COLLATED KENTUCKY DERBY WORKOUTS 2024

ALL TIMES PER LOCAL TRACK CLOCKERS.
ALL WORKS ON FAST DIRT UNLESS NOTED.
CONNECTIONS' COMMENTS AND VIDEO POSTED WHEN AVAILABLE.

April 5
Catching Freedom 48.40 Breezing 9/65 CD with exercise rider Edvin Vargas aboard. Opening fraction 24 and out five in 1:01.20. Trainer Cox said, “He’s settled in nicely since we shipped him back to Churchill from Fair Grounds. He was impressive closing from that far back in the Louisiana Derby and I think the longer stretch at Churchill plus the mile-and-a-quarter should only help him in the Derby.”

April 6
Common Defense 47.80 breezing -- CD under Brian Hernandez, Jr., outside 3yo Real Men Violin with an opening quarter of 24.60 and out in 1:01.40.

Domestic Product 48:60 breezing 3/61 PAY

Endlessly 49.60 breezing 72/102 CD under exercise rider Walter Davila outside 3yo Blue Eyed George with those two together until Endlessly edged slightly ahead on the gallop out in 1:02.80. Trainer McCarthy said, “After the Jeff Ruby, Mr. Amerman and I talked and we’re going to leave all of our options open. We still have a few weeks to train here and have some time to make a final decision...."

No More Time 48:60 breezing 8/52 PMM going solo. Trainer D'Angelo said, "He went good and also had a strong gallop-out/ Everything’s good. We’re hoping to get into the Kentucky Derby. We’re not just going to just run a horse there. We have a horse with a chance to win the race.” Assuming they made the Derby, D'Angelo said he planned to breeze No More Time at Palm Meadows on April 13 before shipping to Churchill Downs.

West Saratoga 36:40 Breezing 5/30 TTC

April 7
Honor Marie 47.80 breezing 3/36 CD outside recent maiden winner Anthem King with both going 12:20 and 24.20 and Honor Marie finishing one length ahead and out five in 1:01.60. Trainer Beckman said, “I thought it was a really good move for his first work back here at Churchill. He did well this winter down at Fair Grounds and the Risen Star is proving to be a very key race leading into the Derby.”

Track Phantom 1:02.00 breezing 4/13 CD sporting a small set of blinkers while under Joel Rosario and outside 4yo Gatlinburg. They went in 13.40, 26.20 and 37.80. Track Phantom edged clear at the wire and galloped out in 1:15.20. Assistant trainer Scott Blasi said, “I thought it was a nice first work getting back to Churchill.

April 11
Just Steel 1.00:80 breezing 1/2 OP muddy

April 12
Catalytic 49:25 breezing 4/20 GP. . Trainer Joseph said, “He went well. It was his first breeze back. It was an easy half in 49-and-1. He’ll work back here once more, most likely next Friday, and then he’ll ship and have his last work at Churchill. He bounced out of the race well for a horse that was only making his third start, second start in three weeks. He was a distant second behind a deserving favorite, but I feel like he’s a horse that can improve again, which he should.”

Fierceness 50.28 breezing 14/22 PBD under John Velazquez. Video: https://youtu.be/JYJ0FoRCzU8   Trainer Pletcher said, "He's been great since the Florida Derby. His energy level is good. He’s seemed to take the race really well. He had a nice easy breeze this morning and was moving great. Really, I couldn’t be happier with him. He’ll get his next work here at Palm Beach Downs and then we’ll make a decision when to ship to Churchill. We have to be there at 11.a.m. on the Saturday before, so there’s a good chance we’ll have our final breeze at Churchill, but I want to keep the window open if I don’t like the way the weather is looking in Kentucky. Right now, I’m happy we’ve stayed where we are (with good weather).... The way he trained up to the Florida Derby, we expected a good performance, but that was kind of a ‘wow’ performance. I don’t think he’d need a better one (in the Derby), just similar. What can you do? He ran that well. It didn’t seem to be a stressful race on him. He came to the wire with his ears pricked. Johnny never seemingly asked him at any point.”

