Saturday provided some further clarity in solidifying the prospective 20-horse lineup for next Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby, and a number of key contenders posted their final serious workouts ahead of the race.
• Trainer Todd Pletcher shook up the GI Kentucky Derby picture Saturday when he announced that St. Elias Stable's Battalion Runner (Unbridled's Song) and Sumaya U.S. Stable's Malagacy (Shackleford) will not enter the Run for the Roses. Pletcher called it “all but sure” Malagacy would be re-routed to another race, while reaffirming that he was less than pleased with how Battalion Runner “wrestled with the track” in his workout Friday. Battalion Runner's owner, Vinny Viola, also is part of a partnership that campaigns confirmed Derby starter Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), who captured the GI Florida Derby for Pletcher Apr. 1. The colt galloped over a sealed track Saturday morning, along with fellow Pletcher-trained Derby contenders Patch (Union Rags) and Tapwrit (Tapit).
“I'm pleased with how they came out of their works yesterday,” Pletcher said. “Always Dreaming, especially so. He demolished his breakfast after that work [five furlongs in a bullet :59.60 Friday], then ate up again last night. You love to see that when you put a good work into them.”
• The defections of Malagacy and Battalion Runner helped L and N Racing's Lookin At Lee (Lookin At Lucky) and Calumet Farm's Sonneteer (Midnight Lute) secure spots in the starting gate next Saturday.
• Albaugh Family Stable's J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), fourth in the Apr. 8 GII Toyota Blue Grass S., breezed five furlongs in 1:01 flat Saturday morning at Churchill over a track labeled as “good” for trainer Dale Romans. With regular exercise rider Tammy Fox aboard, the colt recorded splits of :11.40, :23.20, :35.60 and :48.20, before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.60 and seven in 1:28.60.
“That's what we wanted,” Romans said. “The gallop-out was strong. He did that by himself. You couldn't ask for much better.”
• Brad Grady's GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby winner Girvin (Tale of Ekati) returned to the worktab Saturday morning at Keeneland, breezing five furlongs in company in :59.60 beneath Rosie Napravnik. Working inside, the colt clicked off fractions of :12, :24, :36 and :48 before coming home the final eighth in :11.60 and galloping out in 1:13 flat for six furlongs. The work was postponed twice earlier this week after a quarter-crack was discovered in Girvin's right front hoof.
“He worked extremely well and cooled out great,” trained Joe Sharp said, while audibly relieved. “Every day the foot has been better and better, but typically this kind of issue does improve like that. It's definitely been a huge team effort.”
Sharp added that Girvin would remain at Keeneland until shipping to Churchill Wednesday morning.
• GI Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley (Malibu Moon) worked seven furlongs in 1:26.20 Saturday morning at Santa Anita, completing his serious preparation for the Derby. Trainer John Shirreffs was on hand for Gormley's drill, which was in company with regally bred stablemate Ziconic (Tapit), who stopped the clock in 1:27.40.
“I thought the work was very good,” said Shirreffs of Gormley. “Both he and Royal Mo (Uncle Mo) will ship early Monday for Kentucky and arrive Monday afternoon. Tuesday, they'll probably jog or do something–get out and stretch their legs somehow.”
Shirreffs also worked Royal Mo six furlongs in 1:13 flat. The colt, who finished third in a blanket finish in the Apr. 8 Santa Anita Derby, is currently one defection away from earning a spot in the starting gate for the Run for the Roses.
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