With two weeks remaining until the first Saturday in May, trainer Brad Cox's Barn 22 was active Friday morning at Churchill Downs where his trio of contenders recorded their penultimate works for the GI Kentucky Derby. Meanwhile down in Florida on Thursday, Renegade (Into Mischief) got his preparations for the big day underway with his first move since winning the GI Arkansas Derby for trainer Todd Pletcher last month.
In Louisville at 5:15 a.m. (all times Eastern), Wathnan Racing's GI Curlin Florida Derby winner Commandment (Into Mischief) breezed five furlongs in :59.60 outside stablemate Direct Strike (Into Mischief), followed by Spendthrift Farm's GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Further Ado (Gun Runner) with a half-mile in :48.60 and St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing's GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Fulleffort (Liam's Map), who worked five furlongs in :59.20. outside stablemate Chasten (Into Mischief).
“It was a really good morning for all three horses,” Cox said. “Commandment is a steady workhorse and does anything you ask of him. He always seems to clip off 12-second furlongs without being asked. Further Ado looked great coming out of the Blue Grass. He had a solid half-mile with a really good gallop out on his own. Fulleffort seems to be progressing well on the dirt and had a good move with a nice horse in Chasten. He's moved well over this racetrack since we got him back here.”
Commandment, with jockey Luis Saez aboard, started one length behind Direct Strike and posted eighth-mile splits of :12.40, :23.80, :35.60 and :47.40. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.20 and seven furlongs in 1:26.20, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.
Commandment (outside) | Coady Media
'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Further Ado, ridden by regular exercise rider Jonathan Santiago, covered an opening quarter-mile in :23.80 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01, six furlongs in 1:13.80 and seven furlongs in 1:26.80, according to Nichols.
Fulleffort, with regular exercise rider Edvin Vargas aboard, worked eighth-mile splits of :12.20, :24.20, :35.60 and :47.20. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.60, seven furlongs in 1:25.40 and one mile in 1:40.20, according to Nichols.
“The track was quick so the times might've been a little faster than we originally planned,” Cox said. “However, every horse worked well over it and galloped out well. You can't really ask more than that with two weeks to go.”
In his first workout since his Arkansas Derby score by four lengths Mar. 28, presumed Derby favorite Renegade took to the track at Palm Beach Downs on Thursday morning. According to DRF, the Pletcher trainee went four furlongs with splits of :24.62 and :48.91 and galloped out three-quarters under a late ask in 1:01.88 and 1:15.36 to the inside of stablemate Powershift (Constitution).
Golden Tempo (Curlin), winner of the GIII Lecomte S., breezed four furlongs in :47 (2/58) at Keeneland Friday. “It went really well and that was his last major work,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said. “I will do something with him here next Friday and then go over to Churchill Downs Saturday morning.”
So Happy (Runhappy), winner of the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 4, returned to the worktab with a five-furlong bullet in :59.60 (1/44) at Santa Anita Friday. “We were really happy with the work,” trainer Mark Glatt said. “He worked straight and strong all the way through and galloped out well for him. It seems like all systems go right now.”
Work of the Day from #PalmBeachDowns—@KentuckyDerby hopeful Renegade (Inside) and Powershift worked 4 Furlongs in 48.87 on April 16th, 2026, for trainer @PletcherRacing. pic.twitter.com/DaUlO2XwgB
— 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) April 16, 2026
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