Photo credit: Churchill Downs/Coady Media
News and notes from the Churchill Downs media team – Wednesday, April 23
Arkansas Derby (GI) winner Sandman put in his final major piece of work for Kentucky Derby 151 on a clear Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs, working five furlongs in 1:02.40 under Froylan Garcia for trainer Mark Casse.
Working at 5:45 a.m. (all times Eastern) this morning was Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) hopeful Quickick, who worked five furlongs in company in 1:01.20 under Edgar Morales for trainer Tom Amoss.
Making their initial appearances on track after arriving Tuesday afternoon from California were expected Derby favorite Journalism, who galloped 1 1/8 miles for trainer Michael McCarthy, and Rodriguez, who galloped nearly 1 1/2 miles for trainer Bob Baffert.
Also on track for Baffert for the first time was Santa Anita Oaks (GII) winner Tenma as she began local preparations for the Kentucky Oaks.
Two other Kentucky Oaks hopefuls put in half-mile works over a fast track at Keeneland: Bless the Broken went in :48 for trainer Will Walden and Early On covered the same distance in :48.40 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
ADMIRE DAYTONA (JPN) – Junko Kondo’s UAE Derby winner had a scheduled walk day following his half-mile breeze in :53.20 Tuesday morning.
AMERICAN PROMISE – BC Stables’ American Promise galloped a mile and a half under Tayja Smith during the 7:15–7:30 training window for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks hopefuls.
Winner of the Virginia Derby in his most recent start, the D. Wayne Lukas trainee is expected to work Friday or Saturday.
BUILT – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Built galloped at 7:15 a.m. with trainer Wayne Catalano watching from the backstretch.
BURNHAM SQUARE – Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Blue Grass Stakes (GI) winner Burnham Square galloped a mile and a half at 7:15 under exercise rider Mark Cutler.
Trainer Ian Wilkes said Burnham Square may have a gate schooling session one day this week. Burnham Square likely will have his second post–Blue Grass work on Saturday.
CHUNK OF GOLD – Terry Stephens’ Louisiana Derby runner-up galloped at Turfway Park under trainer Ethan West.
The son of Preservationist is scheduled to work Friday.
CITIZEN BULL / RODRIGUEZ – Half of Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby contingent arrived Tuesday afternoon at Churchill Downs – Wood Memorial (GII) winner Rodriguez.
The colt trained at 7:15 a.m. with exercise rider Humberto Gomez aboard.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) winner Citizen Bull is slated to arrive Thursday.
COAL BATTLE – Norman Stables’ Coal Battle had a walk day Wednesday morning following his five-furlong work in 1:00.80 Tuesday morning.
Following training hours, trainer Lonnie Briley sent Coal Battle to the paddock for a second schooling session.
Coal Battle will represent the second Churchill Downs starter for Briley. The first was in 2022 when Cool Spirit ran in the Kentucky Juvenile for Norman Stables.
EAST AVENUE – Godolphin’s East Avenue, runner-up in the Blue Grass Stakes, galloped about 1 1/2 miles at 5:15 a.m. with exercise rider Stephen Dolan in the irons.
FINAL GAMBIT / TAPPAN STREET – Juddmonte’s Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) winner Final Gambit and WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and Cold Press Racing’s Florida Derby (GI) winner Tappan Street galloped Wednesday at 7:15 a.m.
Both horses are scheduled to work Saturday.
FLYING MOHAWK – Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing and Kaleta Racing’s Flying Mohawk galloped at 7:15 a.m. under Maurilio Garcia.
GRANDE – Repole Stable’s Grande is scheduled to breeze Friday at Keeneland, then ship to Churchill Downs later that day.
JOURNALISM – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stables, Robert La Penta, Elayne Stable 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Journalism arrived at trainer Michael McCarthy’s Churchill Downs barn at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday after arriving from Santa Anita and got right to work Wednesday morning.
With Marc Witkowski aboard, Journalism came on the track during the 7:15–7:30 training window and galloped a mile and an eighth.
“It looked like he got over the track nicely,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy said any gate or paddock schooling was to be determined and, as far as a final work before the Derby, “I’m handicapping the weather.”
Rain is in the forecast for Friday with a lesser chance of precipitation Saturday.
LUXOR CAFÉ – Koichi Nishikawa’s Luxor Café is undergoing a 42-hour USDA quarantine in Chicago following his arrival from Japan on Monday.
He is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs Wednesday evening.
