Irish War Cry Solid in Final Pre-Derby Work

Isabelle de Tomaso's homebred Irish War Cry put in his final work for the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) April 30 at Fair Hill Training Center near Elkton, Md., clocking six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 on trainer Graham Motion's watch.

The Curlin   colt, winner of the April 8 Wood Memorial Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) last out, worked under jockey Rajiv Maragh in company with maiden Providence Road, a full brother to Motion's 2011 Wood Memorial winner Toby's Corner. Breaking off about two lengths behind his workmate, he came on even terms coming out of the turn and went head-to-head before passing Providence Road by about half-length at the wire.

"I wanted him to have a decent work but not overdo it, and I think that's exactly what he did," Motion said. "Rajiv was anxious to see how he'd settle behind another horse, I thought it would be good for him to feel that himself, and he was happy with the way he did it. To be really corny, we 'ticked all the boxes,' pretty much."

Maragh, who rode Irish War Cry for the first time to win the Wood Memorial, gave the colt rave reviews for his final pre-Derby move.

"I've never been on him directly behind another horse, so I just wanted to see if that was an option, how he would react," the jockey said. "He was perfect, he did everything I was hoping he would. He didn't react in any negative way at all.

"His workout was fantastic, he was in such a great flow and he did it well within himself. This horse is just such a fabulous horse to ride because he does anything you ask of him."

All being well, Irish War Cry will depart Fair Hill the morning of May 1, and is expected to arrive at Churchill Downs that evening. His first morning on the track will be May 2.

"The horse is a very settled horse, very quiet-mannered," Maragh said. "He doesn't seem to get bothered by anything, really, so I would be really surprised if he was to have any ill effects from the big crowd or anything like that.

"He can do whatever he wants in the race, and I'm not even the least bit concerned that he's going to be manageable in the race. I'm totally confident he will be."

Irish War Cry won three in a row to launch his career, jumping up Feb. 4 with a Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (G2) upset at Gulfstream Park in his 3-year-old debut. He ran an inexplicable seventh in the March 4 Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), then rebounded after heading North to win the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"Ideally you'd like to wipe the Fountain of Youth from your mind, but it's always going to be in the back of my mind," Motion said. "I think it was an abbaration, I hope it was, and I can say he couldn't be doing any better coming into this race. If not for that one blip in his past, I'd feel really good, but apart from that one race he hasn't done much wrong."