Confidence Game Works Toward Kentucky Derby

Just more than weeks remain until the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) and trainer Keith Desormeaux has ramped up his work pattern for Don't Tell My Wife Stables and Ocean Reef Racing's Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Confidence Game , who had a unique one-mile breeze in 1:38 1/5 from the starting gate April 14 at Churchill Downs.

Confidence Game, with jockey James Graham aboard, began his training session by breaking inside of his unraced 3-year-old stablemate. Around the far turn, after Confidence Game completed five furlongs in 1:00 1/5, fellow stablemate Giant Awakening , a maiden 3-year-old gelding, was waiting for him around the 5 1/2-furlong pole. The duo then stayed together around the track with Confidence Game finishing his work around the sixteenth pole. He galloped out about a total of 1 1/4 miles.

Hovdey: Desormeaux Full of Confidence About His Derby Angle

"At first when I looked at the final time, I was a little disappointed," Desormeaux said. "Then I got back to the barn and went through the splits and I had a renewed sense of confidence—for a lack of a better term. He really started to pick it up late in the work even when he went fast early during the work. … The gate works at Churchill are timed when the doors open so if you take into account that during a race there is a little bit of a run-up before the timer starts, he worked really well. I was definitely looking to get a lot of out of the work and I think we accomplished that. He needed it."

Confidence Game will enter the Derby off a 10-week layoff from the Rebel. Desormeaux originally thought about running in the Lexington Stakes (G3) April 15 at Keeneland but opted to train up to the Derby.

Confidence Game completed splits of :24 3/5, :36, :47 4/5, 1:00 1/5, 1:13, and 1:25 3/5. He galloped out to 1 1/4 miles in 2:05 4/5. Desormeaux said Confidence Game would likely work back next Saturday. 

Kentucky Oaks Contenders Work

It was a busy Friday morning at Churchill for 3-year-old fillies preparing for this year's $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) with Botanical  (four furlongs, :48 1/5), Pretty Mischievous  (five furlongs, 1:02), The Alys Look  (four furlongs, :48), and Wet Paint  (four furlongs, :48) all working toward the first Friday in May. 

Godolphin's Pretty Mischievous was the first filly to work at 5:30 a.m. ET. With Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle, the Brendan Walsh-trainee sported blinkers and easily completed fractions of :13, :25 2/5, and :37 2/5. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 3/5 and seven-eighths of a mile in 1:27 3/5, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

Soon after Pretty Mischievous completed her move, trainer Brad Cox's trio of Botanical, The Alys Look, and Wet Paint were on the track preparing for their workouts.

LNJ Foxwoods and Clearsky Farm's Botanical, with Chris Landeros up, started about one-length behind stablemate Flashy Gem  and finished even at the wire. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.20, according to Nichols.

Following Botanical's move, Dawn and Ike Thrash's The Alys Look worked inside Godolphin's Wet Paint. The Alys Look had regular exercise rider Edvin Vargas aboard while Wet Paint had Fernando Espinoza in the boot. The duo stayed together throughout their move with a five-furlong gallop out in 1:00 4/5 and a six-furlong time of 1:14, according to Nichols. 

"It was a good morning for our Oaks fillies," Cox said. "We're three weeks out from the Oaks so things will ramp up from here. We'll see what happens."

Cox is scheduled to work Derby contenders Angel of Empire  and Jace's Road  Saturday.