Archarcharch, Decisive Moment please connections with final
moves
ARCHARCHARCH (Arch) indicated his readiness for next Saturday’s Kentucky
Working in company with fellow sophomore Supreme Ruler (Don’t Get Mad), who
Archarcharch’s five-furlong time was the co-fastest of 58 at the distance,
“I thought the work went very well,” trainer Jinks Fires said. “Jon asked him
Fires said that the Friday work would be the last for Archarcharch before the
“He will gallop up to the race,” Fires said. “I was waiting all week to work
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Archarcharch has taken the Oaklawn Park route to the Runs for the Roses,
making his seasonal bow a fourth in the Smarty Jones S. before capturing his
graded debut in the Southwest S. (G3). He finished third in the Rebel S. (G2)
after chasing the fast pace, but will enter the Kentucky Derby off a gutsy neck
victory in the Arkansas Derby on April 16.
“I feel that he has gotten better since the Arkansas Derby and Jon feels that
way, too,” Fires said. “I’ve felt good about him all along since the first time
we worked him. We are just hoping for a good trip for him and hope that
happens.”
Trainer Juan Arias sent DECISIVE MOMENT (With Distinction) to the Churchill
“He did excellent. That’s what I wanted him to do,” Arias said. “I told
Decisive Moment, who was the first Kentucky Derby contender to arrive at
“He loves this atmosphere. He got here early enough that he got acclimated to
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The stretch of rainy weather during his extended stay at Churchill has not
dampened Arias’ enthusiasm over his Derby experience. In fact, the
less-than-ideal conditions have bolstered his confidence in his Florida-bred
colt.
“I came early enough that I’ve been able to train him over different type of
conditions on this track,” he said. “He’s adjusted to every one of them
excellent.”
Arias has never saddled a Derby starter and is intent on enjoying the
experience to the fullest.
“This is what you get up for every day. You get up; do your job; do the best
you can with the stock that you have; rotate horses until you get the chance to
run into a horse like Decisive Moment,” the Panamanian native said. “This is
very exciting. This is a world class race.”
In other Derby news:
Tony Matos, agent for jockey Garrett Gomez, said Friday morning that Gomez
has been confirmed to ride MASTER OF HOUNDS (Kingmambo) in Kentucky Derby 137.
Sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) under the Twin Spires last fall
with Johnny Murtagh aboard, the bay is scheduled to arrive at Churchill on
Tuesday. He’ll enter the 10-furlong test off a nose runner-up effort in the
U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) in his lone 2011 start under Ryan Moore.
BRILLIANT SPEED (Dynaformer) arrived at Churchill Friday following a van ride
from Keeneland, where he stamped his ticket into the Derby with a nose score in
the Blue Grass S. (G1). The dark bay arrived at 2:15 p.m. and is stabled in Barn
42. Trainer Tom Albertrani said the colt would work Monday.
Risen Star S. (G2) scorer MUCHO MACHO MAN (Macho Uno) schooled in the
“He backed up to the wire and galloped two miles. He pulled up and went back
She plans to work Mucho Macho Man either Saturday or Sunday, depending on the
“I’m not sure. I’m going to look at the weather. I want to try to work him on
Ritvo has been pleased with her Florida-bred colt’s handling of the Churchill
“He’s been going perfect. Even in the mud, he galloped perfect and he worked
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The South Florida-based trainer said Mucho Macho Man was responding well to
the cooler temperatures in Louisville.
“It’s good for the horse. I don’t know about Kathy though,” Ritvo quipped
while clutching at the ends of her jacket collar. “I hadn’t seen the sun in
days.”
Mucho Macho Man, who’ll be ridden by Rajiv Maragh, hasn’t raced since March
26 in the Louisiana Derby (G2), in which he finished a close third after losing
a shoe shortly after the start.
“I think he’s done really well. He has really good consistent works, long
works. He’s galloped out well after all of his works. What we’re interested in
are the next three races, so we wanted him to come into this race as a fresh
horse,” Ritvo said.
ANIMAL KINGDOM (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) galloped 1 1/2 miles at 7:15 a.m.
(EDT) Friday morning, a little more than an hour earlier than the time reserved
for Derby and Oaks horses. Trainer Graham Motion said he couldn’t get Animal
Kingdom and Kentucky Oaks (G1) candidate Summer Soiree (War Front) out at the
same time during the Derby-Oaks break so the chestnut colt went out during the
busier period.
“She’s quite strong and it was more important for her to have the quiet
track,” Motion said. “Actually, I thought it would be better for him to have
plenty of activity out there for him to look at.”
Motion said that jockey Robby Albarado, who will ride Animal Kingdom in the
Derby, will be up for a scheduled breeze Saturday morning, probably after the
renovation break. The work will either be five-eighths or three-quarters of a
mile. It is the first breeze since the Spiral winner covered five furlongs in
1:02 4/5 on April 23. Motion noted that the Keeneland breeze didn’t go as
planned because the workmate didn’t move along as quickly as expected.
“I would rather that he had done a little more in his work last week, but
it’s not the end of the world. He’ll get a decent work here (on Saturday).”
Motion said.
The conditioner will fly back to Maryland Saturday afternoon so he can
oversee a work by his other Derby horse, TOBY’S CORNER (Bellamy Road), Sunday
morning at the Fair Hill training center in Elkton, Maryland. Toby’s Corner,
winner of the Wood Memorial (G1), is scheduled to be shipped by van from Fair
Hill to Churchill Downs on Monday. Eddie Castro will ride Toby’s Corner in the
Derby.
Repole Stable’s double-barreled Kentucky Derby entry of UNCLE MO (Indian
Also galloping 1 1/2 miles after the renovation break on Friday were MIDNIGHT
The weather is playing a factor in when the contenders will have their final
PANTS ON FIRE (Jump Start) galloped a little less than 1 1/2 miles after the
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“I’d rather work Sunday and give the track another day to dry out,” Breen
said.
NEHRO (Mineshaft) continued his preparations for Derby 137 with a one-mile
gallop over a fast track at Churchill on Friday. Regular exercise rider Carlos
Rosas was in the saddle aboard the Steve Asmussen trainee when he went to the
track around 6:15 a.m. The Arkansas Derby second’s final pre-Derby work is set
for Monday. Assistant Scott Blasi said the colt would probably work in one of
Asmussen’s early sets, but that could change if weather becomes a factor.
Sunland Derby (G3) winner TWICE THE APPEAL (Successful Appeal) jogged before
the renovation break under exercise rider Nate Quinonez and is scheduled to work
Saturday morning at 6:05 under race rider Calvin Borel. Fellow Jeff Bonde
trainee SWAY AWAY (Afleet Alex) also jogged and is scheduled to work Saturday.
Sway Away is 24th on the list of potential Kentucky Derby entrants for a field
that is limited to the top 20 graded stakes earners.
TWINSPIRED (Harlan’s Holiday) galloped 1 1/2 miles at Trackside Louisville
under exercise rider Derrick Smith for trainer Mike Maker on Friday. Maker plans
to work the Blue Grass runner-up around 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning at Trackside.
Also galloping at Trackside Friday morning was Lexington S. (G3) hero DERBY
KITTEN (Kitten’s Joy), who sits 22nd on the list of graded stakes earners
considering a Derby run.