April 13
Catching Freedom 48.00 breezing 14/123 CD solo with exercise rider Edvin Vargas in the saddle through splits of 11.60 and 23.60, out five furlongs in 1:01 and six in 1:14.60. Trainer Cox told Jennie Rees, "Actually we had him 1:01 and 2 from the 4 1/2.... The track was a little heavy this morning...." He also said, “He’s had very steady training the last five, six weeks. We’ve worked him solo the last couple times and he’s done very well. I’d say the track this morning was a bit heavy. but he still got over it fine. His last two works have been fairly easy, and we’ll see how things shake out over the next two weeks with what we’ll do before the Derby.” VIDEO

Common Defense 49.40 breezing 65/123 CD.

Domestic Product 48.40 breezing 1/57 at PAY.

Endlessly 49.00 breezing 54/123 CD inside stablemate and maiden special weight winner Yellow Card. They stayed together until the wire when Endlessly got slight edge galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.20. VIDEO  VIDEO

Mystik Dan 48.00 breezing 14/123 CD with Brian Hernandez, Jr. up through a quarter-mile in 24.20 and out five furlongs in 1:00.80. Trainer McPeek said, “He ran a credible third last time in the Arkansas Derby. I think he got a lot out of that race, and has shown he handled it well in his training after.”  “Looked good,” co-owner Gasaway said. “The horse moved good. Just a maintenance half-mile. They’ll get down on him in the next two weeks.”

Tuscan Gold 48.40 breezing 1/57 at PAY.

April 14
Grand Mo the First 1:03.95 breezing 9/9 GP. Trainer Barboza said, “Next week, the horse will breeze at Gulfstream, and if everything is OK, he will go to Churchill. It was a very relaxed breeze. It was important for me for him to finish strong after the wire. The horse is a happy horse. It’s been a dream since I was a child in Venezuela. Every year, I watched the Kentucky Derby. I have a good chance today to enter the Derby.” VIDEO

Honor Marie 48.80 breezing 24/77 CD with jockey Ben Curtis up in company with Anthem King. Initial fractions were 12.40 and 24.80. Honor Marie galloped out five in 1:02.00, a bit ahead of Anthem King. Trainer Beckman said, “He did it the right way, easily. We didn’t want to do a ton this week, and he seemed to do it well. He’s the type of horse that will always do what you ask of him. I always thought it was good to have a workmate next to him to just give him a little encouragement.”  Video   ADDED LATER:  In an April 19 story found in Thoroughbred Racing Commentary, veteran British jockey Ben Curtis said, “(The Louisiana Derby) was probably a personal best from Honor Marie and I found him very easy to ride. He’s been training well since and when I flew to Churchill last week to breeze him he looked a million dollars. He did an easy half-mile breeze in 48.4s, well in his comfort zone, moving fantastic and finishing with his ears pricked. It was as near-perfect as you can get in a breeze. Some horses going into the race will have question marks over their stamina, but all Honor Marie has ever done in his races is finish strong and close late. He’s going to thrive over the trip and he’s already got winning form at Churchill."

No More Time 1:01.90 breezing 1/4 PMM. He was declared off the Derby Trail after this work with a condylar fracture to be followed by surgery on April 15. Encino is now in the Derby field should connections want that.

April 17

Seize the Grey 59.20 breezing 1/1 CD sloppy. The work took place around dawn. There were only four workouts at Churchill Downs on this date. Seize the Grey needs numerous defections to make the Kentucky Derby field.

April 18
Epic Ride 48.20 breezing 2/9 TTC

Resilience 50.20 breezing 12/18 CD at 7:30 a.m. in company with and inside of Oaks candidate Just FYI (50.00) after galloping about one mile. VIDEO Just F Y I began one length behind; by the quarter-pole,Just F Y I moved about a length in front of Resilience; and by the wire, the duo finished together. Resilience galloped out in 1:02.80 while Just F Y I did the same in 1:03.40. Trainer Mott said, “I thought (Resilience) had a great trip in the Wood Memorial. I thought Johnny rode him great. He might have gotten a little jammed up on the first turn but got clear down the backside. When (Velazquez) asked him, he responded and he finished up well. The best part is he looked good visually. The entire family of this horse has been very accomplished on the racetrack. Part of the family is Courageous Cat, who I trained for a Grade I win (in the Shoemaker Mile). The owners have been in the breeding business a long time and Resilience is just the result of their program.”

