Madefromlucky, American Pharoah enjoy chilly air
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It was another quiet morning Thursday at Churchill Downs for the dozen potential Kentucky Derby starters stabled on the grounds, including several who still need a little help to get into the field.
No Derby or Oaks candidates breezed on a chilly but crystal-clear morning. The first Derby sighting came about 20 minutes after the track opened for training. Madefromlucky, who seemed to enjoy the cool air, displayed plenty of energy throughout his 1 3/8-mile gallop under the lights. He was joined in the same set by Oaks contender and stablemate Eskenformoney, who likewise skipped lively over the strip, with trainer Todd Pletcher viewing the proceedings from the gap near the six-furlong pole.
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CHURCHILL DOWNSWeather: Clear
Temperature: 42
Track: Fast/firm
Derby favorite American Pharoah had another good day, returning for a gallop after having stretched his legs at better than a two-minute clip Wednesday. American Pharoah wound up galloping down the stretch alongside Materiality, crossing the finish line about two lengths in front of the undefeated Florida Derby winner. That chance encounter prompted one of the Churchill Downs clockers to comment, “That might be the Derby exacta right there.”
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Materiality, his Pletcher mates Itsaknockout and Stanford, as well as Tencendur all continue to make favorable impressions since their arrival here earlier in the week. Far Right, who jogged Wednesday following a couple of walk days, was really on his toes back in gallop mode Thursday. The Arkansas Derby runner-up, Far Right got a bit rank and appeared to attempt to run off with his rider while passing under the wire well out near the middle of the racetrack before finally coming to hand when re-entering the backstretch.
As for the Oaks contenders, Birdatthewire continues to look well, galloping about half an hour after the renovation break to allow her rider to first put stablemate and potential Derby starter Keen Ice through his paces. Angela Renee had another good morning for Pletcher, while Puca made another favorable appearance.
Luminance trained prior to the break and was not striding out nearly as well as the majority of her Oaks rivals, looking uncomfortable from the moment she jogged to the front side and then left her stable pony just beyond the finish line.
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The weather could be the big story over the next couple of days, with heavy rain predicted to begin early Saturday morning. Pletcher said he was going to keep a close eye on the weather while leaving open the possibility that he could push his four scheduled Derby works here Saturday to Friday.