ARRIVALS AT CD / BARN NUMBERS / WORKOUTS

Arrival dates at Churchill Down, barn numbers, workouts.

We are posting workouts since the horse's last race. Workouts are on fast dirt unless otherwise noted.

VIDEOS:  Workouts available on video since the horse's last race are being posted. We began locating and posting these on April 19. Videos produced by 1/ST (such as the Baeza, Citizen Bull, Rodriguez and Tappan Street workouts) may require you to sign in to a 1/ST account. There is no charge for setting up an account. If available we will post Youtube videos instead of 1/ST.

Includes a few horses that need defections to make the Derby field, and some of those may opt to go in other races. As of April 21 in Derby points order they are Neoequos, Render Judgment, Baeza and California Burrito.

Training hours at Churchill Downs initially are 5:30-10 with renovation breaks from 6:45-7:15 and 8:30-9. Beginning April 18 training from 5:15-10, the same renovation breaks, and a 7:15-7:30 window exclusively for Derby and Oaks contenders.

Admire Daytona: April 9 (Quarantine barn 1)

April 22 53:20 Breezing 33/33 CD - VIDEO - typical, expected slow breeze - solo - 13.00, 39.20 - “With only three (actually four) weeks between races, we just prepped him the same way we did in Dubai,” exercise rider/assistant trainer Yoshimitsu Miyashita said. “We let him decide what he wanted to do over the four furlongs. He increased his speed a bit in the straight on his own and really it was exactly like the kind of work he turned in prior to the UAE Derby. He has managed to maintain his pre-UAE Derby physical condition perfectly so we just have to help him keep it until race day.”

April 23: Scheduled walk day.

April 24:  Back on the race track today.

American Promise: April 20, barn 44
March 25 59.80 Breezing 2/5 OP

April 1 59.20 Breezing 1/20 OP
April 9 59:40 Breezing 1/20 OP

April 18  1.25:20 Handily gate 1/1 OP - VIDEO - the rare "handily" workout at Oaklawn; seldom used outside California - In company with Bon Temps, under jockey Nik Juarez. Splits were 22.00, 33.60, 45.80, 57.80, 1:11.00. Bon Temps, a seven-race maiden, began dropping back on the turn and went five furlongs in :59.60. Trainer Lukas claimed, “That’s what I wanted him to do, jump on that other horse. From the wire to the seven-eighths (pole), I could tell he wasn’t as interested. That’s a habit – horses pulling up after they work – galloping out. What I’m trying to do is get him focused on getting into his races quicker because with a 20-horse field, there’s always a problem. Put yourself in a place where you can (avoid trouble). I’m training him a little bit different. He did a half-mile from the gate in :45 seconds. He doesn’t have to do that, but at least he’s got that in mind now. (The next work, which will be at Churchill Downs) will be a lot easier. The last two weeks have been the best two weeks he’s had here (at Oaklawn)."

April 21 NOTE: Arrived at CD yesterday, galloped today.

April 22 NOTE:  After the imposing colt's gallop trainer Lukas said, “He’s just growing into his frame. He won’t be 3 until May 17.” American Promise will be ridden by Nik Juarez, his Kentucky Derby debut. Juarez is scheduled to ride Thursday at Oaklawn Park and will travel to Louisville on Friday.

April 23: Scheduled to breeze Friday or Saturday.

