Fast and Accurate Gets Five Furlongs in 1:01 1/5
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Photo: Coady Photography
Fast and Accurate, inside, works with 4-year-old Adventist April 30 at Churchill Downs
Trainer Mike Maker vanned Fast and Accurate to Churchill Downs from the Trackside Training Center April 30 to put in the colt’s final work prior to the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). The gray/roan son of Hansen, working with 4-year-old Adventist, went five furlongs in 1:01 1/5.
“We weren’t looking for anything special,” Maker said. “It was designed to be a head-and-head work. Whatever the time was, it was. He looked nice.”
Fast and Accurate, with rider Channing Hill aboard and running along the rail, was caught in splits of :12 1/5, :23 4/5, :35 4/5, and :48 3/5. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 2/5 and seven in 1:28 3/5.
The colt’s prior move was five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 on April 23 at the Training Center.
Fast and Accurate, bred in Pennsylania by John Penn, raced for Dr. Kendall Hansen, who bred and raced his sire, and was a surprising 24-1 winner of Turfway Park’s JACK Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes (G3). After the race, the Skychai Racing team of Harvey Diamond and Jim Shircliff bought in. On April 21 Bode Miller purchased an interest.
Dr. Hansen raced Hansen in the 2011 Derby. This is not Skychai’s first rodeo. They’ve had part ownership of Derby runners Hansen, Twinspired, Harry's Holiday , and General A Rod.
Dr. Hansen watched the work via Facetime while Diamond and Shircliff were on the backside.
“It was just what we wanted,” deadpanned Diamond back at Barn 2 after the move. “Actually, he worked very well. We were happy with it. That wasn’t any slouch he was working with. Channing was very happy with the way he went. He said he did everything easily.”
Fast and Accurate’s workmate Adventist finished third last year in the Withers Stakes (G3), Gotham Stakes (G3), and Wood Memorial Stakes (G1), and was second in the Ohio Derby.
Fast and Accurate, out of the Green Dancer mare It’s Heidi’s Dance, has won three of six starts and is two-for-two at 3. Prior to the Spiral he won going 71/2 furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream Park Feb. 20. He broke his maiden last December 4 for a $30,000 claiming tag at Turfway Park.
Following the drill, Fast and Accurate returned to the training center, but will be back under the Twin Spires in Maker’s Barn 27 on Tuesday.
Maker’s game plan?
“Hopefully win a few races between now and Derby day and win every race we’re in Derby day. I think I’ve got six to enter.”