 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
Coal Battle and Japanese raider Admire Daytona put in half-mile workouts for Kentucky Derby 151 on a picture-perfect Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.
Working during the 7:15-7:30 a.m. training window reserved for Derby and Oaks contenders, Coal Battle was first to go, clocking a half-mile in :47.80 under Bethany Taylor. Fractions were :12.40, :24.60, :47.80, and out five furlongs in 1:00.80.
Admire Daytona, with Yoshimitsu Miyashita aboard, worked in :53.20 starting at the three-eighths pole, with splits of :13, :39.20, and :53.20.
The Gr.2 UAE Derby winner Admire Daytona had his first serious move over the Churchill Downs surface, recording a half-mile in :53.20 under exercise rider/assistant trainer Yoshimitsu Miyashita.
Admire Daytona warmed up in the one-mile chute for about 10 minutes, then walked clockwise to the finish line. After briefly standing at the wire, he jogged back to the chute, stood for approximately five minutes, then began his work.
The son of Drefong started picking up his gallop at the half-mile pole and, from the three-furlong marker, worked through splits of :13 and :39.20.
"With only three weeks between races, we just prepped him the same way we did in Dubai," Miyashita said. "We let him decide what he wanted to do over the four furlongs. He increased his speed a bit in the straight on his own and really it was exactly like the kind of work he turned in prior to the UAE Derby. He has managed to maintain his pre-UAE Derby physical condition perfectly, so we just have to help him keep it until race day."
American Promise, with exercise rider Tayja Smith aboard, galloped about 1¼ miles at 6:15 a.m. with trainer D. Wayne Lukas observing from his pony on the backstretch.
The chestnut son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify drew an appreciative nod from Lukas as he walked the shedrow following training.
"He's just growing into his frame," Lukas said of the Virginia Derby winner. "He won't be 3 until May 17."
American Promise will be ridden in Derby 151 by Nik Juarez, who will make his Kentucky Derby debut. Juarez is scheduled to ride Thursday at Oaklawn Park and will travel to Louisville on Friday.
Meanwhile, Built galloped at 7:15 a.m. with trainer Wayne Catalano watching from the backstretch.
Gr.1 Blue Grass Stakes winner, Burnham Square galloped during the Derby/Oaks training window with Mark Cutler aboard for trainer Ian Wilkes. Burnham Square is expected to work Saturday.
Louisiana Derby runner-up Chunk of Gold galloped at Turfway Park under trainer Ethan West. The son of Preservationist is scheduled to work Friday.
Trainer Bob Baffert's duo of Citizen Bull and Rodriguez are expected to arrive at Churchill Downs on Thursday. Their flight is scheduled to land in Indianapolis at 1:30 p.m.
Coal Battle breezed a half mile in :47.80 during the Derby/Oaks training window under Bethany Taylor. Fractions were :12.40, :24.60, :47.80, and out five furlongs in 1:00.80. The time was the third fastest of 30 at the distance.
"I was thrilled with it. He keeps getting better every time he goes out there," Taylor said after Coal Battle's third local work. "He is improving every time."
Trainer Lonnie Briley, who watched alongside jockey Juan Vargas, was pleased with the move.
"It was good, and he came back like he hadn't done anything, not even taking a drink of water," Briley said.
Briley plans a three-eighths blowout next week.
"Four or five days before a race, I like to give them a three-eighths blowout to put some air in their lungs," he said.
Blue Grass Stakes Runner-up East Avenue trained earlier than usual Tuesday at 5:15 a.m., galloping about 1½ miles under Stephen Dolan with trainer Brendan Walsh watching from his stable pony.
Things are picking up in trainer Brad Cox's Barn 22 at Churchill Downs. Both Juddmonte's Final Gambit and WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and Cold Press Racing's Tappan Street galloped Tuesday with notable visitors observing.
WinStar Farm president Elliott Walden was on hand alongside Cox. Also watching was Final Gambit's jockey Luan Machado, joined by his agent Cory Prewitt.
Flying Mohawk galloped at 7:15 a.m. under Maurilio Garcia.
Grande is scheduled to breeze Friday at Keeneland, then ship to Churchill Downs later that day.
Journalism, the anticipated favourite for Kentucky Derby 151, was en route to Churchill Downs from Southern California on Tuesday. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism was flying into Indianapolis, followed by a van ride to Louisville with a mid-afternoon arrival expected.
Luxor Café is undergoing a 42-hour USDA quarantine in Chicago following his arrival from Japan on Monday. He is tentatively scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Wednesday evening.
Owen Almighty jogged 1½ miles at 7:15 a.m. under Antonio Orellana for trainer Brian Lynch. Owen Almighty is scheduled to work Friday.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen's duo of Publisher and Tiztastic trained Tuesday at 7:15 a.m.
Sandman galloped 1½ miles at 7:15 a.m. with Froylan Garcia aboard. Trainer Mark Casse said the Arkansas Derby winner is scheduled to work Wednesday morning.
Sovereignty galloped under Guesler Cardona during the 7:15-7:30 a.m. training window reserved for Derby hopefuls.