Baeza: April 23 or 24

April 14  50:00 Handily 39/52 SA - VIDEO - solo

April 20 originally reported by Equibase  six in 1.15:60 Handily (5/6), revised to seven in 1:28 Handily (3/4) - VIDEO - His worktab is scattered with slow and fast workouts beginning on Feb. 26: 52.60, 1:02.20, 1:10.40, 1:03.40, 1:12.00, 50.00 and today's 1:15.60/1:28.00; he raced once in this timeframe: the April 5 Santa Anita Derby following the 1:12.00 workout - under jockey Hector Berrios (Flavien Prat is named for the Derby) in company with Atitlan, a multiple graded stakes winner on turf - The SA press office says Baeza "was officially credited with a seven-furlong work in 1:28.00." Shirreffs said he clocked Baeza in 1:28.20. “Because his morning gallops have been a little on the easy side, I wanted to give him a longer work to put a little more air in him and with a good finish," he said. Fractions were not released by the press office, but DRF's Steve Andersen wrote Shirreffs got the final eighth in 11.80, which is not quite consistent with the difference in the six- and seven-furlong times posted by Equibase (12.40).

Built: March 24, barn 14
April 7 49:20 Breezing 20/45 Muddy CD

April 15  49:80 Breezing 19/25 CD - VIDEO - solo

April 24  59.40 Breezing 1/9 CD - VIDEO - solo - CD clockers had him opening in 24, out six in 1:13.40 - DRF's Mike Welsch clocked him in 35.88, 47.71, 59.33, out  six in 1:13.38 per a post on X.

Burnham Square: Returned to CD April 8 after the Blue Grass. Barn 26.

April 19 49.40 Breezing 51/97 CD - VIDEO - 24.40, 37.00, 49.40, out five in 1:02.00 per CD clockers (Mike Welsch got him in 1:02.60 and 1:15.60) but he continued almost all the way up the backstretch - solo under Brian Hernandez Jr., who has the Derby mount. Trainer Wilkes said beforehand it would be a maintenance work, but it looked like more than a maintenance work. Wilkes said beforehand he needed to do something with Burnham Square or he'd get upset. “I know I needed to run him more because he was making too many mistakes, and I thought I needed to educate him more so he doesn’t make those mistakes in the Derby. He’s got to move forward again from the Blue Grass because the water gets deeper again. He’s a lighter-framed horse. I can’t be afraid to train him because he needs it to get ready for the Derby.”

April 20:  A photo by Barbara Livingston shows Burnham Square sweating on his neck during the breeze; he might've been worked up a bit, and I say that because Wilkes said before the work Burnham Square would get upset if he didn't do something with him.

April 21: Jogged today after working April 19 and day off April 20.

April 22:  Burnham Square is expected to work Saturday.

April 24:  Exercise rider Mark Cutler was asked to compare Burnham Square with Street Sense, whom he handled for trainer Carl Nafzger and then-assistant trainer Wilkes: “Street Sense liked to take his time. We’d get to Barn 30 and he would stop and wanted to look at everything. It was like he owned the place. (Burnham Square) tests you a little bit,” Cutler said smiling. “He wants to do a little more than you want.”

California Burrito: Prior to April 6, barn 18

April 6  49.60 Breezing 9/13 CD - VIDEO

April 13 47.00 Breezing 1/55 CD

April 20 47:20 Breezing 2/54 CD - VIDEO - Track producing fast times again today. Pretty good looking work and gallop out. Without hearing from the trainer or jockey, don't know if the two horses in front of him on the turn were meant to be there. Will update this aspect. Regardless, dirt doesn't appear to be hindering California Burrito during this breeze.

Chunk of Gold:  April 25, a day prior to the 11 a.m. deadline
April 5 49.20 Breezing 26/64 TP
April 12 59:40 Breezing 1/18 TP Trainer West: "I got 47 and change for a half-mile and out six in 1:12" Jareth Loveberry came in to handle the work.

April 19 49.40 Breezing 30/78 TP - VIDEO - Solo under Derby jockey Jareth Loveberry, workout was before sunrise. Churchill Downs publicity previously posted on X 12.60, 25.20, 38.20, 50.00, out five in 1:02.00. Trainer West said, “It was exactly what we had planned. We wanted to go a little slow early and finish up well. Jareth never asked him, and he had a really strong gallop out. Chunk really wanted to do more, but we’ll save that for 14 days from now.” Chunk of Gold will work Friday at Turfway before vanning to Churchill Downs that afternoon.

