Brother Derek, other Kentucky Derby hopefuls work

Brother Derek is undefeated in three starts on the season  (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com) In his final California workout, Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark), the likely favorite for the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, went seven furlongs in 1:28 2/5 over a fast track at Santa Anita on Monday. The bay colt was clocked in fractions of :28 2/5, :52 1/5, 1:03 4/5 and 1:16 2/5 beneath regular rider Alex Solis. “The work was fine,” Hendricks said. “He broke off nice and easy and then picked it up and cruised on home. Alex was happy with the work. He never looks like he is doing anything because he does it so easy.” Brother Derek worked in company with stablemate Littlebitofzip (Littlebitlively), who was not awarded an official time. Hendricks called an audible on his travel plans for Brother Derek, who will now ship to Churchill Downs on Thursday. The colt was originally scheduled to travel to the Louisville, Kentucky, track on Tuesday. “This is a new option that was presented to me and it gives him two more days here at home,” Hendricks said. Brother Derek is undefeated in three starts this season, winning the San Rafael S. (G2) and Santa Catalina S. (G2) prior to his 3 1/4-length victory in the nine-furlong Santa Anita Derby on April 8. POINT DETERMINED (Point Given) and BOB AND JOHN (Seeking the Gold), two of the three Kentucky Derby contenders trained by Bob Baffert, worked seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Monday. Santa Anita Derby runner-up Point Determined was timed in a bullet 1:24 4/5. Wood Memorial (G1) hero Bob and John covered the same ground in 1:25. “They both went fine,” Baffert said. “Victor Espinoza was on Point Determined and he worked in company. Garrett Gomez was on Bob and John and he worked by himself.”

Baffert did not disclose when he was shipping the duo to Churchill Downs. His
third prospect, Blue Grass S. (G1) winner SINISTER MINISTER (Old Trieste)
arrived at Churchill Downs from Keeneland Monday afternoon.

Across town at Hollywood Park, San Felipe S. (G2) winner A. P. WARRIOR (A.P. Indy), who
finished third in the Santa Anita Derby, worked seven furlongs in 1:27 2/5. The
trial, under Kentucky Derby rider Corey Nakatani, was the fastest of three works
at the distance.

John Shirreffs, who trained last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo
(Holy Bull), expressed satisfaction with the move and said A. P. Warrior likely
would work again on Sunday.

The dark bay colt is slated to ship to Louisville next Tuesday.

Under the Twin Spires, the Steve Asmussen-trained PRIVATE VOW (Broken Vow) and
STORM TREASURE (Storm Boot) drilled five furlongs in company in a bullet 1:00
1/5, the co-fastest of 43 works at the distance. The duo galloped out six
furlongs on a fast track in 1:13 1/5. Shaun Bridgmohan was aboard Futurity
S. (G2) and Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) winner Private Vow. Exercise rider
Carmen Rosas was astride Storm Treasure, the runner-up in the April 15 Blue
Grass.

Asmussen said he wanted a strong work for both horses and that the pair had
worked in company at times during the winter at Palm Meadows.

“Storm Treasure is an extremely laid-back horse and will do anything you
want,” Asmussen said. “He’s always been very good company for Private Vow.”

The effort by Private Vow was especially pleasing to Asmussen. In his
seasonal debut, the dark bay colt finished a well-beaten seventh in the Rebel S.
(G3) on March 18 at Oaklawn Park before rebounding with a third-place effort behind LAWYER
RON (Langfuhr) in the April 15 Arkansas Derby (G2).

“I was excited about how he went today,” Asmussen said. “The Rebel was very
disappointing to me. I knew he needed more in him, but I thought he would still
make a better showing than that. He did move forward in the Arkansas Derby,
which gave us a lot of hope. And he has not worked this good all year as he did
today. So, is he good enough? Can he go far enough? Those are huge questions —
but he sure made me think positive today.”

Asmussen told both riders that he wanted strong gallop-outs following the
five-furlong works.

“Going a mile and a quarter (in the Derby), I just wanted them to stay steady
and not let them back up underneath themselves,” he said. “Private Vow’s been
known to basically slide-stop galloping out, almost. He’s never been big on
that. I told Shaun to keep him up underneath him. The other horse has shown that
he’s kind of a stayer all along. I think that’s why, for this work, he was very
good company for Private Vow. Speed isn’t something that I’m looking for from
(Private Vow), he’s always had that. I just want him to stay steadier. With what
they did today, I’ll probably separate them next week.”

Asmussen said he would not begin a serious search for a rider for Storm
Treasure until he sees that both colts have come out of the work in good shape.
Mark Guidry, who is slated to ride SHARP HUMOR (Distorted Humor) in the “Run for
the Roses,” guided Storm Treasure to his distant runner-up effort in the Blue
Grass.

In other Kentucky Derby news:

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Patrick Valenzuela will ride Hutcheson S. (G2)
winner KEYED ENTRY (Honour
and Glory) in Derby 132.

Trainer David Hofmans said that if Santa Catalina runner-up SACRED LIGHT (Holy Bull) does not have
enough graded earnings to make it into the Kentucky Derby field, he would point
the gray colt toward the Crown Royal American Turf S. (G3) on Kentucky Oaks (G1)
Day, May 5.

“If we don’t get into the Derby, we will go in the grass race the day
before,” Hofmans said.

Sacred Light is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Saturday.