Trio of Derby Contenders Work at Churchill Downs

With three weeks remaining until the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, the trio of Crown Pride  (six furlongs, 1:18 3/5), Cyberknife  (five furlongs, 1:00), and Tiz the Bomb  (four furlongs, :48 2/5) worked April 16 toward their next start in the Run for the Roses May 7. 

Gold Square's Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Cyberknife worked at 9:00 a.m. EToutside of multiple stakes-placed stablemate Tommy Bee . Cyberknife started two lengths behind Tommy Bee and completed fractions of :12 1/5, :23 4/5 and :47 1/5. Cyberknife finished even with Tommy Bee around the seven-eighths pole and easily galloped out six furlongs in 1:15 2/5.

"I thought he looked great," said trainer Brad Cox. "He's done well at Churchill in the past and really likes it here."

About 90 minutes earlier, Magdalena Racing Lessee's Tiz the Bomb, who won the $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) last month, breezed with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons. The duo clipped an opening quarter-mile in :24 1/5 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 1/5.

Moments later, exercise rider Masa Matsuda breezed Teruya Yoshida's UAE Derby Sponsored by Mubadala (G2) winner Crown Pride  six furlongs from the half-mile pole. The colt completed opening fractions of :14 3/5, :28 1/5, :54 and 1:06 1/5. Crown Pride steadily picked up his work around the turn and onto the backside before completing gallop out of seven furlongs in 1:32 2/5.

Churchill Downs received about a fifth of an inch of rain overnight, according to the National Weather Service. The track was sealed for the first two hours of training but dried out by the 7:30 a.m. track renovation break and was harrowed. It was labeled as "good" for the final 2 1/2 hours of training.

In other Kentucky Derby news, Arkansas Derby runner-up Barber Road  arrived at Churchill Downs early Saturday morning and is stabled in Barn 46 with trainer John Ortiz. He's scheduled to work twice prior to the Kentucky Derby.

Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) runner-up Charge It  was scheduled to ship from his South Florida base to Churchill Downs on Saturday. He and the rest of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's contingent will be based in Barn 35. Pletcher is planning to keep a full-time barn at Churchill Downs throughout the spring and summer.

Likely Kentucky Derby favorite Epicenter  is scheduled to breeze early April 17 at Churchill Downs.

Elsewhere Saturday, Rebel Stakes (G3) winner Un Ojo  breezed five furlongs in 1:03.15 at The Training Center At Copper Crowne.

Kentucky Oaks Contenders Drill at Keeneland

Winngate Stables' unbeaten Kathleen O.—who is atop the points leaderboard for the 148th running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 6 at Churchill Downs—worked four furlongs in :48 3/5 Saturday over a fast track at Keeneland for trainer Shug McGaughey.

The Upstart   filly galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 and 6 furlongs in 1:15 4/5 after clocking splits of :12 4/5, :25 3/5 and :37 2/5 under exercise rider David Jego. 

"I was hoping to see just what I saw," McGaughey said. "She does not need a whole lot (of training). She is coming off a race two weeks ago. (The time and the gallop out) were just what I was looking for. So far we are right on track."

Kathleen O. is scheduled to have one more timed work at Keeneland and then ship to Churchill for her final work before the Oaks.

"We brought her to Keeneland because horses thrive here in the spring," McGaughey said. "I don't think adapting to a new track (at Churchill) will be a problem."

Two other fillies with designs on a start in the Kentucky Oaks put in half-mile works Saturday.

Tsunebumi and Sekie Yoshihara's Yuugiri , winner of the Fantasy Stakes (G3) in her most recent start, covered the distance in :50 with trainer Rodolphe Brisset aboard. 

Don't Tell My Wife Stables and co-owner/trainer Keith Desormeaux's Bourbonette Oaks winner, Candy Raid , was clocked in :50 2/5.

Yuugiri has accumulated 114 points toward the Kentucky Oaks and is fourth on the leaderboard. Saturday's work was her first since returning to Keeneland from Oaklawn Park, where she spent the winter. 

"You could see it a lot of times when horses would come here from Florida with the change in the air, the change in the weather that they would just blossom, and you can see it," Brisset said. "She is doing that, and I am very pleased with her."

Yuugiri made her first three starts last year at Churchill Downs, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the Golden Rod Stakes(G2).

"Right now, I am leaning to staying here for her next two works (before the Oaks)," Brisset said. "She has raced at Churchill, and we know she likes the track."

Desormeaux indicated that Candy Raid would work again here next week and ship to Churchill on April 28 and have her final work for the Oaks beneath the Twin Spires.

Candy Raid has 51 points toward the Oaks, good for 13th place and a spot in the starting gate for the race, which is limited to the top 14-point earners that pass the entry box May 2.