Kentucky Derby workouts: Candy Boy looks good

LOUISVILLE, Ky.- Finally some real action under the Twin Spires!

Churchill Downs: Weather: Sunny Track: Fast Temperature: 55

After pretty much of a steady diet of routine gallops and jogs here over the past week, five Kentucky Derby hopefuls got the opportunity to stretch their legs and work over a fast Churchill Downs strip on Saturday. All that activity came within about a 12-minute span during the special Derby/Oaks training session after the renovation break at 8:30 a.m.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

None of Saturday’s handful of Derby works was what one might consider a game changer, the kind of drill that would move someone to say “that’s the Derby winner right there.” We will all keep looking and hoping for that one over the next several mornings, with up to a dozen more Derby workouts scheduled through the middle of next week.[bc_video_id:322515:]

At least the weather co-operated on Saturday, with clear skies and temperatures in the mid-50s when the racetrack opened for business at 5:45 a.m. The surface itself seemed a little loose again, especially through the stretch, after tightening up some the previous morning due to overnight rain.[:slideshow-right:]

Work of the day

Candy Boy (five furlongs in 1:00.64): The first of the Derby workers to breeze and arguably the best of the lot by a very slim margin over Medal Count. With jockey Gary Stevens aboard, Candy Boy broke off about five lengths behind workmate Monument, cruised along behind that rival early through a 24.32-second opening quarter before picking up the pace to draw almost even with his target approaching the quarter pole. Stevens allowed Candy Boy to continue along on his own while kept several paths off the rail through the stretch, completing a final quarter in 24.75 while edging about a length clear at the wire. Candy Boy readily increased his margin over Monument when finally given a little encouragement from Stevens once passing the wire, lugging in slightly once pulling well clear while getting to the mile pole after six furlongs in 1:13.92. A useful work and one which indicated the Grade 2 winner seemed to be getting over the local surface well.

Medal Count (six furlongs in 1:13.25): The Blue Grass runner-up was a bit keen to begin leaving the five-furlong pole but settled into a comfortable stride by the time he entered the turn. Medal Count covered his opening three-eighths in 36.24 and was not pressed to get to the wire in 1:00.41 before continuing on willingly when roused some around the clubhouse bend. He completed his final eighth in a solid 12.64 to the seven-furlong pole before galloping out seven-eighths under mild urging in 1:26.87. Although Medal Count’s best races have come on turf and Polytrack, he worked well on several occasions over the main track this winter at Gulfstream Park but unlike the last three of those works, when he washed out noticeably, and final two during which he swapped leads well before the wire, he did not get hot and switched leads on cue this morning. Seems to be thriving now despite having kept a very busy schedule of late.

Harry’s Holiday (five furlongs in 1:02.60 according to track clockers: Worked in blinkers with Corey Lanerie aboard, appeared to change leads awkwardly and a bit prematurely nearing the quarter pole. He then maintained a straight path while finishing willingly after being given a couple of nudges in the vicinity of the sixteenth pole. Just an average gallop out, typical for most workers from this barn. Overall, an average looking breeze from this Derby longshot.

Vicar’s in Trouble (five furlongs in 1:03.39): Worked outside an unidentified workmate and did not look comfortable over the track, struggling to maintain a slight advantage over his well-held mate, who breezed in the deeper going near the rail, through a 25.59 final quarter. Not much to recommend off this work with the caveat that he had a similarly uninspiring final breeze at Gulfstream Park six days prior to his victory in the Louisiana Derby.

Commanding Curve (five furlongs in 1:02.45): After several days of impressive looking gallops, this morning’s work a disappointment as he was hard pressed through the stretch to stay competitive with restrained workmate Perfect Title, who breezed nearest the rail. Commanding Curve switched back to his left lead while tiring to the wire and had little left for the gallop out.

For the second consecutive morning General a Rod trained in blinkers and looked so much better and focused than during Wednesday’s unimpressive work. Open galloped one mile from the six- furlong pole in 2:03, will expect to see his final Derby drill in blinkers early next week.

Four Oaks horses breezed, topped by the Todd Pletcher team of My Miss Sophia and Got Lucky, with My Miss Sophia best of the pair despite breezing in the deeper going near the fence. My Miss Sophia finished in hand and while slightly in front at the wire inside her moderately pressured mate.

Rosalind breezed an easy half-mile while well removed from the rail in little more than a maintenance work. She seems to be coming up to the Oaks in good form.

Untapable has made as favorable appearance as anybody, either in the Oaks or Derby field, all week. Looking forward to seeing her final breeze, likely an easy half-mile, here Sunday.