4/26/15
Last updated: 4/25/15 6:52 PM
Dortmund, Firing Line put in final easy works at Santa
Anita
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Dortmund breezed an easy
three-quarters in his final Santa Anita work for the Derby
(Cecilia Gustavsson/Horsephotos.com) |
Undefeated multiple Grade 1 winner Dortmund (Big Brown) breezed six furlongs in a controlled 1:13
3/5 Saturday morning over the fast main track at Santa Anita Park ahead of next
Saturday’s Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert did not want a repeat of last
week’s bullet :58 4/5 five-furlong move and guided jockey Martin Garcia through the
breeze by walkie talkie. The massive chestnut colt responded and followed
instructions in company with Lady Bull (Zensational), who was caught in 1:15
2/5.
“Dortmund just cruised around there,” Baffert said. “He’s pretty fit and
doesn’t need much. He’ll gallop into the Derby.”
Also going out for Baffert on Saturday were Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) victor Bayern
(Offlee Wild) and Grade 2-placed Cat Burglar (Unbridled’s Song), who worked six furlongs in
company from the gate in a co-bullet 1:10 4/5.
Bayern, who has not raced since winning the Classic at
Santa Anita last November 1, likely will make his 2015 debut in the $400,000 Alysheba
S. (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on May 1 at Churchill Downs, although he is also nominated to the $500,000 Churchill Downs
S. (G2) at seven furlongs on May 2.
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“He’ll probably run in the Alysheba,” Baffert said of Bayern, adding, “I’m really happy with how they went.”
Shortly after Dortmund completed his
work, Baffert caught a flight to Louisville, Kentucky. His other Derby contender,
champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), is scheduled to breeze Sunday morning
under the Twin Spires but the work
could be moved to Monday if the track isn’t “fast.”
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Firing Line also had an easy
move in Southern California, going five furlongs in 1:02 1/5
(Cecilia Gustavsson/Horsephotos.com) |
Due to the rainy forecast, Baffert’s assistant Jimmy Barnes called an audible
Saturday morning and sent American Pharoah to the
track at 5:45 a.m. (EDT) rather than wait for the time reserved for Derby and Oaks horses
at 8:30 a.m. The Arkansas Derby (G1) winner galloped 1 1/2 miles for exercise rider
Jorge Alvarez.
“The track was perfect. The weather was good,” Barnes explained.
“I’d rather just get him out on a good race track and be done with it.”
Dortmund, who picked up his sixth victory in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on
April 4, is scheduled to ship to Kentucky on Sunday.
Sunland Derby (G3) romper Firing Line (Line of David) also went through a
designed “easy work” Saturday morning at Santa Anita, one that trainer Simon
Callaghan termed “great.”
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The bay colt went off at 6:30 a.m. (PDT) with Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens — who’ll also ride him in the
Kentucky Derby — in the saddle and skipped through five furlongs in 1:02 1/5.
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Bolo, seen here working Friday, will be on the same flight as Dortmund and Firing Line
(Cecilia Gustavsson/Horsephotos.com) |
“I’m very happy. Just what we wanted for him,” Callaghan said. “It
was just to stretch his legs. He’s shipping tomorrow —
he’ll be on a plane at 1 a.m. — and we didn’t want to do too much with him.
Gary liked the move very much. We just stretched his legs a little bit. He’s
very fit; very ready to do what he has to do.”
Callaghan noted that the colt’s exercise rider,
Humberto Gomez, and his assistant trainer, Carlos Santamaria, would be on a
red-eye out of Los Angeles in order to meet Firing Line in Kentucky. The trainer
planned to fly to Louisville on Tuesday.
Firing Line’s flight will have several other notable horses on board,
including Dortmund and fellow Derby hopeful Bolo (Temple City), the latter of
whom was doing quite well Saturday morning at his Santa Anita headquarters according to
trainer Carla Gaines.
Bolo put in his final major drill for the Kentucky
Derby on Friday at the Southern California track. Rafael Bejarano, who will be
aboard for the Derby 141 run, was up for the exercise, which was accomplished
in :59 3/5.
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Bolo’s groom, Daniel Marquez, and
exercise rider, Tony Rubalcaba, will fly out the same day as their charge to
Kentucky. Gaines will do her flying Monday.
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