Simplification impresses Jose Ortiz with Florida Derby work

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla – Simplification didn’t have the fastest five-furlong work on Saturday’s tab at Gulfstream Park, not even close to it. That honor went to two other notable Kentucky Derby candidates, the Kenny McPeek-trained team of Smile Happy and Rattle N Roll, who completed the distance in a crisp 58.81 seconds working in company after the second renovation break.

But Simplification’s 1:01.81 clocking doesn’t accurately describe just how impressive he looked working back for the first time since his 4 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth two weeks ago. To fully appreciate the work, you must take into account the monster gallop-out, six furlongs in 1:14.21 before pulling up a full mile in 1:38.59, and that he changed leads right on cue in early stretch, something the very promising 3-year-old had not done in his recent works or races. In fact, Simplification never switched off his left lead throughout the stretch run of either the Fountain of Youth or the Grade 3 Holy Bull, when he finished second behind White Abarrio.

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And who better to validate the notion that Simplification couldn’t have looked better on Saturday than the man who rode him to victory in the Fountain of Youth for trainer Antonio Sano and was aboard for his latest work – jockey Jose Ortiz?

“He worked very good,” Ortiz said. “Very good. The pony let me off at the 5 1/2, he was very relaxed. Antonio told me to just let him be happy for five furlongs and gallop out strong, and that’s exactly what he did.”

Ortiz had to deal with another worker who’d broken off well in front of Simplification and served as an inadvertent target down the stretch and into the clubhouse turn.

“I was aware of the horse in front of us,” Ortiz said. “I just allowed [Simplification] to run outside him going easily to the wire, then let him out a notch at that point and he really responded. He galloped out huge. And did you notice how he switched leads on point today? When I worked him before the Fountain of Youth, I had to fight him a little bit to do it. I was surprised how easily he gave it to me this time. I think he’s really going to improve off this work, which he’ll need to do because we’re going to face better horses in the Florida Derby. But I’m confident he’s going to stretch out, and very excited and really looking forward to the race.”

As for Smile Happy, with jockey Corey Lanerie aboard, and Rattle N Roll, they zipped right along from start to finish, posting splits of 23.31 and 34.96 for the opening three furlongs before galloping out six panels in 1:12.57, up seven-eighths in 1:26.31. The work was delayed about a half-hour due to an incident that temporarily closed the track for training after the pair had originally come out to breeze shortly after the first renovation break.

McPeek has confirmed Rattle N Roll for Saturday’s Louisiana Derby. On Monday afternoon he said Smile Happy’s next start will come at Keeneland in the Blue Grass on April 9.

White Abarrio, who bypassed the Fountain of Youth following his one-sided victory over Simplification in the Holy Bull, continued his preparations for the Florida Derby here Sunday morning. He worked five furlongs in 1:00.44 before galloping out three-quarters in 1:13.34, readily pulling away from his overmatched work mate while going easily throughout under jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

Other potential Florida Derby contenders to work Saturday included O’Captain, a late-running third in the Fountain of Youth. He went five furlongs in 1:01 under the cover of darkness. Charge It worked five furlongs in 1:00.18, and stablemate Emmanuel went four furlongs in 49.41, both at Palm Beach Downs.