Mubtaahij Breezes Easy Three Furlongs
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's group II winner Mubtaahij had an easy three-furlong breeze timed in :37.40 with jockey Christophe Soumillon aboard April 30 at Churchill Downs to wrap up serious preparation for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
"It was a very easy work just to stretch his legs," trainer Mike de Kock said of the move just two days before the Derby. "It just gets them breathing a little bit deeper, gets the blood oxygenated, lets them stretch, and get the circulation going into the muscles."
Churchill Downs clockers also noted the first furlong in :13.20 and a half-mile gallop-out time of :52.40.
"I just told [Christophe] to let him stretch his legs out over the last 400 (meters) and just enjoy himself," de Kock said.
An easy blowout 48 hours prior to race day is part of the standard operating procedure in de Kock's barn.
"I always do it, or nine times out of 10, I'll blow them out," de Kock said. "Some of them a little bit harder, some of them a little less, depending on the horse."