April 21 NOTE: Returned to the track at TP today after working April 19 and day off April 20.

April 22 NOTE: Chunk of Gold is scheduled to work Friday at Turfway Park.

Citizen Bull: April 24, barn 33

April 13  initially reported 1.01:00 Handily 33/86 SA; changed to  47.60 Handily 12/102 SA - VIDEO - outside Dothraki without blinkers.

April 18  1.11:80 Handily 1/4 SA - VIDEO - outside unraced Lionel (1:00.00) without blinkers for the second straight work. Stable says he will race without blinkers for the first time in the Kentucky Derby. Citizen Bull spotted Lionel five lengths before overtaking him in the work.

April 22 NOTE: Still scheduled to arrive Thursday.

April 23  1.24:20 Handily 1/2 SA - VIDEO - in company - again without blinkers. Much the best.

Coal Battle:  April 6, barn 42
April 8  48:40 Breezing 30/57 CD - VIDEO - solo, 24, out in 1:02.40 - “He was too fresh in the Arkansas Derby,” trainer Briley said. “I usually never have to saddle him on the walk, but I had to that day. Then after he broke, and Cornucopian and Speed King went blazing to the lead, we were in third. He was just too fresh. We have a plan now going forward." Juan Vargas will ride.

April 15 1.01:20 Breezing 14/21 CD - VIDEO - solo, 12.20, 23.80, 36.40 under assistant trainer Bethany Taylor. Out fractions unavailable.

Next scheduled workout is "probably" April 22.

April 22 47:80 Breezing 3/33 CD - VIDEO - solo under Bethany Taylor - 12.40, 24.60, out five furlongs in 100.80 - Taylor said, “I was thrilled with it. He keeps getting better every time he goes out there. He is improving every time.” Trainer Briley said, “It was good and he came back like he hadn’t done anything, not even taking a drink of water. Four or five days before a race, I like to give them a three-eighths blowout to put some air in their lungs."

April 23: Scheduled walk day.

April 24:  Back on the track to say to stretch his legs, per the stable.

East Avenue: April 14, barn 9

April 19 47.60 Breezing 5/97 CD - VIDEO - in company with Raquel 11:60, 23.20, 47.60 out five in 1:00.60. Edgar Morales worked East Avenue while trainer Brendan Walsh’s exercise rider Stephen Dolan was aboard Raquel. Morales worked East Avenue in the past at Fair Grounds. Trainer quote unavailable at this post.

April 21 NOTE: Galloped today after a day off following his April 19 workout.

April 24: Trainer Walsh said, “I think we learned more about the horse in the Risen Star (when he finished 10th) than ever before. We had to knuckle down on him and get tougher on him. He didn’t learn an awful lot last year because he was just so talented at that stage. We didn’t realize it at the time that we might have been too easy on him, but (after) the Risen Star we had to fix that." East Avenue is scheduled to breeze Saturday.

Final Gambit: March 31, barn 22
April 2 48.80 Breezing 36/68 CD
April 9 1.00:80 Breezing 10/32 CD Broke off at the 4 1/2-furlong pole, 25.40, worked through the wire to mid-turn, out six in 1:13.60 and seven in 1:27. Trainer Cox: "I really like what I see from him. (The dirt) doesn't seem to slow him down."

April 18: Has been nine days since he worked.

April 19  No worries, 1:00.80 Breezing 24/56 CD - VIDEO - outside Coffee Talk 24.40, 36.60, 48.40, out six in 1:14.40. Trainer Cox was there for the workout outside Coffee Talk, whom he easily outworked, with exercise rider Edvin Vargas aboard. “He’s really handled the dirt well here. I thought it was a strong move today. He’s done everything well since we got him back here.”

April 21: After a day off, back on the track today.

April 23:  Scheduled to work Saturday.