April 19
Catalytic 1:00.72 breezing 2/7 GP. Trainer Joseph said, “Everything went all right. I got him in a minute and four-fifths and the gallop-out in 1:14-and-change." Joseph said he plans to ship Catalytic to Churchill Downs Sunday in two days. “The key is to get there, and once you get there, anything can happen in the Derby," he said. VIDEO

Fierceness 1:00.50 breezing 1/5 PBD under John Velazquez in company with Agate Road (1:00.90). Trainer Pletcher said, “I thought he worked super – a solid five-eighths with a good gallop-out, exactly what we were targeting. I think he is doing every bit as good, if not better, than he was going into the Florida Derby.' Plans to ship Fierceness to Kentucky are not known publicly. VIDEO (may require sign-in XBTV.com)

West Saratoga 1:16.20 breezing 1/1 KEE wet fast. With Jesus Castanon aboard and going solo, West Saratoga cut out splits of 13.60, 26.40, 39.80, 51.20, 1:04.20 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:30.20. Trainer Demeritte said West Saratoga would be returned to The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington and stay there until April 26, with a three-furlong breeze scheduled at Churchill Downs the next day. Demeritte said, “I am happy with the work, and right now everything is in place going forward. That work (April 6) was for speed and this one for stamina. You can’t do both at the same time. He will have a lot of long gallops. The Thoroughbred Center has a 7-furlong track, and working six furlongs there would be almost like going two turns and the turns are tighter there. With a classic horse going longer distances, they stay on their leads longer going into the turns. He still has to get there. We are preparing to win and everybody feels the same. Hey, I might be a first-time starter (in the Derby), but I’m not a rookie. I love being over there on Derby Day. I have been in a lot of Derbies – the Ohio Derby, Indiana Derby – but this is the ultimate Derby.” Jockey Castanon, who rode Shackleford fourth in the 2011 Kentucky Derby before winning the Preakness, said, “It’s about never giving up and to keep trying. Demeritte added, "After the first time Jesus got on him, he told me ‘this guy is real.' He flew up from Tampa to work him (at Turfway) and then flew back to ride races that afternoon. That’s how professional he is.” VIDEO

April 20

Workouts at Churchill Downs on this date may be viewed here with the exception of Just a Touch. He was not caught on that video. Sierra Leone and Stronghold are shown on separate videos.

Catching Freedom 1:00.80 breezing 20/72 CD under Flavien Prat outside third-time-out Oaklawn maiden winner (94 Equibase) Castlewarden (1:01.00) shortly after the track opened this morning. Catching Freedom began his work from the 4 1/2-furlong pole. After breaking off a length behind Castlewarden, Chasing Freedom finished on even terms with his workmate. Chasing Freedom's initial fractions were 25.40 and 37.80, and he galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.20 and seven in 1:26.20.

Domestic Product 48.40 breezing 3/37 PAY. Trainer Brown said his assistants in Tampa were very enthusiastic about the work and a gallop-out in 1:13. "He is screaming for some pace to run at," Brown said. Expected to arrive at Churchill Downs April 22.

Dornoch 48.20 breezing 16/123 CD wih Luis Saez aboard outside fellow Derby contender Society Man (48.20) during the time reserved for Oaks and Derby horses. Society Man came out on the track bouncing and was restrained before the pair broke off pretty much together and worked on even terms. During the gallop-out Society Man wouldn't let Dornoch by him.

Endlessly 1:00.80 breezing 20/72 CD under James Graham in company with and inside of second-time-out Turfway maiden winner (95 Equibase) Yellow Card (1:00.80) shortly after the track opened this morning. Endlessly broke off about a length behind the workmate before finishing on even terms. Internal fractions were 25.00 and 36.60. Joe Kristufek commented Endlessly "was struggling" to keep up with Yellow Card past the wire, and in fact Yellow Card drew off easily from Endlessly in the first turn. I added Yellow Card to my stable alert.

