Outwork Breezes at Belmont

With Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez in the irons, Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Outwork had his penultimate breeze in preparation for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), covering a half-mile in :48 4/5 April 22 at Belmont Park.

Stepping onto the training track just after the second renovation break, the son of Uncle Mo   was accompanied by a pony to the backstretch before he was turned loose behind stablemates Spooked Out and Awesome Gent. Owner and breeder Mike Repole was on hand with trainer Todd Pletcher, who timed Outwork in furlong splits of :12 3/5 and :24 1/5, before he caught and passed his targets and finished about 2 1/2 lengths in front. He galloped out to five furlongs in 1:01 4/5.

"In his races, he's been no worse than second (early on) and we wanted to teach him something, so we might as well let him take some dirt and put him behind horses," Velazquez said. "He actually relaxed really well."

Outwork will be making his fifth start in the Derby. The colt broke his maiden at Keeneland a year ago and returned at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 13 to win an optional claiming allowance. In his next start, he finished a length behind the Pletcher-trained Destin in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) prior to his hard-fought Wood victory, in which he took the lead at the three-eighths pole and held on to win by a neck over closing longshot Trojan Nation.

PEDULLA: Outwork Outlasts Longshot in Wood Memorial

"You certainly don't want to experiment (by taking him back) in the Wood Memorial," Pletcher said. "We felt it would have some benefits and it was a very well-executed breeze. We learned he doesn't mind some kickback and he settled behind horses nicely. So check that off for things you don't have to worry about."

"When Todd's happy with the work, I'm happy with the work," Repole added. "It seemed like Outwork actually settled better behind horses than when he's side-by-side. He went by Awesome Gent and Spooked Out like they were $10,000 claimers and they're stakes horses. It was fun to watch."

Pletcher said Outwork would depart by van April 25 for Churchill Downs, and will likely have his final workout for the Derby April 29.