Flying Mohawk: March 31, barn 21
April 12 50:80 Breezing 74/86 CD - VIDEO - 26, out five 1:03.40, outside Honor Marie. Trainer Beckman: "I just wanted an easy move." Joe Ramos has the Derby mount.

April 19 1:00 Breezing 11/56 CD - Inside stablemate Honor Marie with exercise rider Maurilio Garcia in the saddle.  12.00, 23.40, 35.00, out six in 1:13.40

April 21 NOTE:  CD track notes say he had "an easy training day" after a day off yesterday.

Grande: Arrived at Keeneland April 18. Expected arrival at Churchill Downs April 25, barn 37

Unless Pletcher calls an audible, Grande will have his sole pre-Derby work April 25 at Keeneland, then be vanned to Louisville.

April 23: No change in the expected schedule.

Journalism:  April 13 22, barn 35

April 19 47.00 Breezing 1/57 SA - VIDEO - under Umberto Rispoli, inside Feel the Magic, a 4-year-old gelding and one-time winner. Both timed in 47.00. Fractions are not published anywhere I can locate. The work was termed maintenance, but it looked like more. Journalism's gallop out was long and strong. Trainer McCarthy said, “We’re just keeping him in his routine. He’s really been training well and this was kind of maintenance. He looked relaxed out there. We just let him stretch his legs a little bit." Rispoli said, “I was very happy. The horse seems to have come out well from the Santa Anita Derby. He’s in good shape and gave me a good feeling. One more to go.”

April 22: Journalism is en route to Churchill Downs from southern California via charter today. The ship includes a landing in Indianapolis, followed by a van ride to Louisville with a mid-afternoon arrival to Churchill Downs expected.

April 23: With Marc Witkowski aboard, Journalism came on the track during the 7:15–7:30 training window and galloped a mile and an eighth. “It looked like he got over the track nicely,” trainer McCarthy said, adding that any gate or paddock schooling is TBD. As far as when a workout will be, McCarthy said, “I’m handicapping the weather.” Rain is in the forecast for Friday with a lesser chance of precipitation Saturday.

April 24: Trainer McCarthy said, “He’s an easy horse to train. When he came to us last summer as a 2-year-old he sort of showed us he was more advanced than your average 2-year-old. He really proved that once we stretched him out in the second start and we knew he wasn’t an average 2-year-old.”

April 24: Based on his body language and demeanor, Journalism's exercise rider was obviously very happy with his gallop this morning.

Luxor Cafe:  April 23, Quarantine barn 1

April 21 NOTE: Still on schedule to arrive at Churchill Downs April 23.

April 22 NOTE:  As scheduled, Luxor Café is undergoing a 42-hour USDA quarantine in Chicago following his arrival there from Japan on Monday.

April 24: Luxor Café arrived at Churchill Downs Wednesday evening and jogged in the one-mile chute this morning. Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby liaison Kate Hunter said his connections were very pleased with how he shipped and will do more in his training in the next several days.

Neoequos: April 25 or 26
April 11 49:63 Breezing 20/37 GP

April 18  1.00:51 Breezing 2/4 GP - 37.00, out six in 1:14.20 with late urging per DRF's Mike Welsch who covered works at both Gulfstream Park and Payson Park this date. Trainer Joseph said, "He sat a bit off his workmate (Neoequos outworked Mr. Narcissistic) and finished up decent. He’s a horse that once he makes the lead he kind of doesn’t really go on much once he goes by the horse. Right now, we’re going to the Derby. The distance is still a question mark. Right now, I’m probably leaning toward working him one more time (Thursday or Friday) and then head to Churchill."

April 24   48:43 Breezing 1/16 GP - VIDEO - Trainer Joseph said, “It went good. He worked in company. He was inside his workmate. It was his last breeze and we were just looking for maintenance. It went well. He’s in good form."Joseph said Neoeuos will ship to Kentucky Friday, April 25 and that Flavien Prat is named to ride unless Baeza also makes the Derby field. Baeza has first dibs on Prat. Joseph added,

“We feel like we can get into the Derby, but if he doesn’t get in, he’ll run in one of the other races Derby Day. Right now, we’re leaning to the American Turf, but the Pat Day Mile, I’d say, is also in contention.'

