California Chrome had a quiet morning Sunday at Los Alamitos, less than a day before he is scheduled to be flown to Churchill Downs for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.
Intense Holiday may have stamped himself as this year's Kentucky Derby buzz horse with a visually impressive workout over a dull Churchill Downs main track
Chitu lost the shoe on his right front foot during his workout on Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, the latest chapter in his saga to overcome issues with that foot emanating from a fungus known as seedy toe.
Ring Weekend, who had been 14th on the points list, thanks to his Tampa Bay Derby victory, was declared from the Kentucky Derby on Sunday. That allowed Commanding Curve, who had been ranked 21st, to move into the maximum 20-horse field.
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Bayern finished first Saturday night in the 90th running of the Grade 3, $176,700 Derby Trial at Churchill Downs, but the colt was quickly disqualified for herding Embellishing Bob, who dueled fiercely just outside the odds-on favorite for virtually the entire one-mile trip.
Chitu is recovering from seedy toe, a rare but potential dangerous condition where a fungus gets into the inner hoof wall. Left untreated, it can cause significant problems. Baffert said Chitu had the condition when he arrived in his barn last fall, and it was addressed quickly by his staff. The fungus is gone, but until the damaged area of the hoof wall completely grows down, extra care is necessary.
Candy Boy, the first of the Kentucky Derby workers to breeze on Saturday, was arguably the best of the lot by a very slim margin over Medal Count.
California Chrome was an eager colt at the start of a half-mile workout Saturday at Los Alamitos.
Both the race shape and the pre-race preparation conspired against Candy Boy in his last start, the Santa Anita Derby, but both look to be far more in his favor for the next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, the race for which Candy Boy had his final workout on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.
Corey Lanerie was named the jockey of Harry’s Holiday Saturday morning by trainer Mike Maker, shortly the rider worked the colt five furlongs in 1:02.60. It will be Lanerie's first Derby mount.
