Wood Winner Outwork in Good Order, Derby Next

Repole Stable's Outwork, winner of the Wood Memorial (gr. I) April 9, returned from his efforts in fine fettle and likely will be one of two representatives from trainer Todd Pletcher's barn for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

 

"He seemed very happy with himself, and I'm pleased with the way he's come out of the race so far," said Pletcher, adding that none of his Blue Grass (gr. I) contenders—Zulu, Cards of Stone, or Donegal Moon—ran well enough at Keeneland to warrant consideration for the Run for the Roses.

 

Although pleased with the Uncle Mo   colt's development this year—going from a sprint allowance to the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) to a 1 1/8-mile race over a demanding, muddy track with a quick opening quarter of :22 4/5—the trainer said he still has some learning to do as he moves forward to the 1 1/4 mile Derby.

 

 

"He definitely has a tendency to idle," Pletcher said. "In his mind the race was won when he got to the top of the stretch and made the lead. Thankfully, it didn't cost him the win yesterday. His ears go straight forward and he's looking around. Hopefully that's something he'll continue to mature through and get better, and learn how to really polish off his races."

 

One of the more satisfying aspects of Outwork's victory, Pletcher said, was that he made some amends for his sire's loss in the same race five years ago.

 

"A son of Uncle Mo out of a mare named after his grandmother, it was really a family win for Mike Repole," Pletcher said. "It was extra special in many ways."

 

Travel plans for Outwork remain undecided, other than he definitely will not be getting on the April 11 flight to Kentucky.

 

"There's another one (April 19) that could be a possibility," Pletcher said. "It's in the process of being sorted out. We have to work out when he's going to breeze and where his two breezes will be. One of them could be here, and I anticipate one, possibly two, will be at Churchill."

 

Defeated by only a head by Outwork, maiden Trojan Nation has emerged from his near-upset Wood in fine order, California-based trainer Patrick Gallagher said Sunday morning.

 

Trojan Nation, owned and bred by Julie Gilbert and Dr. Aaron Sones, has been winless in six starts with three third-place finishes in addition to Saturday's runner-up performance at 81-1, but now boasts more than $200,000 in earnings and 40 points towards a berth in the Kentucky Derby.

 

"He's a horse that always trains really well. We kind of hoped that he was putting everything together racing wise and it was another big step up," Gallagher said. "It was his first cross-country ship and he got (to New York) early, two or three days out from the race, so he got a chance to settle in real good."

 

He added that Trojan Nation, a well-bred bay colt by Street Cry out of 1996 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) and Eclipse Award winner Storm Song, will regroup at Gallagher's training base at Santa Anita Park, but could well make his next start in the Run for the Roses.

 

"I talked with the owners last night and he's definitely in consideration for the Derby," he said. "We've got about a month until the race, so he's going to ship back here back to California either Tuesday or Wednesday and we'll train him here before making a final decision and deciding when to ship to Kentucky."

 

With a bevy of runners in yesterday's stakes races from Aqueduct and Keeneland, trainer Chad Brown ended the day pleased with winning performances from Lewis Bay in the grade II Gazelle at the Big A alongside a second-place finish at Keeneland with My Man Sam in the grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I). He also looked to regroup with Wood Memorial entrants Shagaf and Flexibility who finished in fifth and seventh-place respectively.

Virtually locking a spot in the Derby starting gate after accumulating 40 Kentucky Derby qualifying points with his performance in the Blue Grass, Sheep Pond Partner's promising colt My Man Sam has earned his way there as long as he remains healthy according to Brown.

"I thought he ran great considering that difficult post position," Brown said.  "He finished strong and got up for second and earned enough points if we want to run in the Derby, which we do, so if he comes out of the race okay which so far he has he'll also move over to Churchill on the 19th and have two workouts over the track."

Lastly, Brown commented on Shadwell Stable's Shagaf, who entered the gate in the Wood as the 9-5 post-time favorite only to finish a disappointing fifth over the muddy and sealed track while Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawerence's Flexiblity would be taken off the Derby trail in another direction following his seventh-place finish.

"Shagaf didn't really appear to handle the track as well," said Brown. "He made a good move into the turn, he ran up into a wall of horses and he had to pause. When he tried to re-rally again he was very one paced and tired and encountered a lot of mud and kickback. Irad said the track wasn't just for him. So far he looks good this morning. If he has a good week, he'll go to Churchill on the 19th as well."

 

"Flexibility was disappointing, Manny Franco said down the backside he wouldn't handle the inner of the track. He was off the bridle by the midway marker and he had no horse under him at all. We'll regroup with him but for now he's off the Derby trail."