Owen Almighty:  Arrived shortly after April 8, Barn 40

April 21:  Walked the shed row this wet morning.

April 22: Owen Almighty is scheduled to work Friday.

April 24: 1.01:60 Breezing 3/9 CD - VIDEO - With rain in the Friday forecast, Owen Almighty was sent out today in company with Nosleeptilbrooklyn, a maiden. Owen Almighty started two lengths behind and posted fractions of 26.00 and 37.60 and galloped out well in front with six furlongs in 1:14.00 and seven-eighths in 1:27.00. Trainer Lynch said, “I didn’t want to take a chance on the weather. The work couldn’t have been any better.” DRF's Mike Welsch posted on X  37.49, 1:01.38, out six in 1:13.75, up seven in 1:27.27.

Publisher: April 1, barn 38
April 12 1.00:80 Breezing 12/31 CD - VIDEO - inside Tiztastic, 13, 24.80, 36.60, out six 1:13.40 and seven 1:26.60. Trainer Asmussen: "I was extremely pleased with how they handled and traveled over the racetrack."

April 19 59.60 Breezing 4/56 CD - VIDEO - inside Tiztastic, 12.80, 24.20, 36.00, out six in 1:11.80. Publisher got a head start on Tiztastic, a closer, but outworked Tiztastic to the wire and in the gallop out. There were no comments from trainer Asmussen in notes released by the track.

April 21:  Galloped today after a day off April 20.

April 23: Trainer Asmussen was aboard his pony alongside Publisher while assistant trainer Scott Blasi was aboard a pony leading Tiztastic to the paddock prior to galloping.

Render Judgment: ~April 8~

April 19 1.00:80 Breezing 24/56 CD

River Thames Out of Derby consideration.

Rodriguez:  April 22, barn 33

April 20 1.00:40 Handily 10/59 SA - VIDEO - solo under an exercise rider, strong gallop out. Mike Smith watched the work. All the press office gave us is Baffert saying, "All went well." No fractions, no nothing. On X, Tom Ryan posted, "He had a great morning and exited his work in excellent shape. A very fit and happy 3-year-old - heading to Kentucky." Smith said, “If they want to be in front of him, they’ll have to run to get it," according to reporting by DRF's Steve Andersen.

April 22 NOTE: Still scheduled to arrive Thursday. Woops, he arrived late Tuesday afternoon. Sean Collins of BloodHorse tweeted at 6 pm ET "Bob Baffert’s Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez and Santa Anita Oaks winner Tenma have arrived...."

April 23 NOTE: Rodriguez trained at 7:15 a.m. with exercise rider Humberto Gomez aboard.

Sandman:  April 1, barn 36
April 15 April 15 49:60 Breezing 18/23 CD - VIDEO - solo, 13.60, 26.40, out five in 1:01.80, up six in 1:15.00 under Froylan Garcia. Trainer Casse said, “I asked the rider to go between 49 and 50 seconds and he did just that.”

April 20 NOTE:  Kevin Kilroy said at the tail end of the Works show Sandman was not on the track today. We'll know soon enough whether it's just because today is Easter Sunday (many of the stables didn't do much today at CD), there was some other reason that's not important to his condition, or there is an issue.

April 21 NOTE:  Sandman galloped a mile-and-a-half at 7:15 a.m. with Froylan Garcia aboard on a wet track.

April 23 1.02:40 Breezing 20/29 CD - VIDEO - solo - 13.60, 26.20, 38.00, out six in1:15.60 - the fastest segment was the second half of the turn in 11.80 - Trainer Casse said, “On a scale of 1 to 10 this gets a 10. That was his last work before the Derby. I think he grows every time I look at him. He is more than 16 hands, more than 16-3.” NOTE:  He said to reporters, "He didn't want to pull up."

