, Keen Ice went five furlongs from the half-mile pole. He posted splits of 23.93 and 48.80 to the wire under a bit of urging, completed the move with some encouragement into the turn in 1:02.04, and was out six furlongs in 1:16.04. This was maintenance-type stuff that probably won’t change anybody’s mind about Keen Ice’s longshot status in this year’s loaded Derby field.

A pair of Oaks hopefuls also worked at Churchill on Saturday, the stretch-running INCLUDE BETTY before the break and BIRDATTHEWIRE after.

Include Betty cruised through an opening quarter in 13 and 25.82, began to pick up the pace a bit approaching the stretch, covering three-eighths in 37.89. She finished with some interest under light encouragement, completing five furlongs in 1:02.05, although she did not sustain the run on the gallop-out, pulling up six furlongs in 1:18.04.

Birdatthewire, a good work horse this year both here and in Florida, completed five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 1:01.52. She did it easily enough before galloping out three-quarters of a mile in 1:14.55 while continuing to give the impression she’s sitting on another big effort on Oaks Day.

AMERICAN PHAROAH was out before dawn to beat the forecasted heavy rain, which never materialized, and had another good morning. His final Derby breeze is scheduled for Sunday. OCHO OCHO OCHO made his first local appearance and looked average, at best, during his gallop.

Got an opportunity to see trainer Larry Jones’s two Oaks runners, I’M A CHATTERBOX and LOVELY MARIA, for the first time this morning. Both galloped in draw reins and went at a brisk clip with their trainer aboard after the break. PUCA also galloped after the break, with her final work scheduled for either Sunday or Monday, according to trainer Bill Mott.

At Keeneland, Daily Racing Form clocker Steven Skaggs caught Carpe Diem going a half-mile in the dark in 13, 25, 48.60, out in 1:01.20. Skaggs’s comment read: “On own, nice finish and gallop out.”

At Belmont Park, DRF clocker Mike Vesce timed El Kabeir in 24.10, 47, out in 59.40. El Kabeir was scheduled to go solo but inadvertently hooked in at the half-mile pole with Saythreehailmarys from the barn of trainer John Morrison. Vesce described the work as “a good B” on his rating scale.

At Palm Meadows, DRF correspondent David Grening liked what he saw from Upstart whom he timed five furlongs in 1:00.23. Grening called Frosted’s five-eighths breeze in 1:01.10 little more than a maintenance work, which was similar to his move the previous week.