Forever Young was out on the track solo during the time reserved for Oaks and Derby horses and galloped with good energy but it was not intended to be a timed workout. We are told that will happen Tuesday, April 23.

Just a Touch 48.20 breezing 16/123 CD under Florent Geroux. This was a solo work during the time reserved for Oaks and Derby horses, opening in 24.20 and out five furlongs in 1:01.20. Geroux said, “He’s doing great and feeling great. He’s a very nice colt with a very bright future.”

Just Steel one mile 1:40.00 breezing 1/1 CD with exercise rider Jamie Torres aboard outside eight-race maiden Daily Grind, who joined Just Steel at the 5/8 pole (five in 1:03.80, 70/72) shortly after the track opened this morning. The duo was then briefly joined by a set of workers from the Norm Casse barn at the half-mile pole, but by the quarter-mile pole they were separated. Just Steel's opening fractions were 13.40, 37.20, 49.40 and 1:13.80. Just Steel finished the final 5/8 in 1:02.80 and the pair hit the wire within a head of one another, so Daily Grind must have broken off five lengths ahead. Video does not show that portion of the work. Trainer Lukas said, “When he won the Ed Brown Stakes as a 2-year-old he wasn’t nearly as tall and big and heavy as he is right now. I don’t think he’ll be winning any 6 1/2-furlong races (like the Ed Brown) anytime in the near future. He’s got a pedigree that he’ll have no problem getting a mile-and-a-quarter, unlike many of the horses in the race. We have opinions, horses have the facts. They have the brilliance to show that ability doing things at distances we know probably shouldn’t be the best for them.”

Mugatu 59.80 breezing 3/3 BTP.

Mystik Dan 59.40 breezing 1/72 CD with Brian Herrnandez, Jr. aboard outside Northern Flame (tried to get on the Derby Trail, also 59.40) during the time reserved for Oaks and Derby horses. As they prepared for the workout Mystik Dan was about a length behind his workmate but soon came alongside him although not quite even, was about a half-length back at the sixtheenth pole, and efficiently surged to hit the wire together with Northern Flame. Opening splits were 23.80, 35.60 and 47.60. Beyond that, the pair ran together through the first turn out six furlongs in 1:12.60, and Mystik Dan was pulled up first in the backstretch. Trainer McPeek said, “When Mystik Dan won the Southwest it was ultra impressive. After that race we decided not to come back until the Arkansas Derby where he got turned sideways in the first turn. All that said he ran a good race. He’s a fresh horse and hasn’t been over-taxed in the preps. I think it sets him up well for the Kentucky Derby.”

Sierra Leone 48.80 breezing 18/125 KEE under exercise rider Kriss Bon in company with recent Keeneland maiden winner White Palomino (97 Equibase). VIDEO FROM KEENELAND He is expected at Churchill Downs tomorrow. Initial splits were 12.40, 24.20 and 36.80. Sierra Leone galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.20 and six in 1:15.60. Sierra Leone distanced his workmate in the first turn. Trainer Brown said, “(He) worked super. The horse is really fit and ready. It was just what I wanted. I’ve always worked him in company in the mornings. He’s always been a decent workhorse, just needs a little focus. Obviously, we’ve added blinkers this year, which have helped. But a little competition so he just feels a horse next to him just keeps him in the bridle nicely. He’s a very alpha horse. He’s definitely in charge of what’s going on everywhere, and we give him his space and we let him be him. He’s a very rare horse to have in your shedrow. (Regarding his reluctance to load in the gate before the Blue Grass) Brown said, “I have a plan set up so he can see the gate a couple of times this week coming up. I really don’t anticipate any problems. He’s really never been much of a problem at the gate. I’d be more interested with the post position of where he’s going to be strategically in that first turn more than the loading process. Maybe I’ll regret those words, but I feel somewhere in the middle of the field always seems to be the (best). But there’s no telling. You’ve seen horses win from the far outside and some that draw inside and run well. We’ll take what they give us, but somewhere in the middle would be ideal.” Brown said Sierra Leone would ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday work again April 27 if weather permits.

