Trainer Bob Baffert arrived in town on Monday and wasted little time getting down to work, sending out a handful of his stakes horses to breeze at Churchill Downs on Tuesday morning, including key Kentucky Derby contender Mor Spirit, who zipped five furlongs in 59.79 over a quick track under clear and relatively balmy conditions during the special Derby/Oaks training session shortly after 8:30 a.m.
Trainer Steve Asmussen had a very good morning on Monday. It began with his five potential Kentucky Oaks starters and two Kentucky Derby contenders turning in sharp works over a fast main track at Churchill Downs and ended several hours later with the announcement that he'd been elected to the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame.
The not-so-secret weapon that has carried owner Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O'Neill back to Louisville, Ky., is Doug's older brother, Dennis O'Neill. The bloodstock wizard selected both the unbeaten champion Nyquist and Grade 2 winner Land Over Sea as unraced 2-year-olds. Nyquist is expected to be favored in the Kentucky Derby, while Land Over Sea is a strong contender in the Kentucky Oaks following the defection of Songbird.
Trainer Steve Asmussen on Monday sent out his two Kentucky Derby contenders - Louisiana Derby winner Gun Runner and Arkansas Derby winner Creator - for their penultimate and most serious works in advance of the race.
Trainer Chad Brown took center stage here Sunday morning, working his two Kentucky Derby contenders, My Man Sam and Shagaf, over a fast track at Churchill Downs.
If you think the Kentucky Derby will fall apart late after a fast early pace just like the four preps that immediately preceded it, think again. Other folks have already talked about it, and it is sure to be discussed more as Derby Day approaches, but it is entirely possible the Derby will have a pace personality completely different from the most recent preps.
With the skies clear and the track fast, Kentucky Derby favorite Nyquist went back to work Saturday at Keeneland, turning in a fairly easy five-furlong breeze that had been postponed from the previous morning due to rain.
Kentucky Derby hopefuls Exaggerator and Danzing Candy worked in Southern California on Saturday, two weeks after finishing first and fourth in the $1,000,690 Santa Anita Derby on April 9.
Unbeaten champion Nyquist got a little help from his friends in his penultimate work for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday morning at Keeneland.
Wood Memorial winner Outwork went to school Friday morning at Belmont Park, and by all accounts, he was a model student.
