Derma Sotogake Breezes Half-Mile Preparing for Derby

Hiroyuki Asanuma's UAE Derby (G2) winner Derma Sotogake  recorded his first published workout at Churchill Downs April 19 with a :49 3/5 half-mile move in preparation for the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) at the Louisville, Ky., track May 6.

With exercise rider Masatoshi Segawa in the saddle, Derma Sotogake went through his routine 25-minute warm-up in the one-mile chute prior to beginning his work. The son of Mind Your Biscuits  exited the chute and began galloping down the backstretch. Derma Sotogake started to easily pick up his momentum and worked through fractions of :13 and :37 1/5, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

"I am really happy with how he moved today," Segawa said. "He felt great. We didn't want to go too fast today so I had to keep a strong hold on him throughout and even then he performed brilliantly. Now I can start to get really excited about Derby Day."

Derma Sotogake is stabled in Quarantine Barn 1 next to fellow Kentucky Derby contender Continuar . Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and owned by Lion Race Horse, Continuar had his most serious training to date April 18 at Churchill Downs when he picked up his gallop around the seven-eighths pole to about the three-eighths pole. The training was slower than a published workout but noticeably faster than a routine gallop.

Derma Sotogake and Continuar have been stabled at Churchill Downs for two weeks and several of their connections plan to travel to the United States during Kentucky Derby Week.

Trainers Watching Weather for Weekend Workouts

There are 13 Kentucky Derby contenders on-site at Churchill Downs and several trainers are keeping an eye on the local forecast before they plan their penultimate works.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's trio of Forte , Kingsbarns , and Tapit Trice  could work either April 20 or April 21. Pletcher was at Churchill Downs Tuesday and plans to stay through the Derby.

Trainer Brad Cox reported his trio of Angel of Empire , Hit Show , and Verifying  would all work in the coming days. Like Pletcher, Cox is also monitoring the forecast and, as of Wednesday, stated they could work Friday or the day after. 

Keith Desormeaux stated Confidence Game  would work back April 22.

Other Kentucky Derby contenders due to work at Churchill Downs this weekend include Rocket Can  and Sun Thunder .

Special Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks Training Window Begins April 22

The special 15-minute training window for only Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders begins Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET. Kentucky Derby contenders will wear a yellow saddle towel while Oaks contenders will sport a pink saddle towel.

The first morning of the Churchill Downs' Kentucky Derby Morning Works Show is April 24.