Trio of Derby Hopefuls Work at Palm Beach Downs

Trainer George Weaver was pleased with how his somewhat unorthodox plan of shipping Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) winner Vekoma back to South Florida for Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) preparations turned out April 26.

In his final serious work before the 1 1/4-mile Derby on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, Vekoma breezed five furlongs in :59.95 at Palm Beach Downs, fastest of six moves at the distance. He worked in company with Majestic Dunhill, a grade 3-placed, two-time stakes-winning 4-year-old son of Majesticperfection.

Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano, who guided Vekoma to victory in the Blue Grass and will be aboard in the Derby, was up for Friday's move.

After Vekoma's 3 1/2-length victory in the April 6 Blue Grass at Keeneland, Weaver decided to return to Palm Beach Downs, where the colt trained well earlier this year. Friday's move was the 11th time Vekoma has breezed at Palm Beach Downs this season—his second time since the Blue Grass, after going an easy half-mile in :50.17 April 18.

Weaver noted he avoided some rain in Kentucky by going back to Palm Beach Downs and enjoyed some mild temperatures.

"I'm definitely feeling good about that decision. You never know with the weather—we could have gone down to Florida and had rain there, but it worked out," Weaver said. "It's even been nice temperatures; sometimes it starts to get hot down here this time of year, but it's been nice in the mornings."

Weaver said Vekoma has thrived at Palm Beach Downs.

"It's all familiar to him: the people, the surroundings," he said.

In his only other race this season, R.A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables' Vekoma finished third in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) March 2 at Gulfstream Park.

The son of Candy Ride  is scheduled to be shipped to Churchill Downs April 30.

Also Friday at Palm Beach Downs, Todd Pletcher's Derby duo of Cutting Humor and Spinoff worked on the fast track. Cutting Humor, by First Samurai , breezed a half-mile in :48.01 with fractions of :13, :24 4/5, and galloped out to five furlongs in 1:00 4/5. 

Spinoff, working in company with Last Judgment, a 3-year-old allowance winner, covered five furlongs in 1:00.77 with splits of :13, :25, :37, and out six furlongs in 1:13.60 and seven-eighths in 1:27. 

At Churchill, trainer Richard Mandella opted to wait on working likely Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite Omaha Beach Friday morning, instead sending the Arkansas Derby (GI) winner out for a trip to the starting gate and a 1 1/2-mile gallop over a track rated as good after early morning rain.

"I was going to work him today, but the track is just going to be better tomorrow," Mandella said Friday. "Then I looked at my training charts and realized I had worked him five-eighths seven days before the last stakes. Why get creative?"

Mandella cautioned not to expect a big work out of the son of War Front  who won a division of the Rebel Stakes (G2) as well.

"He's had enough racing," the trainer said, also noting that jockey Mike Smith will not be working him as had been planned prior to the weather-related changes.

While Mandella waited Friday morning, two Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopefuls put in breezes under different weather conditions 90 minutes apart.

Motion Emotion, with Tyler Baze aboard, went out after the first harrow break at 7:30 a.m. With storm clouds overhead and winds gusting up to 38 mph during the 7:30-7:45 a.m. training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses, Motion Emotion worked a half-mile in :49 4/5.

Following the second harrow break at 9 a.m., with skies clear and the track rated fast, Liora worked five furlongs in :59 3/5 with Florent Geroux up.

Kentucky Derby works penciled in for Saturday at Churchill include Omaha Beach, Plus Que Parfait, and War of Will, with Gray Magician slated to work at San Luis Rey Training Center in Southern California. Oaks hopefuls expected to work Saturday at Churchill are Restless Rider and Chocolate Kisses.