Simplification, Zozos Top Quick Breezes for KY Derby
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Simplification wins the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park
From Florida to Kentucky leading 3-year-olds turned in workouts April 22 toward the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs.
On track at Churchill Downs, Barber Road , Charge It , Mo Donegal , and Zozos breezed, while Simplification turned up for the Derby at Gulfstream Park.
Charge It (outside) breezes in company with Cezanne April 22 at Churchill Downs
Churchill clockers timed Barber Road covering six furlongs in 1:16 2/5, Charge It five furlongs in 1:00 2/5, Mo Donegal a half-mile in :50 1/5, and Zozos with six furlongs in 1:12 2/5.
#KyDerby contender Zozos, outside of Fulsome, breezed 6 furlongs in 1:12.40. pic.twitter.com/Ka1JLMK3rL
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 22, 2022
Tami Bobo's Simplification prepared for a scheduled start in the Derby Friday morning with an eye-catching five-furlong workout at Gulfstream Park in :59.42.
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Simplification, trained by Antonio Sano, galloped out a mile in 1:37.52 following his breeze under a near-motionless Junior Alvarado.
"I'm so happy. The work was impressive. He did it very handily, very easy," Sano said. "Junior worked the horse. He told me, 'Your horse wins the Derby.'"
Simplification, who closed at 32-1 odds in the final Kentucky Derby Future Wager conducted early this month, is coming off a third-place finish in the April 2 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) at Gulfstream after pressing the early pace between horses. The son of Not This Time returned to the Gulfstream Park worktab April 15 with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.83 under Alvarado.
Jose Ortiz has the Kentucky Derby mount aboard the Sano trainee.
Simplification ranks ninth on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 74 qualifying points, guaranteeing the Florida-bred colt a place in the 20-horse field. Prior to finishing third in the Florida Derby, Simplification won the mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes in front-running fashion and captured the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) by 3 1/2 lengths after closing from last to win going away.
"I'm so proud of my horse. I know the race is a strong race, but my horse is working very good," Sano said. "I want to win the race for Gulfstream."
Simplification is scheduled to breeze five furlongs again next Friday before shipping to Churchill Downs.
"One more work next Friday and then he'll go to Kentucky. When he's in Kentucky he won't work. He'll only gallop," Sano said.
C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable's White Abarrio , who captured the Florida Derby and ranks third with 112 qualifying points on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard, is scheduled to breeze three furlongs at Gulfstream April 24. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained son of Race Day is slated to have his final pre-Derby workout at Gulfstream May 1 before shipping to Kentucky.