Favorites Forte, Tapit Trice Breeze Toward KY Derby

Highlighted by breezes from Kentucky Derby (G1) favorites Forte  and Tapit Trice , nine 3-year-olds recorded workouts April 21 across the country toward starts in the 1 1/4-mile classic May 6 at Churchill Downs.

Six colts breezed beneath the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs, including Forte, who covered five furlongs in 1:02, and Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Tapit Trice, who went a half-mile in :48 3/5. Both colts are trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher.

Pletcher, a two-time Derby winner, described their penultimate Derby works as going according to plan.

"They worked very well, handled the track great, very happy," he said.

Irad Ortiz Jr., Forte's regular rider, was aboard the Violence   colt for Friday's workout. Forte started just behind stablemate Bright Future  and the work unfolded slowly early and quickly late, with Forte timed galloping out six furlongs in 1:14 2/5 and seven furlongs in 1:27.

Kentucky Derby favorite Forte working five furlongs in 1:02 outside Bright Future. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/AFDi34c2RA

— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 21, 2023

"It was a normal work from him, which is exactly what you want to see," Ortiz said. "I let him start going at the five-furlong pole and just get into stride. Going into the turn, he stayed with the other horse. When I tipped him out in the stretch, he responded well and galloped out nicely. His mind has changed a lot this year from last year. I'm happy with that. He's growing physically but has a great mind."

Repole Stables and St. Elias Stable's Forte, last year's champion 2-year-old male and winner of both the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) in two starts in 2023, is likely to go off as the first choice in the betting for the Derby. Whisper Hill Farms and Gainesway Stable's Tapit Trice will also garner significant support after a 3-for-3 campaign this year that includes victories in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and Blue Grass Stakes.

The latter's workout on Friday came with exercise rider Amelia Green in the saddle, in company with Equivoque , a first-out maiden winner at Keeneland. Tapit Trice completed an opening eighth of a mile in :12 4/5 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01. Luis Saez is his jockey in the Derby.

Blue Grass Stakes winner Tapit Trice finishing his half-mile move in :48.60 outside Equivoque. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/pvNrjrnyni

— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 21, 2023

Pletcher also has at least one other Kentucky Derby starter in Spendthrift Farm's Kingsbarns , who breezed April 20.

The trainer said he could announce a Kentucky Derby jockey for Kingsbarns by April 23. The mount became open when Flavien Prat, who rode Kingsbarns to victory in the Louisiana Derby (G2), opted to ride Albaugh Family Stables Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Angel of Empire  in the Kentucky Derby.

The latter breezed Friday under Prat at Churchill Downs, covering six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 with his Brad Cox-trained stablemate Jace's Road , who ran third in the Louisiana Derby most recently and is also pointed to the Derby. Jockey Florent Geroux was aboard Jace's Road, who needs a defection from the current Kentucky Derby lineup to gain entry into the race, which is capped at 20 starters, with preference determined by Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Cox also worked Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) runner-up Hit Show  and Blue Grass runner-up Verifying  five furlongs in 1:01 toward the Derby.

A number of 3-year-old fillies pointed for the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs also breezed Friday, including an in-company move from Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) runner-up Pretty Mischievous , who zipped five furlongs in 1:00 2/5, galloping out six furlongs in 1:13 under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. As in a prior workout, she wore blinkers.

Away from Churchill Downs, graded stakes winners Blazing Sevens , Lord Miles , and Practical Move  recorded half-mile breezes at Keeneland, Gulfstream Park, and Santa Anita Park, respectively. Blazing Sevens was clocked in :48 3/5, Lord Miles in :47.05, and Practical Move in :47.

Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Practical Move, trained by Tim Yakteen, worked in company with Kangaroo Court  and galloped out with enthusiasm.

Work of the Day from @santaanitapark-Kangaroo Court (Outside) and Practical Move worked 4 Furlongs in 47.00 on April 21st, 2023, for trainer @timyakteen. pic.twitter.com/cmmRKZbzdz

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) April 21, 2023

Lord Miles is scheduled to complete his serious preparation for the Derby at Gulfstream before shipping to Churchill Downs about a week before the Derby. His breeze Friday came in company with stablemate Apocalypso .

"It was a good easy work but probably a tad faster than ideal, but he did it well within himself and he was moving well—that's the important thing," said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

At Keeneland, regular exercise rider Peter Roman was aboard the Chad Brown-trained Blazing Sevens, who raced in blinkers for the first time when third in the Blue Grass and wore them for Friday's breeze.

"He breezed very well and we're very happy with it," assistant trainer Josh Flores said. "That's what you want to see from the first breeze back (after a race)."

Following three consecutive defeats, two this year, Rodeo Creek Racing's Blazing Sevens is considered one of the less certain Kentucky Derby starters, with no confirmed Derby jockey yet announced by Brown.

*Workouts in Florida are timed in hundredths of a second, not fifths as in many jurisdictions.