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Dublin blitzes a bullet five furlongs at Churchill
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| Dublin went on to dust his workmate
(EquiSport Photos) |
At Churchill Downs on Monday, Hopeful S. (G1) hero DUBLIN (Afleet
Alex) worked a bullet five furlongs in :59 1/5 after the renovation
break with jockey Terry Thompson up. The Wayne Lukas pupil, who was most
recently third in the Arkansas Derby (G1), turned in the fastest of 44
works at the distance on the fast track.Working in company with the four-year-old Buzzin and Dreamin (Five
Star Day), Dublin broke off about 1 1/2 lengths behind his workmate,
passed Buzzin and Dreamin on the far turn and finished 13 to 14 lengths
ahead at the wire.
Clockers caught Dublin in fractions of :11 4/5, :23 1/5, :35 1/5, :47
1/5 with a six-furlong gallop out time of 1:13 1/5.
"I'm going to need a faster rabbit," four-time Kentucky Derby
(G1)-winning trainer Lukas said after the work. "I thought it was an
excellent work. I liked the way he did it. It was a little quick. It is
hard to say it was in company; it was almost a solo work. |
"The first work here, it is the energy that you want to see, and I saw that
today. I think he really fits. I like him as well as any of them I've had."
Thompson, who never has ridden in the Kentucky Derby, liked the work.
"We were shooting for :59," Thompson said. "He passed his company early. We
were hoping to get to the head of the stretch, but Dublin passed him early and I
let him go on so we could get close to what Wayne wanted."
Thompson almost had a Kentucky Derby start in 2003.
"I was 24 hours from the gate," said Thompson, who had won the Arkansas Derby
on Sir Cherokee. "It was probably the biggest low for me to hear that he hurt
his leg (fractured right hind). I went from the biggest high to the biggest
low."
Thompson rode Dublin to a runner-up finish in the Southwest S. (G3) in
February. He lost the mount to Corey Nakatani for the Rebel S. (G2), but after
Dublin wound up a tiring third for his new rider that day, Thompson reunited
with the colt for his near-miss third in the Arkansas Derby.
"I think Terry is riding as well as anybody in the nation right now, and he
has great chemistry with the horse," Lukas said. "We had made a change of
riders, but it didn't work and we had the sense to switch back. If it wasn't
broken, it shouldn't have been fixed."
Also working on Monday was multiple Grade 1-placed MAKE MUSIC FOR ME
(Bernstein), who blazed a half-mile in a bullet :46 1/5 over Keeneland's
Polytrack. Sixth in the Blue Grass S. (G1) last time out, the Alexis Barba
trainee currently ranks 24th on the graded earnings list and needs several
defections to get into the Derby.
Make Music for Me is scheduled to arrive from Keeneland on Tuesday, and he
will be housed in Barn 41, Stall 16 at Churchill. If Make Music for Me does not
make the Derby field, he most likely would run in the April 30 American Turf
(G2).
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| Lookin at Lucky has settled in well
(EquiSport Photos) |
In other Kentucky Derby news:Illinois Derby (G3) winner AMERICAN LION (Tiznow) is scheduled to ship to
Churchill Downs from Keeneland on Wednesday. The Eoin Harty trainee is expected
to work at Keeneland before he moves on to Churchill Downs, where he will be
housed in Barn 41. David Flores is slated to ride American Lion in the Kentucky
Derby.
Gotham S. (G3) star AWESOME ACT (Awesome Again) galloped Monday morning after
the renovation break at Churchill Downs with assistant trainer Wayne Tanner in
the saddle. The Jeremy Noseda pupil is scheduled to work Tuesday morning after
the break. Jockey Julien Leparoux, who rode the British-based colt to his win in
the Gotham, is expected to be aboard for the move.
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Sanford S. (G2) victor BACKTALK (Smarty Jones) walked the shedrow at trainer
Tom Amoss' barn a morning after working five furlongs on Sunday in 1:04. Miguel
Mena, who was in the saddle for the work, would have the Kentucky Derby mount if
Backtalk gets in the race. The chestnut is 22nd on the graded earnings list at
present.
Trainer Bob Baffert's two Kentucky Derby hopefuls, LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart
Strike) and CONVEYANCE (Indian Charlie), galloped after the renovation break
Monday morning. Reigning two-year-old champion Lookin at Lucky, third after a
nearly-disastrous trip in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), was ridden by Dana Barnes,
while Southwest winner Conveyance, runner-up in the Sunland Derby (G3), had
Peter Hutton in the saddle. Both colts are scheduled to work Wednesday morning.
