Derby Contenders Update
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Backtalk Works Toward Derby
Backtalk worked five furlongs in 1:04 with a final quarter-mile in :24.40 under Miguel Mena before the renovation break today at Churchill Downs. It was the colts first work since a distant third-place finish in the Grade III Illinois Derby.
It was an easy five-eighths, which is what we wanted, trainer Tom Amoss said. Everything has been fine with him since the Illinois Derby, no problems at all. He will work again next Sunday, something a little more spirited at that time.
He has been on schedule all along, said Todd Quast, racing manager for Gold Mark which is owned by Paul Bulmahn. The only miss was the 1:09 and 3 work before the Illinois Derby. People wondered if the work took too much out of him, and it did. Hes fine, We know what kind of horse he is.
Backtalk has $225,916 in graded stakes earnings, but would need two defections from Derby hopefuls with more graded earnings to gain a spot in the starting gate May 1.
It is just hard to believe that $225,000 may not get us in, Quast said.
Dublin Work Set Tomorrow
Dublin is scheduled to work five furlongs after the renovation break tomorrow morning with Terry Thompson aboard for four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Dublin galloped after the renovation break today under exercise rider Arielle Witkowski.
Awesome Act to Work Tuesday; Noseda Stranded
Assistant trainer Wayne Tanner said that Awesome Act is set for a Tuesday morning work, probably six furlongs in company. Julien Leparoux could be aboard for the move.
British-based trainer Jeremy Noseda will attempt to be at Churchill Downs for the work, but there is one major problem. There are no flights out of the U.K. right now because of the volcanic ash (from Iceland), Tanner said. He wants to be here and is hoping to fly out Monday afternoon, but as of this morning, there were no flights.
Awesome Act galloped today.
Eightyfiveinafifty Set to Go Tuesday
Eightyfiveinafifty will work four furlongs Tuesday for the Grade III Derby Trial, according to Marcelo Arenas, assistant to trainer Gary Contessa. He galloped under Nick Santagata after the renovation break today.
Eightyfiveinafifty, winner of the Grade III Bay Shore in his most start, has $120,000 in graded stakes earnings. A victory in The Cliffs Edge Derby Trial could vault him into a spot in the Kentucky Derby.
Noble's Promise Also Set for Tuesday
Noble's Promise is scheduled to work Tuesday morning according to trainer Ken McPeek. There may be a decision about his Kentucky Derby status after the work, or so McPeek intimated a few days ago.
Baffert Duo to Work Wednesday
Bob Bafferts duo of Kentucky Derby 136 contenders, Lookin at Lucky and Conveyance, will work Wednesday at the track. They galloped today. Both horses were ridden by exercise rider Dana Barnes.
All Well for Dean's Kitten
Mike Maker reported all was well Sunday morning with Dean's Kitten after he worked five furlongs in :59.80 yesterday at Trackside Training Center. Another work is set on Saturday, as well as one for Grade I Toyota Blue Grass winner Stately Victor.
Endorsement Checks In
Endorsement arrived at Churchill Downs just before 1:00 this afternoon from Keeneland.
It was a good trip, no problems, said trainer Shannon Ritter as Endorsement surveyed his new surroundings in Barn 19. Endorsement worked Saturday at Keeneland under Ritter in 1:01.60 for five furlongs in company. Ritter plans to work Endorsement here this coming Saturday.
Ritter said that Endorsement would jog tomorrow.
Robby Albarado, who rode Endorsement for the first time in his Grade III Sunland Park victory, has the mount in the Kentucky Derby.
Zito Pair Have Routine Day
Ice Box jogged after the morning renovation break under exercise rider Dennis Chavez for trainer Nick Zito. He worked a half-mile in :48.40 on Friday, and Zito said Ice Box may work again this coming Friday.
Jose Lezcano is scheduled to ride Ice Box in the Kentucky Derby.
Jackson Bend, who would need a defection from among the top 20 graded earnings list, galloped under Carlos Correa. Mike Smith would have the Derby mount if Jackson Bend gets in the race.
Line of David Back to 'Old Self'
Line of David galloped a mile and a half shortly after the track opened under exercise rider Lupillo Alferez. This is the first day he acted like his old self, said trainer John Sadlers assistant Larry Benavidez as Line of David bounced off the track back to Barn 42 before dawn. That was a tough race in Arkansas.
Benavidez said that Line of David is scheduled to work Tuesday morning. Sadler is scheduled to arrive in Louisville from his Southern California base tomorrow.
Stable mate Sidney's Candy walked the shedrow a day after working five furlongs in :59.80 on Saturday under Alfarez.
He came out of the work fine and he will work again next Saturday, Benavidez said. Joe Talamo is expected to be here next Saturday for the colts next work.
'Paddy' Galloping Along
Paddy O'Prado galloped today after the renovation break under Faustino Aguilar. He will gallop every day this week and work five-eighths on Saturday, trainer Dale Romans said.
Interactif Still 'on the Fence'
Interactif is still on the fence with regard to the Kentucky Derby, according to Mike McCarthy, Todd Pletchers assistant in charge of his Churchill Downs string.
Stable mate Super Saver galloped early Sunday morning under exercise Kevin Willey. The rest of the Pletcher contingent is due in Tuesday from South Florida.
