LOUISVILLE, Ky. – April has been a breakthrough month for Saffie Joseph Jr., but he’s hoping May brings an even greater first.

Joseph won the Florida Derby for the first time in his ascendant training career, sending out White Abarrio to victory in the Gulfstream Park showcase April 2. The next day, Joseph wrapped up the Gulfstream Championship meet training title, ending an 18-year reign by Todd Pletcher.

“It was quite amazing,” Joseph said earlier this week via Zoom from his South Florida base.

Manny Franco has picked up the mount on Zozos for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Brad Cox said Monday afternoon.

Zozos most recently finished second in the Louisiana Derby to Epicenter, one of the leading contenders for the May 7 Derby. Zozos is one of three horses in the Derby trained by Brad Cox, and all three had Florent Geroux on them for their most recent starts. Geroux is sticking with Cyberknife, the Arkansas Derby winner. Tawny Port, winner of the Lexington Stakes, still needs a rider.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Pioneer of Medina made the news here Friday when forced to miss a scheduled workout due to an issue with some blood work. Pioneer of Medina, the Louisiana Derby third-place finisher, was in the spotlight again on Monday as the only potential Derby starter to work during the special 15-minute training session reserved for Derby and Oaks candidates each morning at 7:30 a.m. at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Classic Causeway is back in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Brian Lynch said early Monday afternoon.

Classic Causeway earned more than enough qualifying points for the May 7 Derby in winning the Sam F. Davis and Tampa Bay Derby but had been removed consideration after finishing 11th and last in his latest race, the Florida Derby on April 2.

However, Lynch said recent discussions with the colt’s owners, Clarke M. Cooper and Patrick O’Keefe, resulted in the decision to go forth with a Derby run.

While saying he is still leaning toward running Early Voting in the Preakness Stakes on May 21, trainer Chad Brown said Sunday afternoon that he is not shutting the door on pivoting to the Kentucky Derby if the complexion of the race changes between now and the May 2 entry day.

Churchill Downs
Weather: Sunny  
Track: Fast 
Temperature: 66

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It was “big” work day for trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn Sunday morning at Churchill Downs with Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks king and queen pins Epicenter and Echo Zulu each working a serious six furlongs in company well before dawn.

Stablemates Epicenter and Echo Zulu, who are expected to be among the favorites for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, respectively, turned in their penultimate and most serious breezes for the spring classics on Sunday morning at Churchill Downs.

Unbeaten champion juvenile filly Echo Zulu worked shortly after the track opened at 5:15 a.m. for trainer Steve Asmussen. Inside of workmate King Ottoman, she went six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 seconds, according to Churchill Downs clockers.

Churchill Downs
Weather: Clear 
Track: Fast  
Temp: 65

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The action started early, as it usually does when trainer Brad Cox has a Kentucky Derby or Breeders’ Cup horse scheduled for an important work, on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs with CYBERKNIFE and jockey Florent Geroux ready to get down to business just minutes after the racetrack opened for training at 5:15 a.m.

Taiba, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby, will have just one work in preparation for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Tim Yakteen said Saturday, a few hours after he had worked his other potential Derby starter, Santa Anita Derby runner-up Messier.

Taiba was making only his second start in the Santa Anita Derby. Yakteen said Taiba “took the race well, but it was a hard race, and I want to make sure he’s energetic.”

ARCADIA, Calif. – The track was fast, and Messier motored over it Saturday at Santa Anita.

In his first workout since finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9, Messier worked five furlongs under Drayden Van Dyke in 59.80 seconds over a surface that produced fast times. As a point of reference, Grade 1-placed Stilleto Boy worked five furlongs Saturday in 58.80 seconds.