Rock Your World to have at least two works before Kentucky Derby

Rock Your World galloped 1 1/2 miles on Friday at Santa Anita, six days after his win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in his main-track debut.

Unbeaten in three starts, Rock Your World is scheduled to have workouts on April 17 and April 24 at Santa Anita in advance of the Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

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“He looks great,” trainer John Sadler said. “It’s nice and relaxed because everything is going so well.”

Sadler said there is a scenario in which Rock Your World could have three workouts before the Kentucky Derby, but that the plan is for two. Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis and Michael Talla, Rock Your World won two turf races earlier this year, including the Pasadena Stakes at a mile on Feb. 27.

Soothsay, who won the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 3 in her second start, remains a contender for the Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs, although trainer Richard Mandella stressed that he wants to follow her progress in coming weeks.

“She galloped this morning and looked good,” Mandella said Friday. “She’s only run twice, and I pushed her into the Santa Anita Oaks.

“As long as I don’t feel like I’m going backwards, I’ll go. I won’t be bull-headed. If I had to guess today, I’d say we go.”

Mo Forza coming back

Mo Forza, a five-time graded stakes winner in 2019 and 2020, will return to trainer Peter Miller’s stable on May 1 after a six-month break.

Mo Forza has not raced since a win in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita last October. Mo Forza was considered a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland last November, but was sidelined with injury.

“It’s been the same recurring injury,” Miller said. “It’s a soft tissue. It’s an old deal. We get two, three, four races and he needs a break.

“We’ve given him all the time. We could have brought him in on April 1. Our goal is the Breeders’ Cup. There’s no rush to bring him in early. We only need one or two preps for him.”

The Breeders’ Cup Mile will be run Nov. 6 at Del Mar. Owned by Bardy Farm and OG Boss, Mo Forza has won 6 of 12 starts and earned $734,460. He has won six of his last seven starts.