• Two-time GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher put his 2018 arsenal on full display Friday morning at Churchill Downs under a cloudless sky with four workers. Streaking GI Xpressbet Florida Derby winner Audible (Into Mischief) worked a half-mile in :49.40 (39/75); unbeaten GI Arkansas Derby winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon) worked a half-mile in :47.40 (4/75); Vino Rosso (Curlin), winner of the GII Wood Memorial S., worked a bullet half-mile in :47.20 (1/75); and 'TDN Rising Star' Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy), a game winner of the GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 (24/43).
“This was an important day and we got perfect conditions,” Pletcher said. “All four handled the surface well. Sometimes you come in and worry that they won't like the track, but they all got over it well.”
Pletcher continued, “Magnum Moon was very good and had good energy. He galloped out strong and I was very happy with him. Audible was very good. Javier [Castellano] was happy with him. Vino Rosso was good and Johnny [Velazquez] was happy with him. All three of those were similar with Magnum Moon and Vino Rosso quicker and Audible a good gallop out. Noble Indy showed good energy and Florent [Geroux] got along well with him.”
• The undefeated GI Santa Anita Derby winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Justify (Scat Daddy) posted his final official workout in advance of the Kentucky Derby at Santa Anita Park, breezing seven furlongs in 1:25.20 (1/1) under Drayden Van Dyke. Santa Anita clockers recorded splits of :24.60, :36.40, :48.40, 1:00.60 and 1:12.60.
“That's what you want to see,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “You want to see a horse that's enjoying what he's doing. He worked well and got something out of it. I was either going to work him tomorrow or today and I moved it up an extra day because he's going to leave on Monday.”
• Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior), narow runner-up in the Louisiana Derby, breezed a half-mile in :48 (13/75) beneath the Twin Spires Friday. “A lot of people get caught up in his fast workout times,” trainer Tom Amoss said. “That's just who he is. He naturally works that fast so I'd be worried if he went slower. He will still need to improve. It's a very deep field this year.”
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