Finnick the Fierce, Man in the Can Work for Blue Grass

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Photo: Coady Photography
Man in the Can defeats subsequent Ohio Derby winner Dean Martini in a June 12 allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs

Arnaldo Monge and trainer Rey Hernandez' Finnick the Fierce and JRita Young Thoroughbreds' Man in the Can, two horses expected to make their next starts in the $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) July 11 at Keeneland, each turned in bullet works at the Lexington track July 4.

Finnick the Fierce worked a half-mile in :46 1/5, the fastest of 90 works at the distance, and Man in the Can covered five furlongs in :59 3/5, the quickest of 18 at that trip. Both workouts came on a fast surface.

An Arkansas-bred colt by Can the Man, Man in the Can has won his past three races: the non-black-type Rainbow Stakes April 17 and the black-type Arkansas Breeders' Championship Stakes May 1, both at Oaklawn Park, and an allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs June 12. The latter win was by 1 1/2 lengths over next-out Ohio Derby (G3) winner Dean Martini.

Trainer Ron Moquett was pleased with the work turned in by Man in the Can, who could become his first Blue Grass starter.

"He handled the track really well," Moquett said. "I was really glad to see that. It should set him up well for the race."

Finnick the Fierce, a gelding by Dialed In , was third in the second division of the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. At Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots he was fourth in the Jan. 18 Lecomte (G3) and seventh in the second division of the Feb. 15 Risen Star Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2). He is coming off a third-place finish behind another Blue Grass hopeful, Art Collector, in a June 13 allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs.

Art Collector, a winner of three of seven starts for owner Bruce Lunsford, also worked Saturday, though he did so at Churchill, timed in :48 4/5 for a half-mile breeze for trainer Tommy Drury.

Across the country, Saturday was a busy morning for many Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) hopefuls. California's two leading 3-year-olds, Honor A. P. and Authentic, both breezed, the former working five furlongs in 1:02 at Del Mar and the latter breezing a mile in 1:39 at Santa Anita Park.

Neither is expected for the Blue Grass. Honor A. P. is likely for the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 1, while Authentic is being pointed toward the July 18 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park.

At Gulfstream Park, Curlin Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Shivaree worked five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 toward a possible start in the Blue Grass.

Keeneland officials expect a large field for the 1 1/8-mile contest for 3-year-olds, also likely to draw stakes-winning colts Basin, Enforceable, and Mr. Big News.

Swiss Skydiver, who is atop the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard with 310 qualifying points, will run in either the Blue Grass or the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) against 3-year-old fillies, according to trainer Kenny McPeek.

If she runs in the Ashland she is likely to face Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner Bonny South, who breezed five furlongs at Keeneland Saturday in 1:00 2/5.

The Blue Grass and $400,000 Ashland are the two richest of six stakes July 11 at Keeneland before the track closes with the $100,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T) and $175,000 TVG Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) on the final card of the five-day meet, July 12.

Zulu Alpha, the country's top-ranked turf horse, breezed five furlongs Saturday in 1:01 3/5 at Churchill Downs Trackside toward the Elkhorn.