OWEN ALMIGHTY – Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing’s Owen Almighty had a routine gallop under Antonio Orellana for trainer Brian Lynch. Owen Almighty is scheduled to work Friday.
PUBLISHER / TIZTASTIC – Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s duo of Publisher and Tiztastic trained Wednesday at 7:15 a.m.
Asmussen was aboard his pony alongside Arkansas Derby (GI) runner-up Publisher while assistant trainer Scott Blasi was aboard a pony leading Louisiana Derby (GII) winner Tiztastic to the paddock prior to galloping.
Both horses have been on a Saturday work schedule.
SANDMAN – D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables’ Arkansas Derby (GI) winner Sandman completed his final major preparations for the Kentucky Derby by working five furlongs in 1:02.40.
With Froylan Garcia aboard and working on his own, Sandman produced fractions of :13.60, :26.20, :38, 1:02.40 and out six furlongs in 1:15.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.
“On a scale of 1 to 10 this gets a 10,” trainer Mark Casse said. “That was his last work before the Derby.”
Casse watched the work from the grandstand and upon returning to the barn liked what he saw from the gray son of Tapit.
“I think he grows every time I look at him,” Casse said. “He is more than 16 hands, more than 16-3.”
SOVEREIGNTY – Godolphin’s Sovereignty, runner-up in the Florida Derby (GI) in his most recent start, galloped during the 7:15–7:30 training window under Guesler Cardona.
“No complaints this morning,” trainer Bill Mott said. “He went through the paddock and then galloped out past the half-mile pole.”
SHAPING UP: THE $5 MILLION KENTUCY DERBY PRESENTED BY WOODFORD RESERVE (GI) – Here is the top 20 preference list for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) in alphabetical order (with jockey and trainer): Admire Daytona (JPN) (Christophe Lemaire, Yukihiro Kato); American Promise (Nik Juarez, D. Wayne Lukas); Built (TBA, Wayne Catalano); Burnham Square (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes); Chunk of Gold (Jareth Loveberry, Ethan West); Citizen Bull (Martin Garcia, Bob Baffert); Coal Battle (Juan Vargas, Lonnie Briley); East Avenue (Manny Franco, Brendan Walsh); Final Gambit (Luan Machado, Brad Cox); Flying Mohawk (Joe Ramos, Whit Beckman); Grande (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher); Journalism (Umberto Rispoli, Michael McCarthy); Luxor Café (Joao Moriera, Noriyuki Hori); Owen Almighty (Javier Castellano, Brian Lynch); Publisher (Irad Ortiz Jr., Steve Asmussen); Rodriguez (Mike Smith, Bob Baffert); Sandman (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse); Sovereignty (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott); Tappan Street (Luis Saez, Brad Cox); Tiztastic (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen). Also-Eligibles: Neoequos (TBA, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Render Judgment (TBA, Kenny McPeek); Baeza (Flavien Prat, John Shirreffs); California Burrito (Irving Moncada, Tom Drury Jr.).
LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS CONTENDERS BLESS THE BROKEN, EARLY ON, QUICKICK RECORD PUBLISHED WORKS – It was a busy morning for Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) contenders with Bless the Broken (four furlongs, :48); Early On (four furlongs, :48.40) and Quickick (five furlongs, 1:01.20) recording published workouts for the first Friday in May.
Cypress Creek Equine and Madaket Stables’ Bourbonette Oaks (Listed) winner Bless the Broken worked a half-mile in company in :48 over a fast track at Keeneland Wednesday morning.
Working with the 3-year-old maiden Bermuda Triangle, Bless the Broken produced fractions of :11.60, :24.80, :48 and out five furlongs in 1:01.
Trainer Will Walden plans to bring Bless the Broken back to the track Friday morning to train before vanning to Churchill Downs that afternoon.
C2 Racing Stable, Ken Reimer, Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch and Bradley Kent’s Gazelle (GIII) runner-up Early On worked a half-mile in company in :48.40 at Keeneland Wednesday morning.
The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee, working with 4-year-old allowance winner Goats On a Tree. Posted fractions of :12.40, :24.80, :48.40 and out five furlongs in 1:01.
Greenwell Thoroughbreds’ Quickick, working at 5:45 this morning at Churchill Downs, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer Tom Amoss.
Working with the 3-year-old maiden winner Lady Orient, Quickick produced fractions of :24.40, :36.60, 1:01.20 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.20 and seven-eighths in 1:27.80 under Edgar Morales.
