CHURCHILL DOWNS
Saturday, April 26
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 56
Track: Sloppy/Good/Fast
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A drying-out surface had several trainers with Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders handicapping the condition of the racetrack as the morning progressed before deciding if and when to send their respective horses out to work Saturday at Churchill Downs.
That group of horsemen included Michael McCarthy, who kept a close watch on the track during the first renovation break before ultimately deciding to postpone the final work for Journalism, the likely Derby favorite, until Sunday. Several of his peers postponed their scheduled breezes until nearly two hours after the special Derby/Oaks session, including Brad Cox, Graham Motion, and Chad Brown, by which time the track had been upgraded from good to fast.
The racetrack was rated sloppy when business opened at 5:15 a.m., but that did not deter Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas from sending out Derby hopeful American Promise to work five furlongs over the sealed surface. The Virginia Derby winner splashed five furlongs in 59.23 seconds, off a lively 34.72 opening three-furlong split, getting one light right hand tap of the stick right at the wire before going out six furlongs into the turn in 1:12.20. The move appeared to be a bit of an improvement over his previous drill when he tired noticeably during the latter stages of a stiff seven-furlong gate work eight days earlier at Oaklawn Park.
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The track was harrowed and upgraded to good after the break and provided the proper footing for Burnham Square to turn in the work of the day while putting the punctuation mark on a very strong week of training since his previous maintenance-like breeze here April 19.
With jockey Brain Hernandez Jr. aboard, Burnham Square breezed five furlongs in 59.13, shading 35 seconds flat for his final three furlongs and doing so while well within himself throughout. He then maintained that momentum to and around the turn, galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.91 before easing up seven furlongs in 1:26.31. He is an improving and very dangerous contender who gives every indication he should get better the farther he goes.
Trainer Kenny McPeek did not confirm his intention to enter Render Judgment in the Derby until Friday and less than 24 hours later he got the scratch he needed to draw into the field after Tappan Street came out of his work Saturday morning with an injury. Render Judgment tuned up for the task by working five furlongs in 35.73 and 59.03, readily drawing clear of his overmatched company before being prodded some to go out six furlongs in 1:12.06.
Final Gambit, trained by Cox, became the lone Derby worker after the 9 a.m. break over a fast and lively track. And the heretofore synthetic-surface specialist continued to prove his affinity for the main track locally with another strong move, going five furlongs in 1:00.94, completing his final quarter in 23.41 while well in reserve throughout. Doing arguably his best running on the gallop-out, Final Gambit continued around the bend in strong fashion going six furlongs in 1:14.03 before easing up seven furlongs in 1:27.63.
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McCarthy did not make his final decision on Journalism’s work status until the track reopened for the Derby/Oaks session, with the Santa Anita Derby winner turning in yet another very impressive-looking gallop in lieu of breezing over a surface that did still have some moisture in it at the time.
Sovereignty had arguably his best day yet since breezing a solid five furlongs one week earlier. He looked strong and focused every step of the way while not turning a hair or getting warm in the coat as he had to one degree or another over the last several mornings.
Japanese invader Luxor Cafe had his busiest training session since arriving here earlier in the week, while his fellow Japanese runner, Admire Daytona, dropped down on the rail to gallop along at a two-minute clip for a ways while still yet to be given the opportunity to really drop his head and turn in a serious drill locally.
Oaks contenders Tenma and Anna's Promise both breezed during the Derby/Oaks window. Tenma going a maintenance half-mile from the 3 1/2-furlong marker for trainer Bob Baffert in 36.22 and 48.30 before galloping out into the clubhouse bend in 1:01.28. Anna’s Promise worked in company and was much the best of the duo, drawing five lengths clear of her mate after five furlongs in 1:00.29.
About 90 minutes later, undefeated Fondly, trained by Motion, breezed five furlongs under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in 37.33 and 1:02.36 while under wraps to finish. Brown had Ballerina d'Oro out for a maintenance half-mile in 48.00, also well in reserve to finish, before continuing out five furlongs in 1:01.20.
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