April 24: Trainer Casse said, “He walked early, and he’s just chilling now."

Sovereignty: April 13 16, barn 19

April 11 48.40 Breezing 3/24 PAY - Trainer Mott said, “He was into it. He’s not a great work horse, but he went well. Good sign that we’re able to keep going. I’m considering shipping him Sunday. I thought I’d probably want to have a couple works over the [Churchill Downs] track.”

April 19 1:00.60 Breezing 17/56 CD - VIDEO is limited to Kevin Kerstein's X post - CD camera crew did not catch the workout - 13.00, 25.20, 37.20, out six in 1:12.80 - outside of stablemate Playa Del Mar. According to Churchill Downs notes Playa Del Mar completed his move at the eighth pole, with Sovereignty drawing clear to the wire. Exercise rider Guesler Cardona was aboard for the work. I previously marked this work solo after seeing Kevin Kerstein's video of Sovereignty finishing up the move on X, but it only looked that way because Sovereignty left Playa Del Mar so far in his wake. Trainer Mott said, “There’s a lot of luck involved in winning the Kentucky Derby. You obviously have to have the right horse for the race, but you need to have some racing luck go your way. The goal is to have him the best he can be for the first Saturday in May.”

April 21: Sovereignty galloped following a day off after his April 19 breeze. Addendum: His neck was sweaty after the gallop.

April 23:  After Sovereinty galloped at about 7:15 trainer Mott said, “No complaints this morning. He went through the paddock and then galloped out past the half-mile pole.”

April 24:  Noticed again this morning Sovereignty's neck looked very washy after his gallop.

April 24: Trainer Mott said after Sovereignty's morning on the track, “We’re all good here. He stood in the gate, backed out and then galloped well.” Mott said he is flexible about the date of Sovereignty's upcoming workout.

Tappan Street: early April 20, barn 22
April 11  48:40 Breezing 3/24 PAY VIDEO - outside Rapture - Trainer Cox said he had him in 48.40, out 1:01.60. "He was under a good hold throughout. He definitely hasn’t regressed. He’s really doing well. He's a smart horse. I think we’ll probably stay here for one more (work)."

April 18 1.01:40 Breezing 2/12 PAY - VIDEO - pre-dawn work outside Rapture - DRF's Mike Welsch was there and tweeted early this date 1:02 breezing from the four-furlong marker w/ last four in 48.20, out six in 1:14.79 and seven 1:28.72. Rapture also worked in 1:01.40 (2/12). Trainer Cox said, “We were looking to kind of stretch his legs and have a nice gallop out and I thought we got what we were looking for. Continued on around the turn very nicely and galloped out strong. He looked great coming off the track. He’s been very consistent, and it seems like with his works, the further the better. I think just based off what we’ve seen, a horse (Hit Show) went to the Middle East (from Payson Park) and won the World Cup. If they can’t get them ready over this track, you’re not going to get them ready over any track."

April 21:  On the track today after arriving from CD yesterday.

April 23: Scheduled to work Saturday.

Tiztastic: March 25, barn 38, stall 24
April 12 1.00:80 Breezing 12/31 CD - VIDEO - outside Publisher, 13, 24.80, 36.60, out six 1:13.40 and seven 1:26.60. Trainer Asmussen: "I was extremely pleased with how they handled and traveled over the racetrack."

April 19 59.60 Breezing 4/56 CD -  VIDEO - outside Publisher, 12.80, 24.40 and :36.40, out six in 1:11.80. Publisher got a head start on Tiztastic, a closer, but outworked Tiztastic to the wire and in the gallop out. There were no comments from trainer Asmussen in notes released by the track.

April 21 NOTE:  Galloped today after a day off April 20.


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