Society Man 48.20 breezing 16/123 CD inside Dornoch (48.20) during the time reserved for Oaks and Derby horses. Society Man came out on the track bouncing and was restrained before the pair broke off pretty much together and worked on even terms. During the gallop-out Society Man wouldn't let Dornoch get past him.

Stronghold 46.60 handily 1/68 SA with Antonio Fresu aboard outside Shady Tiger (47.40, won Echo Eddie Stakes recently). Stronghold broke off four lengths behind his workmate and finished on even terms. They continued to stride together into the backstretch. Trainer D'Amato said, “I think the track was a little fast today, but he did it the right way. He was in hand and we gave him a little target to help stretch him out on the gallop out. Antonio was very happy with him. He was cooling out like it was just a trot in the park for him. So far so good. All that spacing helped us to be where we are at now. With a fresher horse. He hasn’t had a tough campaign as a 3-year-old. We picked our spots and hopefully we’ll have a fresh horse for a Triple Crown bid.” Jockey Fresu said, “He did it so easy. I was actually expecting about 48 the way he was going. The track was a little fast today. I didn’t ask him for anything.” VIDEO

April 21
Deterministic 1:02.86 breezing 11/19 BEL dirt training track in company with The Shoe Lady (four in 49.49, recent allowance optional claimer winner Equibase 69).

Track Phantom 1:00.80 breezing 6/32 CD with Tyler Gaffalione up outside Carbone (also 1:00.80, tried to get on Derby Trail) at 5:45 a.m. Gaffalione's presence (he is committed to Sierra Leone) may indicate a rider for Track Phantom has not been firmed up, or it could be a rider is lined up but could not be at Churchill Downs this morning. I doubt this indicates a problem with Sierra Leone. This was Track Phantom's first workout in two weeks. He is wearing blinkers but has not raced with blinkers. Even though these two were given identical times, Track Phantom broke off about a length behind Carbone and was on even terms at the wire after being asked a bit in the stretch by Gaffalione. The opening quarter was a slow 26.20, making the final three furlongs 34.60. Track Phantom galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.60 and from there distanced Carbone, who has shown endurance limitations in the afternoon, and galloped well up the backstretch. The move might mark an attempt to change Track Phantom's forward running style, and it was a little sharper than we often see from this barn. VIDEO ON THE WORKS SHOW AT 11:30

April 22
Resilience 1:01.60 breezing 10/12 CD under Junior Alvarado going solo. The opening quarter was timed in 25.80. Resilience galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.60 and kept going a long way up the backstretch, something I like to see before the Derby. Junior Alvarado said, "Today he galloped out very strong, He wanted to keep going, that's a good sign." Trainer Mott said, “He’s the type of horse that has taken a little more time to mature than some others. We took our time with his development and it’s seem to have worked out well.” Resilience galloped out a long way up the backstretch, something I like to see before the Derby. Trainer Mott sent Resilience out for a breeze only four days ago, and I suspect we will see another one soon. Mott is following the same pattern with Just F Y I for the Oaks. Her breeze this morning was dynamite. It was Just F Y I's second workout since finishing runner-up to Leslie's Rose in the Ashland, and Leslie's Rose is absent from the worktab. When I was a much, much younger man I knew this guy who was a degenerate gambler if there ever was one, but he did know things about horse racing. When it came to handicapping horses he liked telling people about his dad who helped manage stallions at Claiborne farm years and years before then. "Three works in 10 days, that's a good bet," he'd say. "Dad never bought a form at the races, he already knew all the horses," the guy would say, "and he knew the ones that worked three times in 10 days." Times have changed, and we hardly ever see a horse that works two times in 10 days, much less three. Resilience and Just F Y I could be old-school exceptions. Heads up. VIDEO OF JUST FYI AT THE WORKS SHOW  VIDEO OF RESILIENCE AT THE WORKS SHOW

April 23
Grand Mo the First 1:16.46 breezing 2/2 GP solo with Emisael Jaramillo up. Trainer Barboza said,  “It was a beautiful workout. We will arrive there Thursday night, walk Friday and then go to the track Saturday.” The colt's last work was also very slow, timed in 1:03.95. This seems to be taken straight out of the Mage playbook. He worked very slowly leading into the 2023 Kentucky Derby.

