Multiple Grade 2 hero Girvin breezed a bullet half-mile in :47.80 over the fast dirt at Trackside Louisville on Saturday in his first move since capturing the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds on April 1.
The Tale of Ekati colt is readying for the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. Former jockey Rosie Napravnik was in the saddle for her husband, trainer Joe Sharp.
Breezing in company with stablemate Cool Arrow, Girvin was clocked through splits of :11.60, :23 and :35.20. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.80.
“It was a little quicker than I would have liked for his first work back,” Sharp said. “Both he and Cool Arrow were on the bridle which is good. Rosie was happy with it and he seems to be cooling out well, which will set him up for his work next week.”
While Napravnik was aboard for this move, Kentucky Derby rider and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will fly in for Girvin’s next work, which will come at either Trackside Louisville again or Churchill Downs.
In addition to the Louisiana Derby, Girvin also triumphed in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds. The dark bay sophomore will be making his first start outside of Fair Grounds when going in the Kentucky Derby. He broke his maiden on December 16 at the New Orleans venue and suffered his only loss to date when kicking off his sophomore career with a close second in the Keith Gee Memorial on February 4.
Girvin will be owner Brad Grady and Sharp’s first Kentucky Derby runner. At the time of Saturday’s work, the colt was firmly in control of the top spot on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 150 points. Later on Saturday, though, the Arkansas Derby (G1) will award 100-40-20-10 points to the respective top four finishers.
Also preparing for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Trackside Louisville was Fast and Accurate, who clocked a bullet five furlongs in :59.60.
Fast and Accurate worked in company with fellow Mike Maker trainee On John, posting fractions of :12, :24, :35.80 and :47.60 before galloping out three-quarters in 1:13.80.
This was Fast and Accurate’s second move since upsetting the Spiral Stakes (G3) over Turfway Park’s synthetic Polytrack at 24-1. He’s compiled a record of 6-3-1-0 thus far, including a score in a turf starter stakes at Gulfstream in his seasonal bow, but his only attempt on dirt resulted in a well-beaten fifth at Parx Racing last October 17.
The gray son of Hansen currently resides in 14th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard, even though is not nominated to the Kentucky Derby. Owners Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing have confirmed they will pay the $200,000 supplemental nomination fee to get Fast and Accurate into the Run for the Roses.
Farrell covered five furlongs in 1:00.20 over Churchill Downs’ fast dirt on Saturday in preparation for the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1). It was the first work for the dark bay daughter of Malibu Moon since romping by 3 1/4 lengths in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) to record her fourth straight victory.
Farrell, who tops the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard, posted splits of :13, :25, :36 and :48.40. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.40.
“She worked great,” said Fernando Canteria, assistant to trainer Wayne Catalano. “It was a very solid work.”
Farrell swept the three-year-old filly stakes at Fair Grounds, also taking the Silverbulletday Stakes and Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2). She began her career at Churchill Downs last year, breaking her maiden under the Twin Spires in her second outing, finishing third in the Rags to Riches Stakes and upsetting the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) by six lengths at 10-1.
