Brother Derek breezes four furlongs

Brother Derek seen winning the San Rafael in his first start this year  (Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com) Santa Anita Derby (G1) hero BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark), the probable morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby (G1), breezed four furlongs in :49 1/5 over a muddy track at Churchill Downs on Monday. The breeze was the fifth fastest of 24 works at the distance. The bay colt went to the track just after 9:30 a.m. (EDT) with regular rider Alex Solis in the saddle. The California-based jockey had taken an early morning flight from Los Angeles to Cincinnati and then fought rush-hour traffic to Louisville to work the colt. The Dan Hendricks trainee was timed in fractions of :12 3/5, :25 1/5 and :36 3/5 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:03. “The track had me concerned,” Hendricks said. “He has never trained or raced on a wet surface and I was a bit worried when I saw the track chewed up early this morning. But the tracks here dry fast and after looking at it after the (renovation) break, I decided to go ahead. All things considered, it wasn’t too bad and I was glad to get the work in and just let him go to strong, long gallops from here. He’s plenty fit and this was basically just something for him to stretch his legs seeing as how it has been a week since his Santa Anita work.” Brother Derek worked seven furlongs in 1:28 2/5 over a fast track at Santa Anita on April 24. Solis, who has ridden Brother Derek in all eight of his starts, was pleased with the way his mount handled the track. “He was eager to go and his ears were up and he seemed happy,” Solis said. “Dan said he wanted me to go in about :49, so he’s going to be happy.”

Hendricks noted that Brother Derek’s owner, Canadian Cecil Peacock, would fly
to Louisville Tuesday and be at the barn Wednesday morning.

“Cecil is loving all of this,” the trainer said. “That’s why he’s been in this
game 30 years. He’s here for the big one.”

The Steve Asmussen-trained duo of PRIVATE VOW (Broken Vow) and STORM TREASURE
(Storm Boot) both worked five furlongs under exercise rider Carmen Rosas.

Private Vow drilled five furlongs in a bullet 1:00, the best of 11 works at
the distance. Storm Treasure was next on the clocker’s tab, covering the same
distance in 1:00 2/5.

“They went over the track nicely,” Asmussen said.

Storm Treasure, who finished a distant second in the Blue Grass S. (G1) at
Keeneland, went to the track first.

“He looked very comfortable, the horse that we’re hoping he’d be,” the
trainer added. Asmussen has not determined who will ride
the colt in the Derby.

Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) winner Private Vow, who comes off a
much-improved, third-place effort in the Arkansas Derby (G2) at Oaklawn Park,
worked after his stablemate. Asmussen said that one of his objectives was to
teach Private Vow to relax in the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

“Of course, in a race laden with as much speed as there seems to be in there,
I’m going to want Private Vow as relaxed as possible,” Asmussen said. “I think
that he is fast enough. I’m just concerned if he can go far enough.”

Asmussen said both colts will probably be schooled in the paddock one more
time this week.

Showing Up will be making just his fourth career start in the Derby  (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com) At Belmont Park, undefeated Lexington S. (G2) winner SHOWING UP (Strategic Mission) breezed four furlongs in :49 3/5 over a fast main track. “It was a little slower than I wanted him to go, but we just wanted him to stretch his legs,” trainer Barclay Tagg said. With regard to his horse running in the Kentucky Derby, Tagg said, “Everything is on go, as long as everything goes well.” Tagg said he will monitor the puncture wound on Showing Up’s right front leg, which the colt acquired while winning the Lexington by 1 1/4 lengths under Cornelio Velasquez. “I’d like to see how he comes out of the workout tomorrow (Tuesday) and gallop him on Wednesday before we enter him,” Tagg said. In other Kentucky Derby news: Illinois Derby (G2) runner-up MISTER TRIESTER (Old Trieste) has been removed from Derby consideration after finishing a lackluster third in Saturday’s Derby Trial S.

As a result, Fountain of Youth S. (G2) second FLASHY BULL (Holy Bull) moves
up to 20th on the graded earnings list, assuring him a spot in the Derby field.
Last year’s Derby-winning jockey, Mike Smith, will ride the Kiaran
McLaughlin-trained gray, who is coming off a seventh in the Florida Derby (G1).

Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner DEPUTY GLITTERS (Deputy Commander) could turn in
his final serious piece of work at Churchill Downs on Wednesday for conditioner
Tom Albertrani.

“Depending on how the track is,” assistant trainer Andy Rehm said, “Wednesday
might be our best shot to work him. If not, we might just let him gallop up to
the race.”

Deputy Glitters was most recently sixth in the Wood Memorial S. (G1) on a
sloppy track at Aqueduct.

Santa Catalina S. (G2) runner-up SACRED LIGHT (Holy Bull) is scheduled to
work five furlongs under the Twin Spires on Tuesday, according to trainer David
Hofmans, unless too much rain falls overnight. The fourth-place finisher in the
Santa Anita Derby (G1) ranks 22nd in graded earnings and will not make it into
the field unless two others defect.

The post position draw for Derby 132 will be televised live on ESPN’s “Sportscenter
at the Kentucky Derby” on Wednesday from 5-6 p.m. (EDT).