Mandaloun Remains on Course for Kentucky Derby Start

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Mandaloun Remains on Course for Kentucky Derby Start
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
Mandaloun wins the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course

On a brisk spring morning at Churchill Downs, Juddmonte Farms' Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) winner Mandaloun  started his preparation toward the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) with a half-mile breeze April 3 in :49 4/5.

Trained by Brad Cox, Mandaloun was the 6-5 favorite in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) but finished a disappointing sixth behind eventual winner Hot Rod Charlie . Mandaloun, by Into Mischief  , worked outside of Louisiana-bred stakes winner Australasia  through a slow :25 2/5 opening quarter-mile fraction before picking up the pace over the final quarter-mile. The two horses galloped out together through five furlongs in 1:02 3/5 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:16 2/5, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Florent Geroux was up for Mandaloun's drill.

"There really wasn't an excuse in the Louisiana Derby," Cox said. "I hate to use the cliché of drawing a line through the race, but that is what we are doing. At the half-mile pole, he really didn't continue to put himself into the race and was out of gas. We had high hopes, obviously, that he would run better in that race. We talked it over with the folks from Juddmonte and if he continues to train well, we are going to pursue the Derby."

Two years ago, the Mark Casse-trained War of Will   rebounded from a ninth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby to compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown, winning the 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1). He was also a troubled seventh in the Kentucky Derby that year and ninth in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

Moments before Mandaloun's work, Cox's top Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender Travel Column  breezed a half-mile in :48 3/5. She began the work with a :24 3/5 quarter-mile and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02. 

Other stars that recorded works Saturday at Churchill included 2020 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Swiss Skydiver , who breezed a half-mile in :48 under jockey Robby Albarado, and undefeated Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) hero Aunt Pearl , who went a half-mile in :48 3/5 under Geroux. 

in California, two leading prospects for the Kentucky Derby breezed at Santa Anita Park. Hot Rod Charlie covered a half-mile in :49 2/5 under Flavien Prat for trainer Doug O'Neill, and Concert Tour  worked six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 for trainer Bob Baffert.

"He went the last eighth in :11 and change," O'Neill said of Hot Rod Charlie. "I'm very happy." 

Hot Rod Charlie will train up to the Kentucky Derby, while Concert Tour is expected to make one more start before the Run for the Roses. The latter, winner of the Rebel Stakes (G2), is likely for the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park April 10. 

Baffert also sent Rebel runner-up Hozier  four furlongs in a bullet :46 3/5 Saturday to prepare for the Arkansas Derby. The move was the fastest of 67 drills at the distance.

Six of the last nine winners of the Kentucky Derby have trained in Southern California.

A Tex Sutton Equine Air Transport flight carrying Southern California-based Concert Tour, Hozier, and Rebel seventh-place finisher Get Her Number is scheduled to arrive Wednesday, according to Oaklawn media. Peter Miller-trained Get Her Number won the American Pharaoh Stakes (G1) at 2 and made his first start since that September effort in last month's Rebel.

Smarty Jones Stakes winner Caddo River  breezed Saturday at Oaklawn ahead of a start in the Arkansas Derby. In company with Brad Cox stablemate Night Ops , the Rebel fifth-place finisher covered five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13 2/5. The half-mile split was :47 4/5.