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Journalism and Sovereignty have impressed in their final preparations for the Kentucky Derby, with both colts pleasing connections in their Sunday morning workouts at Churchill Downs.
Six Derby contenders completed their final serious gallops on a fast main track, with morning-line favourite Journalism breezing five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 under jockey Umberto Rispoli.
The colt, trained by Michael McCarthy, was originally scheduled to work on Saturday but plans were changed due to track conditions following rain.
After being held back a day, Journalism moved with purpose in his solo exercise, galloping out with energy through splits of 1:13 3/5, 1:26 4/5, and 1:41 1/5.
"Nice leg stretcher," McCarthy remarked afterwards. "I thought he got over the racetrack well and got to see the whole place. Umberto seemed like he was very happy."
The postponement created logistical challenges for Italian-born Rispoli, who had flown overnight from California only to find Saturday's work cancelled.
"It would have been tough to work over the track in that condition yesterday," Rispoli said. "Obviously, I had to cross the country, but we did this for him. We work as a team; we win as a team. I think it was the most intelligent choice we could've made, and I'm glad we worked on the horse today. Everything worked out. It's a privilege to ride a horse like him. He really liked the surface."
Journalism, campaigned by a partnership including Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bridlewood Farm, has drawn post 8 for Saturday's US$5 million event.
"It's obviously nice to go in there with the favourite, certainly it makes you feel pretty good about the position you're in," said McCarthy, who is seeking his first Derby success.
Shortly after Journalism's appearance, Bill Mott's Sovereignty completed his own five-furlong breeze in 1:01 4/5, easily dispensing with his workmate before galloping out another furlong in 1:15 under exercise rider Javier Cardona.
"I was pleased with what I saw. I mean, we didn't put as a stiff work in him as we did last week, but that was intentional," said Hall of Fame trainer Mott, who won the 2019 Derby with Country House when stewards disqualified Maximum Security for interference.
Sovereignty, bred and owned by Godolphin, comes into the race having won the Gr.2 Fountain of Youth Stakes before finishing second in the Gr.1 Florida Derby behind Tappan Street, who misses the Derby after suffering a condylar fracture.
Godolphin's second Derby contender, East Avenue, worked impressively for trainer Brendan Walsh, being timed in :59 2/5 during an in-company move under his Derby jockey, Manny Franco. His six-furlong gallop-out time was 1:12 1/5.
"It's nice to have multiples out there," Godolphin USA's director of bloodstock, Michael Banahan, said of having two Kentucky Derby prospects breezing moments apart.
Walsh was particularly taken with East Avenue's effort: "I loved the way he finished up in the work. I got him finishing up in 11 and change, it looked like he was going 12 the whole way. It's always nice when you look at your watch and you see it a little quicker than what you thought. It's perfect; he's cooling out good and he seems happy and that's all we can hope for."
Rodriguez, along with Citizen Bull, one of two Derby entries for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, drilled five furlongs in 1:00 under exercise rider Eric Garcia. Churchill clockers caught the son of Authentic galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.60.
"He got across the track as well as you could've hoped for this morning," co-owner SF Racing's Tom Ryan said. "He seems like a happy horse; he's got lots of energy."
Garcia was visibly impressed after dismounting. "Amazing work; amazing," the rider said. "He was in hand all the way."
Rodriguez, who won the Gr.2 Wood Memorial Stakes last time, will start from post 4 under two-time Derby winner Mike Smith.
"He's got a great base level of fitness, he's got the right mind, the right amount of experience," Ryan added.
Steve Asmussen's pair of Derby contenders, Publisher and Tiztastic, had previously worked together but split up for their final pre-Derby drills.
Publisher clocked a half mile in :49 under exercise rider Wilson Fabian, while Tiztastic followed with the same distance in :50 1/5 under Carlos Rosas.
"Both horses had a very sharp work eight days ago, and for them to come back and be as relaxed and as loose and handle as well as they did today, we're extremely pleased," said North America's all-time winningest trainer. "Just hoping everything goes as smooth the next six days as it has up to this point."
The pair will break side by side from posts 13 and 14 respectively, with Walsh's East Avenue sandwiched between them and Rodriguez in post 4.
Twenty 3YOs are set to contest the first leg of the American Triple Crown over 1¼ miles at Churchill Downs on Saturday.