Kentucky Derby Notes, April 20

Following is a brief look at some of the horses training toward the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented byYum! Brands (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.

 

American Pharoah—Zayat Stables' runaway Arkansas Derby (gr. I) winner American Pharoah jogged back to the starting gate at the head of the stretch and then galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Jorge Alvarez after the renovation break April 20.

 

Bold Conquest—Worked five furlongs over a track labeled as "good" in 1:02.80 after the morning renovation break during the time reserved for Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) candidates. Ackerley Brothers Farm's Bold Conquest clocked fractions of :12.60, :24.80, :37.40, :50.20 and galloped out in 1:16.80.

 

Exercise rider Abel Flores was aboard for the work that was the sixth-fastest of nine at the distance. Trainer Steve Asmussen, who is attending the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, texted after the work: "He just ran eight days ago, so he didn't need much." He stands 23rd on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and would need three defections from horses under consideration for the race by the time entries are taken April 29.

 

Danzig Moon—John Oxley's Danzig Moon galloped 1 1/2 miles after the morning renovation break under exercise rider William Cano. Trained by Mark Casse, Danzig Moon is scheduled to work April 25 with jockey Julien Leparoux up.

 

Far Right—Harry Rosenblum and Robert LaPenta's Far Right had a scheduled walk day Monday and will return to the track to jog Tuesday, trainer Ron Moquett said. The Arkansas Derby (gr. I) runner-up is scheduled to work April 25 or 26.

 

International Star—Ken and Sarah Ramsey's International Star galloped 1 1/4 miles at the nearby Trackside training center for trainer Mike Maker. Regular exercise rider Joel Barrientos was aboard the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner who is scheduled to work April 25 at Churchill Downs.

 

Keen Ice—Donegal Racing's Keen Ice walked the shedrow for a second day following an April 18 work, and trainer Dale Romans said the Curlin   colt would return to the track Tuesday to jog.

 

Mr. Z—Zayat Stables' Mr. Z galloped a little more than a mile shortly after the track opened for training at 5:45 Monday morning. Exercise rider Edvin Vargas was aboard the colt trained by four-time Kentucky Derby winner D. Wayne Lukas.

 

Mubtaahij—Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, the colt had a two-lap spin over the Polytrack surface at Arlington Park Monday morning under regular work rider Lisa Moncrieff. The first was just a jog the wrong way after which he turned and did one lap in an easy canter. He went in company with anticipated Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) starter Umgiyo.

 

"We were very happy with both our horses today. They were perky and bright eyed and appear to have suffered no ill effects from the long travel," assistant trainer Trevor Brown said. "They have settled well and are eating up." Brown advised that, after consultation with trainer Mike de Kock, still in South Africa and due to arrive stateside this weekend, Mubtaahij likely will work a half-mile on Tuesday. "He will likely go very easy in the first furlong and pick it up from there," Brown said.

 

Tencendur—Philip Birsh's Tencendur arrived at Churchill Downs at 5 o'clock Monday morning after vanning from Belmont Park. Trainer George Weaver said Tencendur, stabled in Barn 42, would gallop Tuesday and probably work Saturday. Weaver is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Wednesday and be at the track April 23.

 

War Story—Loooch Racing Stables, Glenn Ellis, and Christopher Dunn's War Story galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Marvin Orantes before the morning renovation break when the track was labeled muddy. Third in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) in his  most recent start, War Story will have his third local work since that race "Wednesday or Thursday, depending on the weather" trainer Tom Amoss said.