Pletcher works his four Kentucky Derby runners in two sets of two
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Todd Pletcher sent his four Kentucky Derby hopefuls out for works in company with one another Friday morning at Churchill Downs, in their most serious breezes before the May 1 classic.
Florida Derby winner Known Agenda and Jeff Ruby runner-up Sainthood were first to come through the lane for the outfit. With Known Agenda, wearing blinkers on the outside, the two colts were on relatively even terms through five furlongs, stopping the clock in 1:00.40 with the Churchill Downs clockers.
Pletcher said he chose which Derby hopefuls to pair up based on the dates of their respective final prep races. Both the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and Jeff Ruby at Turfway Park were contested March 27, five weeks before the Derby, while Pletcher’s other colts, Bourbonic and Dynamic One, both exit the Wood Memorial on April 3 at Aqueduct.
:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more
“With Bourbonic and Dynamic One coming out of the same race, I thought it made sense to work them together,” said the two-time Derby-winning trainer, a Hall of Fame finalist this year in his first year of eligibility. “And then with Known Agenda and Sainthood having a little bit more time, five weeks in between their final preps and the Derby, we wanted to do a little more with them.”
Bourbonic edged stablemate Dynamic One by a head for a huge upset in the Wood Memorial, and both were turning in their first breeze since on Friday morning when going a half-mile. Dynamic One, working outside Bourbonic – who Pletcher described as “workmanlike” – proved slightly best at the wire as both were credited with a time of 48.60 seconds. Bourbonic did not breeze in the blinkers he wears to race.
“Really pleased with the way all the horses got over the track,” Pletcher said. “You’re always coming in to Churchill and hoping they like the surface, and we saw what we were hoping for today.”
All four Pletcher trainees are expected to turn in final maintenance moves next weekend.
Meanwhile, trainer Mark Casse opted for a stiff drill for Helium, who will be making his second start of the year in the Derby, and his first since winning the Tampa Bay Derby on March 6. Helium worked out of the starting gate in company with the older Peace Achieved, a Grade 3 winner on turf. Helium, working inside, had the measure of his stablemate, getting five furlongs in 1:01.80. Peace Achieved was timed in 1:02.