Backtalk worked five furlongs in 1:04 with a final quarter-mile in :24.40 under Miguel Mena before the renovation break today at Churchill Downs. It was the colts first work since a distant third-place finish in the Grade III Illinois Derby.
It was an easy five-eighths, which is what we wanted, trainer Tom Amoss said. Everything has been fine with him since the Illinois Derby, no problems at all. He will work again next Sunday, something a little more spirited at that time.
He has been on schedule all along, said Todd Quast, racing manager for Gold Mark which is owned by Paul Bulmahn. The only miss was the 1:09 and 3 work before the Illinois Derby. People wondered if the work took too much out of him, and it did. Hes fine, We know what kind of horse he is.
Backtalk has $225,916 in graded stakes earnings, but would need two defections from Derby hopefuls with more graded earnings to gain a spot in the starting gate May 1.
It is just hard to believe that $225,000 may not get us in, Quast said.
Dublin Work Set Tomorrow
Dublin is scheduled to work five furlongs after the renovation break tomorrow morning with Terry Thompson aboard for four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Dublin galloped after the renovation break today under exercise rider Arielle Witkowski.
Awesome Act to Work Tuesday; Noseda Stranded
Assistant trainer Wayne Tanner said that Awesome Act is set for a Tuesday morning work, probably six furlongs in company. Julien Leparoux could be aboard for the move.
British-based trainer Jeremy Noseda will attempt to be at Churchill Downs for the work, but there is one major problem. There are no flights out of the U.K. right now because of the volcanic ash (from Iceland), Tanner said. He wants to be here and is hoping to fly out Monday afternoon, but as of this morning, there were no flights.
Awesome Act galloped today.
Eightyfiveinafifty Set to Go Tuesday
Eightyfiveinafifty will work four furlongs Tuesday for the Grade III Derby Trial, according to Marcelo Arenas, assistant to trainer Gary Contessa. He galloped under Nick Santagata after the renovation break today.
Eightyfiveinafifty, winner of the Grade III Bay Shore in his most start, has $120,000 in graded stakes earnings. A victory in The Cliffs Edge Derby Trial could vault him into a spot in the Kentucky Derby.
Noble's Promise Also Set for Tuesday
Noble's Promise is scheduled to work Tuesday morning according to trainer Ken McPeek. There may be a decision about his Kentucky Derby status after the work, or so McPeek intimated a few days ago.
Baffert Duo to Work Wednesday
Bob Bafferts duo of Kentucky Derby 136 contenders, Lookin at Lucky and Conveyance, will work Wednesday at the track. They galloped today. Both horses were ridden by exercise rider Dana Barnes.
All Well for Dean's Kitten
Mike Maker reported all was well Sunday morning with Dean's Kitten after he worked five furlongs in :59.80 yesterday at Trackside Training Center. Another work is set on Saturday, as well as one for Grade I Toyota Blue Grass winner Stately Victor.
Endorsement Checks In
Endorsement arrived at Churchill Downs just before 1:00 this afternoon from Keeneland.
It was a good trip, no problems, said trainer Shannon Ritter as Endorsement surveyed his new surroundings in Barn 19. Endorsement worked Saturday at Keeneland under Ritter in 1:01.60 for five furlongs in company. Ritter plans to work Endorsement here this coming Saturday.
Ritter said that Endorsement would jog tomorrow.
Robby Albarado, who rode Endorsement for the first time in his Grade III Sunland Park victory, has the mount in the Kentucky Derby.
Zito Pair Have Routine Day
Ice Box jogged after the morning renovation break under exercise rider Dennis Chavez for trainer Nick Zito. He worked a half-mile in :48.40 on Friday, and Zito said Ice Box may work again this coming Friday.
Jose Lezcano is scheduled to ride Ice Box in the Kentucky Derby.
Jackson Bend, who would need a defection from among the top 20 graded earnings list, galloped under Carlos Correa. Mike Smith would have the Derby mount if Jackson Bend gets in the race.
Line of David Back to 'Old Self'
Line of David galloped a mile and a half shortly after the track opened under exercise rider Lupillo Alferez. This is the first day he acted like his old self, said trainer John Sadlers assistant Larry Benavidez as Line of David bounced off the track back to Barn 42 before dawn. That was a tough race in Arkansas.
Benavidez said that Line of David is scheduled to work Tuesday morning. Sadler is scheduled to arrive in Louisville from his Southern California base tomorrow.
Stable mate Sidney's Candy walked the shedrow a day after working five furlongs in :59.80 on Saturday under Alfarez.
He came out of the work fine and he will work again next Saturday, Benavidez said. Joe Talamo is expected to be here next Saturday for the colts next work.
'Paddy' Galloping Along
Paddy O'Prado galloped today after the renovation break under Faustino Aguilar. He will gallop every day this week and work five-eighths on Saturday, trainer Dale Romans said.
Interactif Still 'on the Fence'
Interactif is still on the fence with regard to the Kentucky Derby, according to Mike McCarthy, Todd Pletchers assistant in charge of his Churchill Downs string.
Stable mate Super Saver galloped early Sunday morning under exercise Kevin Willey. The rest of the Pletcher contingent is due in Tuesday from South Florida.