INDIANTOWN, Fla. – Trainer Brad Cox’s decision to keep Florida Derby winner Tappan Street at his newly adopted winter home of Payson Park an extra couple of weeks to prepare for his upcoming start in the Kentucky Derby continues to pay dividends.
On Friday, Tappan Street turned in a second strong work over the Payson Park strip since his 1 1/4-length victory over Sovereignty in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29 at Gulfstream Park, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.20 in company with stablemate Rapture.
The pair breezed shortly before dawn in front of just a handful of spectators that included Cox and Elliott Walden, WinStar Farm’s president and CEO.
Tappan Street broke off about a half-length behind his mate at the half-mile pole and eased into the drill with a slow 13.93-second opening quarter. He picked up the pace steadily thereafter, completing his final four furlongs into the turn in 48.27 while cruising along throughout. He sustained his momentum into and around the turn, galloping out six panels in 1:14.75 before easing up seven-eighths in 1:28.72, per Daily Racing Form.
“He broke off a little slower this week, eased into it, but overall I was very pleased,” Cox said moments after the work. “He continued on around the turn very nicely and looked great coming off the track. He’s been very consistent with his works, and the further the better.
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“We were looking to let him stretch his legs, get a nice gallop-out, and we got what we were looking for. This should set him up well for a big effort on Derby Day. He’s in a very good spot right now.”
Cox has reaped plenty of success with the horses he stabled at Payson Park this winter, winning races not only around the country but around the world following the stunning victory by the 41-1 Hit Show several weeks ago in the Dubai World Cup.
“I really like training here, I like being here myself and most important I like the way the horses come out of here,” said Cox when asked to sum up his first full winter having horses stabled at Payson Park. “Based on what we’ve seen and how they’ve run elsewhere, horses coming out of here are going to be fit and ready no matter where they go coming off this track.”
Tappan Street was scheduled to depart Payson Park on Saturday evening and arrive at Churchill Downs the following morning where he will have his final Derby breeze next weekend.
About 2 1/2 hours after Tappan Street worked and approximately 90 miles to the south at Gulfstream Park, Neoequos worked five furlongs in 1:00.44 while preparing for what his connections hope will be a start in the Kentucky Derby on May 3.
Neoequos, who finished a tiring third after leading through the furlong grounds in the Florida Derby, is currently 22nd on the Derby points list and still needs a couple of defections to get into the race.
Neoequos broke off a couple of lengths behind and outside Mr Narcissistic, rated off his target into the stretch, then overtook his mate under late urging near the wire. He completed his final quarter-mile in 23.41 over the fast track before galloping out three-quarters under additional pressure in an average 1:14.20.
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“It was a solid work, sat off his workmate, finished decent,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He’s the kind of horse who doesn’t really go on much once he goes by a horse. That’s something we’ve been working on.”
Joseph said his current plan is to work Neoequos once more locally before shipping to Churchill next Friday.
“Right now, we’re still hoping to get in the Derby,” said Joseph, who had mentioned the Grade 1 American Derby on turf as a possible option for Neoequos should he not have sufficient points to make the Derby field.”
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