Kentucky Derby workouts: Soldat finishes well in final prep

Fountain of Youth winner Soldat worked four furlongs in 49 seconds early Friday at the Palm Meadows training center in Boynton Beach in his final prep for next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

With no official clocker on hand, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin reported Soldat went his opening quarter in 25 and came home in 24 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.40 and pulling up six furlongs in 1:15.80.

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“I was very pleased,” said McLaughlin by phone from Palm Meadows shortly after the work. “He finished well and galloped out in [12.40]. Last week he went a little faster than we wanted but he did it properly. Today was perfect. We’re there now and we’re one week away. He’s ready to go. He’s not blowing out a match.”

McLaughlin said Soldat will fly to Louisville on Saturday on the same plane with Dialed In, who completed his final serious Derby preparations at Palm Meadows on Thursday.

“We’re probably looking at him getting to the track for the first time down there on Monday and he’ll just gallop into the race,” said McLaughlin. “He will not work again.”