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| Conveyance reminds trainer Bob Baffert of Holy Bull
(EquiSport Photos) |
STATELY VICTOR (Ghostzapper) and DEAN'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy), trainer Mike
Maker's two Kentucky Derby hopefuls, went through their morning paces at
Trackside Louisville under exercise rider Marvin Jiminez. Dean's Kitten, winner
of the Lane's End S. (G2), jogged and is scheduled for his final pre-Kentucky
work on Saturday. No rider has been confirmed for Dean's Kitten. Stately Victor
galloped and also is scheduled for a Saturday work. Alan Garcia, whose first
ride aboard Stately Victor resulted in a 40-1 victory in Keeneland's Blue Grass,
has the riding call in the Kentucky Derby.Bay Shore S. (G3) scorer EIGHTYFIVEINAFIFTY (Forest Camp), who is hoping to
use Saturday's $200,000 Derby Trial (G3) as a springboard to a Kentucky Derby
start, galloped after the renovation break under Nick Santagata. The Gary
Contessa trainee is scheduled to breeze an easy half-mile on Tuesday.
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Sunland Derby hero ENDORSEMENT (Distorted Humor) jogged two miles under
trainer Shannon Ritter early Monday morning. The WinStar Farms colt arrived at
Churchill Downs on Sunday afternoon, accomplished his morning exercise outfitted
in blinkers.
"We put the blinkers on him this winter in New Orleans," Ritter said. "He
would go along fine and then see something, so now it is just part of his
routine. Why change now?"
Endorsement is scheduled to work Sunday.
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| Paddy O'Prado is reportedly relishing the dirt
(EquiSport Photos) |
Both of trainer Nick Zito's Derby hopefuls were out for Monday exercise.
Florida Derby (G1) victor ICE BOX (Pulpit) galloped after the renovation break
Monday morning under Dennis Chavez. Wood Memorial (G1) and Fountain of Youth
(G2) runner-up JACKSON BEND (Hear No Evil) galloped before the break under
Carlos Correa.Champagne S. (G1) star HOMEBOYKRIS (Roman Ruler) is scheduled to arrive at
Churchill Downs about noon on Tuesday for an anticipated start in the Kentucky
Derby. Trained by Rick Dutrow, who won the 2008 Kentucky Derby with Big Brown,
Homeboykris will be housed in Barn 45. He finished runner-up to stablemate
Radiohead (GB) (Johannesburg) in a one-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park in
his only race of the year.
Trainer John Sadler liked what he saw from his two Kentucky Derby hopefuls
Monday morning after their training activities. Santa Anita Derby romper
SIDNEY'S CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) jogged with a pony shortly after the track
opened at 5:45 a.m. (EDT). Exercise rider Lupillo Alferez was aboard. Alferez
later brought Arkansas Derby upsetter LINE OF DAVID (Lion Heart) out after the
renovation break to gallop.
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"He's ready to work," Sadler said as Line of David came off the track. "He'll
work five-eighths in the morning and Lupillo will be on him."
Sadler, who arrived in Louisville, Kentucky, Sunday night from his home base
in Southern California, said he could stay in town through the Derby.
"We've got Hurricane Ike (Graeme Hall) for the Derby Trial on Saturday, and
Sidney's Candy works that morning," Sadler said. "I might go back for a couple
of days, but I could be here for the duration."
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| Super Saver was an impressive winner of his only prior start at Churchill
(EquiSport Photos) |
NOBLE'S PROMISE (Cuvee), a troubled fifth in the Arkansas Derby, galloped
after the renovation break under Walter Blum Jr. Trainer Ken McPeek plans to
work Noble's Promise on Tuesday morning after the break with Willie Martinez
slated to be in the saddle. Martinez rode Noble's Promise three times last year,
highlighted by a victory in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.Blue Grass runner-up PADDY O'PRADO (El Prado [Ire]) galloped after the
renovation break under Faustino Aquilar. Trainer Dale Romans plans to work the
gray, who captured the Palm Beach S. (G3) on the turf two back, on Saturday.
Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) star SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon), beaten a neck in
the Arkansas Derby, galloped after the renovation break under Kevin Willey.
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Super Saver is one of at least five probable Kentucky Derby starters for
trainer Todd Pletcher. The remainder of his contingent is set to arrive about
noon on Tuesday from Palm Meadows: Wood Memorial and Fountain of Youth romper
ESKENDEREYA (Giant's Causeway), Risen Star S. (G2) winner DISCREETLY MINE
(Mineshaft), Louisiana Derby (G2) hero MISSION IMPAZIBLE (Unbridled's Song) and
multiple Grade 3 victor RULE (Roman Ruler), who exits a third in the Florida
Derby.
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