Sun King works at Churchill Downs

Sun King is undefeated in two starts this year  (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

In his first workout at Churchill Downs, SUN KING (Charismatic) breezed five furlongs
over a fast track in
1:02 4/5 on Monday in preparation for the
$750,000 Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland on April 16. With owner Tracy Farmer
and trainer Nick Zito watching from the grandstand, the dark bay colt went in
fractions of :13, :25 2/5, :37 3/5 and :49 1/5 before galloping out six furlongs
in 1:16 2/5 under exercise rider Carlos Correa.

Sun King won the March 19 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) by 3 1/4 lengths as the
prohibitive 1-20 favorite after rolling to an impressive 5 3/4-length victory against
first-level allowance foes going one mile in his seasonal debut at Gulfstream
Park in late February. The colt, who closed out his juvenile campaign with solid
third-place performances in the Champagne S. (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
(G1), is widely considered one of Zito’s best three-year-olds and a top
contender for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1).

Zito said his one-two finishers in last Saturday’s Florida Derby (G1) — HIGH
FLY (Atticus) and NOBLE CAUSEWAY (Giant’s Causeway) — arrived at Keeneland on
Sunday. He hopes that both horses can be shipped to Churchill Downs in the next
few days. Horses stabled at Palm Meadows and Gulfstream Park are currently
prohibited from shipping into Churchill Downs due to the recent outbreak of
strangles in Florida.