“She’s not that big a filly and all of her major work was behind her,” Amoss said. “This was just a maintenance work.”
Umberto Rispoli has been confirmed to ride Quickick, according to Amoss.
SHAPING UP: THE $1.5 MILLION LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS (GI) – Here is the expected field for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) (with jockey and trainer): Anna’s Promise (Junior Alvarado, Carlos David); Ballerina d’Oro (Flavien Prat, Chad Brown); Bless the Broken (John Velazquez, Will Walden); Drexel Hill (Ben Curtis, Whit Beckman); Early On (Javier Castellano, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Five G (Manny Franco, George Weaver); Fondly (Irad Ortiz Jr., Graham Motion); Good Cheer (Luis Saez, Brad Cox); La Cara (Dylan Davis, Mark Casse); Quietside (Jose Ortiz, John Ortiz); Quickick (Umberto Rispoli, Tom Amoss); Simply Joking (Florent Geroux, Whit Beckman); Take Charge Milady (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Tenma (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert).
KENTUCKY DERBY, OAKS MORNING WORKOUTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
THURSDAY, APRIL 24 THROUGH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 – Starting Thursday and continuing through Wednesday, April 30, Churchill Downs will be open free-of-charge daily from 6:45-10 a.m. so guests can watch the nation’s top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds train toward their engagements in this year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks during Dawn at the Downs.
Horses train on Churchill Downs’ main track daily from 5:15-10 a.m. There is an exclusive training window only for Derby and Oaks participants from 7:15-7:30 a.m. following the 6:45-7:15 a.m. renovation break. Those horses will be identified by special saddle towels that include their names: yellow saddle towels for Derby horses and pink saddle towels for Oaks contenders.
Guests can park for free in the Yellow Lot off Longfield Ave. (all vehicles must be removed by 10:30 a.m.) and enter Churchill Downs through the Clubhouse Gate. Guests will be directed to Sections 115-117 to watch the morning workouts.
Churchill Downs’ Paddock Grill will be open each morning with coffee and breakfast sandwich options. No outside food and beverages are allowed. Also, the Churchill Downs Store with Kentucky Derby 151 merchandise will be open each morning.
On Sunday and Monday, fans can enjoy a premium breakfast in Millionaires Row or the Stakes Room for Dawn at the Downs Dining. Tickets and more information can be found at KentuckyDerby.com/DawnDining.
A stream of the workouts is available at www.KentuckyDerby.com from 6:45-7:45 a.m. through May 1. The 151st runnings of the $1.5 Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) and $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) will be held Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3, respectively. Opening Night of Derby Week and the 43-day Spring Meet is Saturday at 5 p.m.
KENTUCKY DERBY MORNING WORKS SHOW OFFERS BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACCESS TO DERBY, OAKS TRAINING – The Kentucky Derby Morning Workouts Show presented by TwinSpires.com will air until Thursday, May 1 and offer fans an exclusive look at the final preparations of Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders.
Airing daily from 6:45-7:45 a.m, the one-hour program will be streamed live on the Kentucky Derby Facebook, X and YouTube accounts. The show will highlight the 15-minute exclusive training window from 7:15-7:30 a.m. for horses preparing for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) and the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).
Hosted by Churchill Downs’ expert handicappers Joe Kristufek, Kaitlin Free, Tony Calo and Kevin Kilroy, the show will include insight, commentary and exclusive interviews from notable figures such as former leading rider Rosie Napravnik, Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone, TwinSpires.com handicapper James Scully and Churchill Downs racing analyst Megan Burgess.
All Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders are required to be on-site by Saturday, April 26. The show will continue through Thursday, May 1, showcasing every contender’s final training sessions leading into Kentucky Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks.
For more information, visit www.kentuckyderby.com
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWSFEED MEDIA PORTAL
The Kentucky Derby Newsfeed will be providing a media portal to access high quality video and audio files. Files are 1080 59.94p and will be uploaded on a daily basis.
This service is available via any web browser. To access, type the following into your web browser address bar:
kyderby.hammondcg.com
When you get to the media portal page, you will be prompted to enter credentials to access and download training footage, b-roll, color, interviews and press conferences.
Username: kyderby2025
Password: D3rby2025
Please tag your footage with the following: CREDIT: CHURCHILL DOWNS
For further information, inquires or to report technical difficulties, please contact Jesse B. Kelsey, Vice-President of Hammond Communications Group, Inc. at (859) 492-5768 or at [email protected].