LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Much has been made of Tim Yakteen, a former assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, saddling his first Kentucky Derby horses this year in Taiba and Messier, both of whom were transferred to Yakteen due to a Baffert suspension.
But flying far under the radar is another former Baffert employee, Bhupat Seemar, who will also saddle his first Derby starter in Summer Is Tomorrow, the runner-up in the Group 2 UAE Derby.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Almost all of the final works for the Kentucky Derby are now complete after Dubai-based Summer Is Tomorrow logged a half-mile breeze on Monday morning.
Summer Is Tomorrow, working on his own during the training window reserved for Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses immediately following the first morning renovation break, went a half-mile in 49.23 seconds, on the watch of Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch.
Churchill Downs
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 66
Track: Fast
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The weather created a bit of havoc, both locally and out of town, on the training schedules for two of the key players in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, although in the end both Louisiana Derby winner Epicenter and Florida Derby hero White Abarrio not only completed their important final preps without incident but to rave reviews as well.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The rain had lifted, the air was fresh and the morning glorious around 8:30 on Sunday at Churchill Downs. A little earlier, trainer Steve Asmussen had sent out Epicenter, the Louisiana Derby winner, for his final workout in advance of Saturday’s 148th Kentucky Derby, a drill that was so impressive Asmussen could barely contain his excitement.
Asked how he was doing, Asmussen said, “I’ll let you know at 6 o’clock Saturday, but right now I’m feeling great.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Brad Cox said Sunday morning that his three Kentucky Derby starters – Cyberknife, Zozos, and Tawny Port – had emerged from their Saturday workouts in “fantastic” condition.
All three horses merely walked Cox’s shed row on Sunday morning. Cox said the trio would jog on the main track Monday before resuming regular gallops Tuesday. Cox said the gallops would be restrained throughout the week leading up to the Derby.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Making official what had been expected for the last few weeks, trainer Chad Brown on Sunday said that Early Voting would skip Saturday’s 148th Kentucky Derby and instead point to the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 21.
Early Voting’s defection enables Pioneer of Medina to make the body of the Derby field. Entries for the Derby were to be taken Monday. The field is limited to 20 starters based on points earned in designated qualifying races. Up to four also-eligibles may be entered, but would be scratched by Friday morning if there are no defections by then.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The majority of the miles that Kentucky Derby candidates will log in their final serious breezes have been covered. One of the few moves remaining is that by Summer Is Tomorrow, who is expected to breeze four furlongs on Monday morning as part of his long journey to the Derby gate.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Barber Road and Un Ojo, both of whom arrived at Churchill Downs off the Oaklawn Park road to the Kentucky Derby, emerged from their final works for the spring classic in good order, their respective camps reported Sunday morning.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Epicenter, the Louisiana Derby winner, worked five furlongs in 1:01.21, according to Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch, on Sunday morning at Churchill Downs in his final drill for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
Epicenter worked in company with Alejandro, a well-bred (Curlin-Rachel's Valentina) 4-year-old who owns one win and four seconds in nine starts. He was inside Alejandro throughout. Epicenter was keen early and was never asked for any effort whatsoever, appearing as if he's sitting on go for the Derby. The track was still wet from rain Saturday night.
After having his final Kentucky Derby work postponed this morning due to wet track conditions, White Abarrio finally got to strut his stuff shortly after 6 p.m. and between the final two races on Saturday’s Gulfstream Park program, working four furlongs in 48.11 followed by a very strong and impressive gallop out.
White Abarrio went easily to the wire, was urged on to complete five-eighths into the turn in 1:00.12 then continued full of run, completing six panels in 1:11.94 and seven furlongs in 1:24.81 before pulling up after a mile in 1:41.64.
