Rocket Can Blasts Out Final Derby Drill for Mott

Standing outside his barn on a breezy spring morning at Churchill Downs, trainer Bill Mott fielded a slew of media questions after his lone Kentucky Derby (G1) contender Rocket Can  completed his final breeze April 30 ahead of next Saturday.

ROCKET CAN (inside) breezes 5 furlongs in company for trainer Bill Mott, crossing the line in :59.8. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/mNWMqbmRW9

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 30, 2023

The son of Into Mischief   was the only horse to work during the 7:30 a.m. session which is delegated for Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) competitors. He went five furlongs in :59 4/5 while donning a set of blinkers.

"I think it went very well. He had a workmate out there and both riders did a great job and it worked out like we would've hoped it was going to. ...Visually for me it looks like (the blinkers) are helping," Mott said. "We had worked him before in blinkers and thought they didn't make an extreme amount of difference but if they help you just a little bit that's what you need."

Splits were clocked in :12 4/5, :24 2/5, and :36.

"That's racehorse time over this track I'd say, the gallop out was a good 7/8's in :26 and change so I think (it's the) kind of work you'd want to be coming off of going into a big race," Mott said. "He shows that he's sharp and able to do it."

The colt who is campaigned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, has breezed steadily since arriving in Louisville earlier this month. After a somewhat rocky juvenile year, Rocket Can has found his stride as a 3-year-old, winning the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) in February, placing second in the March 4 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), and finishing just off the board last out in the Arkansas Derby (G1) April 1.

"He's progressed a lot since last August when we ran him twice at Saratoga and he didn't hit the board and we sent him back here in the fall and he ran twice...He's been slowly going in the right direction," Mott said.

WATCH: Mott on Rocket Can's Final Derby Breeze

As for what the next week holds for Rocket Can, Mott says he likes to take it one day at a time and keep the routine simple so the colt has the best shot at the competitive field which awaits him May 6. Mott's only Kentucky Derby win came in 2019 with Country House   after Maximum Security   was disqualified for interference in the stretch. 

"He'll have an easy day tomorrow and then we'll keep him on a medium exercise program until Derby day. We just hope that he stays healthy and in one piece until Saturday," Mott said.

"Let's have some fun, we all want to win but when you have the opportunity to run in this race, there's only 20 horses out of the whole foal crop that get a chance to do it. Just enjoy the fact that we're here."