Charge It and Simplification, the second and third finishers respectively in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on April 2 at Gulfstream Park, each turned in the first of their three scheduled works prior to the Kentucky Derby approximately 30 minutes and 40 miles apart early Friday morning in South Florida.
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Taiba
Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for April 13, 2022.
Leonatus, who won the Derby in 1883, largely has been forgotten to history, but he will be getting his time in the spotlight in coming weeks. He is the last – actually the only – horse to have won the Derby in only his third career start. That's the feat Taiba will try to equal after his victory on Saturday in the Santa Anita Derby.
Even with 40 points from his runner-up finish in the April 2 Jeff Ruby Steaks, Tawny Port will wheel back Saturday at Keeneland in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes, the final qualifier for the 148th Kentucky Derby.
Mo Donegal, returning to the scene of the Remsen, his biggest previous victory, took an expected leap forward off his 3-year-old debut in the Holy Bull.
Kentucky Derby hopeful Un Ojo is scheduled to work Saturday in Louisiana, and if his connections are pleased with the move following his troubled Arkansas Derby run he will ship next week to Churchill Downs, trainer Ricky Courville said.
Everything is good with Zandon in the aftermath of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, where the Upstart colt stamped himself as one of the major players for the May 7 Kentucky Derby with his breakthrough victory Saturday.
Zandon took a significant leap forward in his second start of this form cycle, and in his final prep for the Derby, rallying from last after encountering traffic trouble by utilizing a sensational turn of foot and a savvy ride from Prat to run down another highly regarded Derby prospect in Smile Happy.
Taiba won as much the best, again earning a Beyer figure north of 100. He will now try to win the Derby in only his third start, which seems preposterous, but it seemed preposterous to win the Santa Anita Derby off one six-furlong maiden sprint win.
