Wednesday's Derby/Oaks Update

Todd Pletcher | Sarah K. Andrew

• Todd Pletcher's full complement of GI Kentucky Derby contenders has arrived at Churchill Downs, and the pair of GI Xpressbet.com Florida Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby runner-up Patch (Union Rags) had their first spins over the main track Wednesday morning.

Always Dreaming was full of himself this morning,” Pletcher said. “He had an early ship yesterday, so he missed a day of training. He should be more settled tomorrow. I thought he got over the ground great.”

With 'TDN Rising Stars' Battalion Runner (Unbridled's Song) and Malagacy (Shackleford), as well as Tapwrit (Tapit), all galloping Wednesday, Pletcher said he is eyeing the weekend weather forecast–which calls for periods of rain–before deciding plans for final workouts.

“I think the last time they were all together was the first of the month before Tapwrit went to Keeneland and Battalion Runner to New York,” Pletcher said. “I was thinking of maybe staying in Florida (at Palm Beach Downs) a little longer because of the (long-range) forecast (for rain). Maybe we can get a little lucky and work Friday or Saturday.”

• The Mark Casse-trained pair of John Oxley's Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) and Conrad Farm's State of Honor (To Honor and Serve) galloped 1 1/2 miles and schooled in the gate Wednesday in Louisville. Florida Derby runner-up State of Honor is slated to breeze Friday, while the timing of three-time Grade I winner Classic Empire's final workout remains in flux.

• Coffeepot Stable's Farrell (Malibu Moon), who is expected to be among the top choices in the GI Kentucky Oaks next Friday, posted a six-furlong work in 1:13 flat over a fast track. The dark bay swept the three-race series of Oaks preps at Fair Grounds this winter, culminating with a decisive score in the GII TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks Apr. 1.

“I'm loving this,” trainer Wayne Catalano said after watching his charge post splits of :12, :24, :36, :48 and 1:00.60, with a seven-furlong gallop out in 1:27.80. “The work was perfect. It's hard to beat that.”

• Semaphore Racing and Homewrecker Racing's Sailor's Valentine (Mizzen Mast), winner of the GI Central Bank Ashland S. Apr. 8, breezed five furlongs in 1:00 flat at Keeneland Wednesday morning in preparation for an expected start in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 5. The gray, who worked in company with stablemate Laney (Shackleford), will likely ship to Churchill Saturday.

“She worked really good, did it really easy,” trainer Eddie Kenneally said. “It's her final work before the Oaks, and she's all set. We're excited about her. We think she's coming into the race real good. She's an improving filly at the moment.”

Click here for a feature on Sailor's Valentine's ownership group.

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