April 24
Forever Young 6f 1:19.60 breezing 1/1 CD under Ryusei Sakai in company the last four furlongs with a horse from the Dale Romans barn. Forever Young wore a hood without ear coverings. Forever Young was under mild restraint initially without displaying any resentment. The workmate joined the move heading into the far ahead of Forever Young but was directly in front of Forever Young when they ran into the stretch. By design Sakai shifted Forever Young to the inside of the workmate and proceeded to blow by him. There was not a long gallop-out, and I don't have a time for the gallop-out. This horse, per Japanese practice we have witnessed in the past at Churchill Downs, spends a lot of time on the track each day and did so prior to today's work. Per the broadcast of the workout initial fractions were very slow, 14.80, 28.80, 42.60, 55.20. These numbers yield a final 1/2 mile timed in 50.80, final 3/8 in 37.00, stretch run in 24.40. The time announced in the works broadcast, 1:19 flat, was erroneous. WORK BEGINS AT 26.40

Resilience was back out on the track for the second time in two days following his April 22 workout. No off day in the shedrow for Resilience! Stable mate Just F Y I, who also breezed Monday, took the following day off. I don't hold that against the Oaks filly as long as she was out on the track today. The works show focused on only a handful of horses today and I'm not at Churchill Downs yet, so check Daily Derby update for details on Just F Y I. I will be at Churchill Downs first thing Friday morning and through the weekend.

April 25
Honor Marie 59.20 breezing 1/11 CD under Ben Curtis in company with 3yo Agoo (1:00.00), who typically has Equibase figures in the 80s. Initial fractions were 12.00, 23.80, 35.60 and 47.40. He was out six in 1:12.60 and seven in 1:27.60. The pair broke off with Honor Marie about a length back. He was soon on even terms with Agoo and they entered the stretch that way. At the wire, Honor Marie had powered to a three-length advantage, and he galloped out well ahead of his workmate. Honor Marie continued galloping up the backstretch beyond the timed seven furlongs. VIDEO AT 17:15

April 26
Endlessly 47.80 breezing 19/68 CD under Umberto Rispoli in company with Gottaneedforspeed (best Equibase 70 from three starts). Endlessly was among the first horses to step on the track when training began at 5:15. His team wasted no time before he broke off in company to breeze four furlongs in 47.80. Endlessly began the move about a half-length back and outside and hit the wire about a half in front of his workmate. This post will be updated with internal and out fractions, but Endlessly kept up with the workmate past the wire better than his previous workout. Presumably trainer McCarthy and Amerman Racing will soon decide/disclose whether Endlessly will compete in the Kentucky Derby or the American Turf on May 4. Trainer McCarthy said, “All options are now open. I liked his move this morning, very pleased with it. Now we’ll see what’s next. I’m going to have a conversation with Mr. Amerman now and see what we’re going to do. It’ll be interesting.” VIDEO AT 40.24

Epic Ride 51.20 breezing 22/23 TTC. VIDEO UNAVAILABLE

Fierceness 48.80 breezing 43/68 CD under John Velazquez outside Agate Road, his first workout at Churchill Downs. Opening fractions of 12.80, 24.80, 36.80, out five in 1:00.60, six in 1:12.60 seven in 1:26.00. At the wire Fierceness was a quickly-increasing 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Agate Road, and he ran well beyond Agate Road past the wire.  He eased up just before the track kitchen located at the start of the far turn. I don't know how Fierceness could be asked for a better workout going into a big race. VIDEO AT 21:00. While it's possible the track was playing a bit fast today, trainer and jockey were demonstrably happy. Track notes said Velazquez had a big smile and said, “He really, really went well today.” Trainer Pletcher, known for being understated, said, “I’m very, very happy with the work.” 

Seize the Grey 1:00.00 breezing 11/25 CD solo and showing energy. No doubt Seize the Grey needs no workmate to encourage him in the mornings. VIDEO UNAVAILABLE