Derby Trainers Keeping Eye on Weather

Trainers with contenders in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) are keeping one eye on the weather as planned workouts approach for this weekend, April 25-26, at Churchill Downs.

The forecast calls for rain to begin late Friday night with the heaviest beginning at 6 a.m. ET Saturday.

Some trainers plan to breeze their horses as scheduled, regardless of the weather.

"We would most likely stay on for Saturday," said George Weaver, trainer of Tencendur. "I am bringing Manny Franco in for the work and it would be kind of a pain to have to change. I like to stay on seven days. He worked last Saturday and the Derby is next Saturday.

"The thing is, if you plan to work at 8:30 and there is lightning, it could get dangerous. If it is not dangerous out there, we will go. I am not uncomfortable with this track when it is wet."

Owned by Philip Birsh, Tencendur galloped 1 3/8 miles after the renovation break with exercise rider Blair Golen aboard on a clear and cool Thursday morning.

"He galloped well this morning and everything looks good," said Weaver, who arrived in Louisville Wednesday after training hours.

Kentucky Derby notes from Churchill Downs:

* Zayat Stables' American Pharoah stood in the starting gate and galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Jorge Alvarez April 23 at Churchill during the 8:30-8:45 a.m. window reserved for Derby and Oaks contenders. Trained by Bob Baffert, American Pharoah is scheduled to work Sunday. 

* The Ackerley Brothers Farm's Bold Conquest visited the starting gate then galloped after the morning renovation break with exercise rider Abel Flores up for trainer Steve Asmussen.

 * Trainer Todd Pletcher had his Derby hopefuls going through their morning paces on two fronts Thursday. First up for Pletcher was Cheyenne Stables and Mac Nichol's Madefromlucky, who galloped a little more than a mile and quarter shortly after 6 a.m. with Ezequiel Perez up. 

At 8:30, Alto Racing's Materiality (Carlos Cano aboard), Starlight Racing's Itsaknockout (Perez), and Stonestreet Stables, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor's Stanford (Isabelle Bourez) all went through a similar exercise. 

After that, Pletcher was off to Keeneland where he arrived shortly before 10 a.m. to watch WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stables' Carpe Diem gallop 1 1/2 miles clockwise around the main track under Patti Krotenko. Looking on with Pletcher were Kenny Troutt, owner of WinStar Farm, and Elliott Walden, WinStar President. 

Pletcher's Churchill contingent is scheduled to work Saturday and Carpe Diem Sunday at 6:30 a.m. at Keeneland, "but we are watching the weather," Pletcher said. Riders have been confirmed for two of the Pletcher horses; John Velazquez on Carpe Diem and Javier Castellano on Materiality.

* John Oxley's Danzig Moon galloped 1 1/2 miles after the morning break with exercise rider William Cano up. Norman Casse, assistant to his father, trainer Mark Casse, said Saturday's planned work could be pushed to Sunday depending on the weather. Julien Leparoux, who has ridden Danzig Moon in his past three starts, has the Derby mount. 

* Trainer Ron Moquett was happy with the 1 3/4-mile gallop put in by Harry Rosenblum and Robert LaPenta's Far Right shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday with Laura Moquett aboard. "Moving like a tremendous machine..." Moquett said with a broad grin, quoting the famous race call of Secretariat's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Triple Crown win. Far Right is scheduled to work about the same time Saturday, but Moquett could wait a day if weather proves problematic.

* Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner International Star galloped 1 1/4 miles at the Trackside training center under exercise Joel Barrientos. Trainer Mike Maker plans to work International Star at Churchill Downs Saturday but "probably would push it back to Sunday" if conditions warrant. 

* With Jerry Crawford of Donegal Racing looking on, Keen Ice galloped 1 1/2 miles after the morning renovation break with Faustino Aguilar aboard. Trained by Dale Romans, Keen Ice is scheduled to work Saturday.

* Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said that Zayat Stables' Mr. Z came out of his five-furlong work of 1:01 on Wednesday in good order. Mr. Z walked the shedrow Thursday and will return to the track in the morning according to Lukas. Ramon Vazquez has the Derby mount.

* Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's Mubtaahij cantered one lap then jogged a second lap on the Polytrack surface at Arlington International Racecourse. The son of Dubawi likely will do the same Friday before an anticipated breeze Saturday, similar to the three-eighths he did Tuesday. Mubtaahij is scheduled to ship from the Chicagoland oval on Monday, April 27, leaving after morning work is finished at Arlington. 

* Loooch Racing Stables, Glenn Ellis and Christopher Dunn's War Story walked the shedrow a day after working five furlongs in 1:02. "He came out of the work fine and will go back to the track tomorrow to jog," trainer Tom Amoss said.