Madefromlucky drops out, Keen Ice gets in

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With rain in the forecast for early Saturday morning here at Churchill Downs, trainer Todd Pletcher worked four of his five prospects for the Kentucky Derby on Friday morning, and the performances in those workouts convinced Pletcher that Madefromlucky should indeed bypass the race, opening a spot for Keen Ice.

Madefromlucky was in the top 20 on points, but Pletcher had repeatedly said he was far from certain he would run. And after Madefromlucky was outworked by Stanford in a team drill, Pletcher officially took Madefromlucky out of the equation. That allowed Dale Romans-trained Keen Ice, who had been 21st on the points list, to secure a spot in the field. Frammento is now on the bubble and needs one more defection to get in.

A maximum of 20 horses can run in the Derby. Entries are taken Wednesday. In addition to the 20 in the main body of the race, as many as four also-eligibles can be entered, though they must draw into the race by scratch time Friday morning.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

Pletcher also worked Itsaknockout and Materiality in company here on Friday morning. They both went well, timed in 47.89 seconds for a half-mile, according to Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch. Stanford got a half-mile time of 48.38 seconds and Madefromlucky 48.58 for their team drill moments later. John Velazquez was aboard Madefromlucky.

Pletcher said that Madefromlucky “was okay, but it wasn’t a ‘wow’ work.”

“We were looking for a work that made us want to go,” Pletcher said. “I was very happy with the other three today, and the fourth told us where we need to go.

“Johnny didn’t feel like he handled the turns particularly well.”

Pletcher said that Madefromlucky, fourth last time out in the Arkansas Derby, would point toward the Peter Pan Stakes next month at Belmont Park.

“He should like those wide, sweeping turns,” Pletcher said.

Stanford is another horse whom Pletcher had not fully committed to the Derby before Friday, but he was thrilled with his work and it is likely he will run.

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker

“I thought it was excellent – to me the kind of breeze you want to see if you’re deciding on whether to run,” Pletcher said.

Both Itsaknockout and Materiality were certain for the Derby unless they regressed in their training, and both went well. Javier Castellano worked Materiality.

Pletcher’s other Derby prospect is Carpe Diem, who has remained at Keeneland this week owing to his affinity for that track; he won the Blue Grass and Breeders’ Futurity there. Carpe Diem was originally scheduled to work Sunday, but Pletcher said that work would be moved forward to Saturday owing to the rain expected later Saturday morning.

“He’s doing well, he’s happy there,” Pletcher said. “I’ve been a believer that you either like the Churchill track or you don’t, that practicing on it doesn’t matter.”

In addition to Pletcher’s quartet, both Danzig Moon and Far Right worked half-miles at Churchill on Friday. Danzig Moon, trained by Mark Casse, was timed in 48.51. Far Right, trained by Ron Moquett, went in 49.11.

At Santa Anita on Friday, Bolo worked five furlongs in 59.60 for trainer Carla Gaines. He is scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Sunday with Dortmund and Firing Line, both of whom were scheduled to have their final Derby works Saturday at Santa Anita.

At Keeneland, Frammento worked a half-mile in 48 seconds, according to DRF clocker Steven Skaggs. Joe Bravo was aboard.

“I’m hoping he gets in,” said his trainer, Nick Zito. “He’s a true mile-and-a-quarter horse. He went great this morning, galloped out strong.”

Zito said he moved the work up from Saturday owing to the dicey weather forecast.

“Maybe it’ll be okay first thing in the morning, but I didn’t want to get in a jam,” Zito said.