LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It’s been a busy 72 hours or so, with plenty of miles covered, for trainer Brad Cox.
On Thursday morning, Cox watched unbeaten Kentucky Oaks favorite Good Cheer turn in a penultimate, and serious, work at Churchill Downs. Cox then flew to Florida and was on hand for Florida Derby winner Tappan Street's breeze toward the Kentucky Derby Friday morning at Payson Park.
It was then back to Kentucky for Cox, not only to run several quality horses Friday and Saturday at Keeneland, but to supervise his other Kentucky Derby hopeful, Jeff Ruby winner Final Gambit, through his breeze Saturday morning beneath the twin spires.
While it was crucial to test Final Gambit, who won the Ruby on Turfway Park’s Tapeta on March 22, on the Churchill Downs dirt, Cox elected to leave Tappan Street in Florida for a few weeks following his March 29 win. Wet weather was looming in Kentucky – in fact, historic rain led to Keeneland’s opening two days being postponed early this month – and he didn’t want to interrupt the training pattern, even if it meant plenty of frequent-flyer miles.
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“The last two weeks, with traveling to Florida on Thursday and back on Friday, is a lot – but it’s worth it,” Cox said. “We’re just trying to give each horse the opportunity to succeed, and feel like so far, we’ve put both colts, and Good Cheer, in position to run big races.”
Final Gambit was one of seven Kentucky Derby hopefuls stabled at Churchill Downs who turned in timed works on Saturday morning, along with Blue Grass Stakes one-two Burnham Square and East Avenue; Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic and Arkansas Derby runner-up Publisher, in company for shared trainer Steve Asmussen; Florida Derby runner-up Sovereignty; and Ruby runner-up Flying Mohawk. The flurry of activity took place during the reserved training session for Derby and Oaks horses, immediately following the first morning renovation break, with a number of other Derby hopefuls also galloping.
It felt like a frenzy of activity, but it was really the calm before the storm, as the track is likely to be much more crowded a week from today. A number of other Kentucky Derby candidates still stabled around the country – including early favorite Journalism – were expected to breeze on Saturday and Sunday before shipping over the course of the week, setting up a busy final weekend of works next week. The deadline for Derby and Oaks horses to be on the grounds is 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, before the post position draws for both races later that evening.
Juddmonte homebred Final Gambit's entry in the Derby was not a foregone conclusion immediately following his late-rallying win in the Ruby. The colt has never raced on dirt, and his connections wanted to test thoroughly on Churchill's main track before committing. Final Gambit has passed with flying colors, with three breezes here now in the month of April.
Saturday morning, on the clock of Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch, Final Gambit got an opening half in 48.50 seconds and five furlongs in 1:01.49. Despite starting the work in company, he was on his own as he willingly responded a nudge to gallop-out around the clubhouse turn through six furlongs in 1:14.72. Officially, Churchill Downs clockers gave him five furlongs in 1:00.80 on the published work tab.
“Put away his workmate galloping out, a positive effort,” Cox said. “He’s handled the dirt very well in his three works over this track… Juddmonte, they’re always very realistic with their horses and like to put them in the right spots. We talked about it, thought we’d bring him here to Churchill and let him train over the dirt and if he handled it, then we would pursue the Derby. Three solid moves – he’s really moving well over it. I’m happy with him, his energy level’s very good, and we’re in a good spot with him.”
The lone Kentucky Oaks workers of the day were Whit Beckman-trained stablemates Simply Joking and Drexel Hill, who breezed in the first set, shortly after the track opened at 5:15 a.m. The fillies went five furlongs in company in 58.47 seconds, according to Welsch. Their official clocking of 58.40 from Churchill gave them the bullet of 57 works at the distance on the morning.
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