Gotham Stakes (G3) winner J Boys Echo continued preparations for the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) with a five-furlong breeze over the fast main track at Churchill Downs on Sunday.
With regular exercise rider Tammy Fox in the saddle, the bay son of Mineshaft clocked splits of :12, :24.40, :37 and :49.20 before receiving an official time of 1:02.20 for five furlongs. J Boys Echo galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.
“It was a really solid work,” trainer Dale Romans said. “We’ll come back next Saturday and go a little faster. Only one hurdle left until the first Saturday in May.
This was J Boys Echo’s second work at Churchill Downs this year; he recorded a half-mile in :49.20 on April 17. The Kentucky-bred sophomore enters the Kentucky Derby off a fourth-place run in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on April 8.
Rain showers stopped some Kentucky Derby connections from sending their hopefuls to the track on Saturday, but they were out in force on Sunday.
Click here for TwinSpires.com-sponsored video of Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders exercising at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning, including McCraken, Hence and Lookin at Lee. McCraken is scheduled to breeze Monday around 8:30 a.m. (ET), while Hence will go out between 6-6:30 a.m.
Fast and Accurate, upset winner of the Spiral Stakes (G3) on March 25 at Turfway Park, breezed five-eighths in 1:00.20 Sunday over the good dirt at Trackside Louisville, Churchill Downs’ satellite training facility located five miles from the main track. The Mike Maker pupil brings a three-race win streak in the Kentucky Derby.
Across the country in California on Sunday, Grade 3 scorer Royal Mo worked five furlongs in 1:01 over Santa Anita Park’s fast main track for trainer John Shirreffs.
The Uncle Mo colt, who ran third in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) last out, boasts 30 points toward a starting berth in the Kentucky Derby and will need some defections to make the field.
“We’re training him like he’s going to run,” Shirreffs stated.
At Keeneland on Sunday, Girvin jogged twice around the main track after the renovation break with a lead pony for company. Rosie Napravnik was aboard the Risen Star (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) winner for her trainer husband, Joe Sharp.
“As long as the main track is good, we will train on it,” said Sharp, who transferred Girvin from Trackside Louisville to Keeneland to avoid sloppy tracks.
Girvin is scheduled to work over Keeneland’s main track on Monday around 8:30 a.m.
In other Kentucky Derby news, multiple Grade 1 hero Practical Joke is expected to van to Churchill Downs from Keeneland on Monday.
Dual Grade 2 victor Irish War Cry is scheduled to arrive under the Twin Spires on April 30 or May 1 from Maryland, according to Director of Stalls Steve Hargrave.
Maiden Sonneteer, second in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and fourth in the Arkansas Derby (G1), is expected at Churchill Downs on April 29. The Midnight Lute colt will need some defections to make the field.
