Zandon, Simplification, Messier Post KY Derby Workouts

On an April 29 morning at Churchill Downs in which numerous Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) prospects breezed, Zandon  was the lone Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) hopeful to work on track toward the May 7 Run for the Roses.

In his first move at Churchill since traveling from Keeneland earlier in the week, the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner covered five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 under a snug hold from exercise rider Kriss Bon. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 and seven furlongs in 1:26 4/5 over the fast surface. Churchill clockers timed him with splits of :12 4/5, :25, and :36 4/5.

Watch #KyDerby contender Zandon breeze 5 furlongs on Friday under the Twin Spires. pic.twitter.com/UOjOCr88I2

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 29, 2022

Also breezing Friday toward the Derby, but not at Churchill Downs, was Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Simplification , who went five furlongs on a muddy track at Gulfstream Park in 1:00.44, and Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) winner Messier, who sped six furlongs at Santa Anita Park in 1:11 3/5 on a fast surface. Simplification leaves by van from Florida Friday afternoon, while Messier is to fly May 1 with stablemate Taiba  from California to Indianapolis, Ind., before vanning a couple of hours to Kentucky.

Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Messier worked 6 Furlongs in 1:11.60 on April 29th, 2022, for trainer @timyakteen. Messier is expected to make his next start in the @KentuckyDerby. pic.twitter.com/S5W9ehCRtK

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) April 29, 2022

Trainer Chad Brown said with a threat of rain overnight and into the April 30 morning hours in Kentucky, he opted to work Zandon Friday. 

"I didn't want to take any chances if a cell comes through tonight and the track is too hard or too wet tomorrow. "

April 30 is expected to be the busiest workout day for Derby horses at Churchill, provided some workouts are not postponed due to a wet surface. Eleven horses are scheduled to breeze locally according to Churchill Downs publicity, and a couple more are likely to work out elsewhere around the country.

There is a 50% chance of rain overnight, according to a National Weather Service report at 11 a.m. ET Friday. The Churchill main track typically dries quickly.

Zandon breezed by himself Friday, as he had in an April 23 breeze at Keeneland in which the Upstart   colt covered four furlongs in :48 3/5.

"The good thing about this horse is, he takes his racetrack with him," Brown said. "Everywhere we've had him, he has always trained well. More of the same at Churchill."

A winner of two of four starts for owner Jeff Drown, Zandon could vie for favoritism in the Kentucky Derby with Epicenter , who beat him when they raced together in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 19. Zandon finished third in that race, beaten 3 1/4 lengths by Epicenter and a half-length behind runner-up Smile Happy , after a tardy start.

Zandon was also slow into stride in the April 9 Blue Grass Stakes, and after being hemmed in traffic for much of the race, rallied from last on the second turn to win going away under Flavien Prat, who has the mount in the Derby.

Brown said he intends to school Zandon in the starting gate at Churchill May 3.

"He's always been a good-tempered horse in the gates," the trainer added. "So I'm not sure he's so fallen back in his races a little bit. But we'll take him back there nevertheless on Tuesday and hopefully he's good."

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Irad Ortiz Jr. Discusses Workout From KY Oaks Prospect Nest, Riding Mo Donegal in KY Derby

Watch: Brown Pleased by Work From Zandon, Colt's KY Derby Chances

Brown is seeking his second Triple Crown win and his first Derby. He won the 2017 Preakness Stakes (G1) with William Lawrence and Klaravich Stables' Cloud Computing  .

He reiterated Friday that he is unlikely to run Klaravich Stables' Early Voting  in the Derby without defections from the race's current speed-laden lineup. The Gun Runner   colt has remained in New York since his runner-up finish in the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack April 9 and is pointed toward the Preakness, Brown indicated. 

Cloud Computing similarly skipped the Derby after racing in the Wood, where he had been third.

"When you swing hard in the Derby and you miss, you have to deal with the aftermath as a trainer, and sometimes it's not pretty," Brown said. "These horses may need a lot of time. It sets them back mentally or physically."

Should Early Voting bypass the 1 1/4-mile Derby, Pioneer of Medina  would become the 20th ranked horse on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard, giving the latter the final spot in a race with a capacity field of 20.

The Oaks, at 1 1/8 miles and limited to 14 starters, could oversubscribe.

Goddess of Fire  (five furlongs in 1:01), Hidden Connection  (half-mile in :50 1/5), Nest  (half-mile in :48 3/5), Shahama  (five furlongs 1:01 1/5), and Turnerloose  (five furlongs in 1:01 1/5) were among the Oaks horses to breeze Friday at Churchill.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard Nest for her breeze in which she worked with the promising maiden Inventing . Nest hit the wire just ahead without apparent encouragement from Ortiz.

 "She's getting better and better. She's improving with each race," Ortiz said of the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) winner trained by Todd Pletcher.

Watch: Irad Ortiz Jr. Discusses Workout From KY Oaks Prospect Nest, Riding Mo Donegal in KY Derby