Bold Conquest Works for Arkansas Derby
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Ackerley Brothers Farm's Bold Conquest, a distant third in the Rebel Stakes (gr. I) behind American Pharoah, tuned up for his rematch with last year's 2-year-old champion in the April 11 Arkansas Derby (gr. I), working a half-mile in :48 3/5 at Oaklawn Park.
Oaklawn Park clockers caught the colt's final quarter in :24, galloping out five furlongs in 1:01 4/5.
"He's doing extremely well," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "We lucked out with the racetrack today. I was very concerned with all the rain in the area, but it was a good track again this morning. His last two works have been the two best works of the year. It's a good time to be doing so."
The son of Curlin was able to get to within 1 1/2 lengths of American Pharoah at the head of the stretch in the Rebel, but the winner accelerated away from everyone to win by 6 1/4 lengths in the slop.
Racing close to the pace, as he did in the Rebel, is not Bold Conquest's style of running and he is expected to take farther back off the pace, as he did in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III), I which he was fourth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, and last year's Breeders' Futurity (gr. I), where he was well-beaten third.
Bold Conquest has 17 points on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) leader board, so he likely would need to finish in the top three in the Arkansas Derby to make it into the starting field.
In his other stakes appearance, Bold Conquest finished second, beaten a neck, in the Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.
Asmussen also sent out last year's 3-year-old champion filly Untapable out for a half-mile work in :48 flat for the grade I, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on Friday, April 10. The work was the fastest of 18 at the distance.
Clockers caught Untapable's final quarter-mile in :23, galloping out five furlongs in 1:01 2/5.
"I thought she went beautiful," Asmussen said. "It looks like all systems go."
Another major player from the Asumssen barn to work was Tapiture, who went his half in :50 for a possible start in the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) April 11.
Asmussen also sent out Bachelor Stakes hopeful Bayerd for a three-furlong spin in :37 3/5.