Friesan Fire arrives at Churchill; several works on tap
Saturday
Louisiana Derby (G2) romper FRIESAN FIRE (A.P. Indy) arrived at Churchill
Downs shortly after 3 p.m. (EDT) Friday following a van ride from Lexington’s
Keeneland Race Course. The Larry Jones charge will be stabled in Barn 45.
The Godolphin duo of DESERT PARTY (Street Cry [Ire]) and REGAL RANSOM
(Distorted Humor) galloped 1 1/4 miles before the renovation break with exercise
rider Bob Chapman handling each colt. The pair are exiting the U.A.E. Derby
(UAE-G2), in which the victorious Regal Ransom held off the late charge of
Desert Party.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said both would work Saturday morning, with Regal
Ransom going out at 6 a.m. and Desert Party after the break at 8:30. Chapman
will handle both five-furlong works.
Illinois Derby (G2) winner MUSKET MAN (Yonaguska) galloped 1 5/8 miles under
Salvador Dominguez early Friday morning and was scheduled for his final
pre-Derby work on Saturday.
“When (Eibar) Coa gets here in the morning, we’ll work,” trainer Derek Ryan
said.
Arkansas Derby (G2) hero PAPA CLEM (Smart Strike) galloped 1 1/2 miles before
the renovation break under exercise rider Mundo Gonzalez, who is scheduled to be
aboard for Papa Clem’s work Saturday morning.
“Mundo gallops for me in California, and I was thinking that if we do good
here and go on to Pimlico, I’d like to have my regular guy who gets on him,”
trainer Gary Stute said.
Wood Memorial (G1) runner-up WEST SIDE BERNIE (Bernstein) galloped 1 5/8
miles before the renovation break with trainer Kelly Breen up. Breen plans to
work West Side Bernie after the break Saturday morning and hopes to have jockey
Stewart Elliott aboard for the work.
Two of the three Todd Pletcher Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls galloped Friday
morning at Churchill Downs. Tampa Bay Derby (G3) runner-up JOIN IN THE DANCE
(Sky Mesa) galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Kevin Willey. With $90,000
in graded earnings, Join in the Dance would need one defection for the list of
possible Kentucky Derby starters to gain a spot in the starting gate. Willey was
out in the next set on Lexington S. (G2) scorer ADVICE (Chapel Royal), who also
galloped 1 1/2 miles.
Pletcher’s leading candidate, Florida Derby (G1) runner-up DUNKIRK (Unbridled’s
Song), is stabled at Palm Meadows in Florida and scheduled to arrive at
Churchill Downs on Tuesday, the same day as Pletcher.
El Camino Real Derby (G3) victor CHOCOLATE CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) visited
the Churchill paddock and galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Lindsey
Molina shortly after the track opened for training at 6 a.m. The Jerry
Hollendorfer trainee is scheduled to work Monday or Tuesday.
Smarty Jones S. winner FLAT OUT (Flatter) had an easy day and just walked the
shedrow in Barn 48. Trainer Charles “Scooter” Dickey still has not named a
jockey and has not yet decided when Flat Out will work next. Flat Out is 22nd on
the graded earnings list and needs a couple of defections to make the field for
Derby 135.
Lane’s End S. (G2) runner-up FLYING PRIVATE (Fusaichi Pegasus) galloped an
unspecified distance according to trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who said it “doesn’t
matter” how far he went. Exercise rider Taylor Carty was aboard. Flying Private
is scheduled to work Sunday or Monday.
Owner-trainer Tom McCarthy reported all was well with GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky
Mesa) on Friday morning, a day after the colt worked five furlongs in 1:01 4/5
under exercise rider Julie Sheets.
Lane’s End hero HOLD ME BACK (Giant’s Causeway) galloped 1 1/2 miles under
assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy before the renovation break Friday morning.
“And Twinkie had a good gallop, too, if anyone is asking,” trainer Bill Mott
said with a chuckle, referring to his pony.
Mott is looking at Sunday or Monday as the final work for Hold Me Back, who
will attempt to make Kent Desormeaux the first jockey in 26 years to ride
back-to-back Kentucky Derby winners. Eddie Delahoussaye last turned the trick in
1982-83 with Gato Del Sol and Sunny’s Halo.
Wood Memorial star I WANT REVENGE (Stephen Got Even) started the day with a
paddock schooling session and then galloped 1 1/2 miles under Joe Deegan.
The Jeff Mullins charge is scheduled to have his third work at Churchill
Downs on Tuesday. Jockey Joe Talamo, who has been aboard for the first two
moves, is slated to be in the saddle. Mullins is scheduled to return to
Louisville from his Southern California base on Saturday.
Canadian champion juvenile MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) jogged a half-mile and
then galloped 1 1/2 miles before the renovation break under exercise rider
Charlie Figueroa.
“He looked sharp this morning,” trainer Chip Woolley said. “He will work
Monday morning, a little after the break, around 8:50.”
Calvin Borel will have a get-acquainted session that morning on Mine That
Bird, who comes into the Kentucky Derby off a fourth-place finish in the March
29 Sunland Derby.
Santa Anita Derby (G1) conqueror PIONEEROF THE NILE (Empire Maker) galloped 1
1/2 miles after the renovation break with exercise rider George Alvarez up.
Trainer Bob Baffert has Monday penciled in as the next work day for Pioneerof
the Nile.
Breeders’ Futurity (G1) romper SQUARE EDDIE (Smart Strike) was on the track
before 7 a.m. Friday for a 1 1/2-mile gallop under exercise rider Tony Romero.
Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill, was asked how the gallop looked
to him.
“Pretty damn good,” Mora said with a smile.
Square Eddie, who finished third in the Lexington in his return from injury,
is slated to have his final pre-Derby work Sunday. O’Neill is expected to be on
hand.
Rebel S. (G2) victor WIN WILLY (Monarchos) walked the shedrow at Barn 45, a
day after arriving from Oaklawn Park, where he finished fourth in the Arkansas
Derby in his most recent start.