Under what was described as “perfect conditions” by analyst Kaitlin Free, a busy Saturday morning at Churchill Downs ensued as seven GI Kentucky Derby contenders logged published workouts for the “Run for the Roses” and a pair of GI Kentucky Oaks contenders also drilled for their connections, according to a press release from the track on Saturday morning.
The tab included top Derby point getter Burnham Square (Liam's Map), who went a half-mile in :49.40 under pilot Brian Hernandez Jr. Trained by Ian Wilkes, the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes hero clipped through fractions of :24.40 and :37 and galloped out five furlongs in a composed 1:02.
Burnham Square breezes 4F in :49.40 for trainer Ian Wilkes. 🌹#KyDerby pic.twitter.com/1zuKINjzLb
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 19, 2025
“It was just a maintenance work this morning since he just ran 11 days ago,” Wilkes said. “If I don't do something with him, he'll get too upset. I know I needed to run him more because he was making too many mistakes, and I thought I needed to educate him more so he doesn't make those mistakes in the Derby.”
Putting in their own licks were Publisher (American Pharoah) and Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) who worked in company for their trainer Steve Asmussen. They completed their penultimate work for the Derby with a five-furlong move in :59.60. The former, with exercise rider Carlos Rosas aboard, and the latter, with jockey Joel Rosario in the saddle, began their move with an eighth-mile clocking of :12.80. Publisher briefly took advantage over his stablemate, working a quarter-mile in :24.20 and three-eighths in :36. Tiztastic's splits were :24.40 and :36.40. The colts galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.80.
Steve Asmussen's #KyDerby contenders, Tiztastic & Publisher work 5F in company in :59.60 pic.twitter.com/1Nqjf5zlAS
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 19, 2025
Also making moves were: 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) (four furlongs, :47.60); Final Gambit (Not This Time) (five furlongs, 1:00.80); Flying Mohawk (Karakontie {Jpn}) (five furlongs, 1:00); and Sovereignty (Into Mischief) (five furlongs, 1:00.60).
Kentucky Derby contender Sovereignty works 5F in 1:00.60 for trainer Bill Mott pic.twitter.com/jNWzLLDWFX
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 19, 2025
At Turfway Park, GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby runner-up Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) worked a half-mile in :50 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.
Also of note, likely Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism breezed a half-mile in :47 flat alongside stablemate Feel the Magic (Good Magic) at Santa Anita on Saturday morning. The Michael McCarthy trainee is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday.
“We're just keeping him in his routine,” said McCarthy. “He's really been training well and this was kind of maintenance. He looked relaxed out there. We just let him stretch his legs a little bit.”
Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Feel the Magic (Outside) and Journalism worked 4 Furlongs in 47.00 at Santa Anita Park on April 19th, 2025, for trainer @mwmracing. @KentuckyDerby pic.twitter.com/kXk3teZVa6
— 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) April 19, 2025
As for the Oaks hopefuls, trainer Whit Beckman's duo of Simply Joking (Practical Joke) and Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro) lit up the Saturday work tab–cruising five furlongs in :58.40. That time was the fastest of 56 works at the distance.
Simply Joking, with Florent Geroux aboard, and Drexel Hill, with Ben Curtis up, posted a sharp opening quarter-mile of :22.60 while continuing three furlongs in :34. The pair galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.60, according to Churchill clocker John Nichols.
Kentucky Oaks contenders, Drexel Hill and Simply Joking work 5F in company in :58.40 for trainer Whit Beckman 🌸 pic.twitter.com/U8wHoX9CrS
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 19, 2025
Easter Sunday is expected to be a quiet morning at Churchill Downs. The next group of Derby contenders is scheduled to breeze Tuesday, led by Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong) and Coal Battle (Coal Front).
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