The Truth or Else sizzles five-eighths for Arkansas Derby

The Truth or Else’s one win came last September at Belmont Park (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)

The Truth Or Else will add blinkers for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on April
11 at Oaklawn Park, trainer Kenny McPeek said following the colt’s sizzling workout
Wednesday morning under Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel.

The chestnut colt, in his
second breeze while sporting blinkers, covered five furlongs over the fast dirt in
:58 4/5 shortly after the renovation break, easily the quickest of 27 works
recorded at the distance. on the day.

The Truth Or Else broke off approximately eight lengths behind three-year-old stablemate
Fracula (Rockport Harbor). He easily collared his work partner on the outside in midstretch and was
drawing away at the finish as Borel remained chilly. Following splits of :11 4/5,
:23 1/5 and :35 4/5, The Truth Or Else galloped out six furlongs in 1:11 4/50. Fracula was credited with five furlongs in 1:00
3/5.

McPeek said The Truth Or Else, exiting a fourth-place finish in the March 14 Rebel S. (G2), went a little faster than he wanted, but added that
the colt “obviously has a lot of talent.”

“He broke off a little bit far behind that horse,” McPeek said. “He was
supposed to be about two or three lengths back and ended up eight or 10. But he
still outran him, so, I mean, it was a pretty impressive breeze, other than I
probably wanted him to go closer to 1:00. But, this is a good problem to have.”