Highly Motivated Works Ahead of Kentucky Derby
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
Highly Motivated (inside) works with stablemate Founder April 18 at Keeneland
Klaravich Stables' homebred Highly Motivated , runner-up to 2-year-old champion Essential Quality in the April 3 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, began his final preparations for an expected run in the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 1 at Churchill Downs by working a half-mile in :47 1/5 over a fast main track at the Lexington oval April 18.
The move was the best of 27 at the distance.
Trained by Chad Brown, Highly Motivated worked in company with Founder , who was fifth behind Essential Quality in the 2020 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. The two came on the track shortly after 9 a.m. ET and worked on even terms through fractions of :12 1/5, :23 3/5, :36, and :47 1/5 with Highly Motivated galloping out five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 and six furlongs in 1:15 3/5.
Highly Motivated set Keeneland's track record for 6 1/2 furlongs with his 1:14.99 clocking in the Nyquist Stakes during the first day of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The colt is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs April 19 with Brown slated to arrive in Louisville, Ky., April 21.
A son of leading stallion Into Mischief , Highly Motivated is out of the Warrior's Reward mare Strong Incentive. He holds a 2-2-1 record from five starts and earnings of $320,050. The colt has 50 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and is 12th on the leaderboard.