DAILY DERBY UPDATE

Sunday, April 27, 2025

ADMIRE DAYTONA – UAE Derby (GII) winner Admire Daytona had a planned walk day on Sunday. The colt is scheduled to have a published workout Tuesday

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AMERICAN PROMISE – BC Stables’ American Promise took to the grass Sunday morning … the grass behind Barn 42 to graze early … a day after working five furlongs in :59.40 under jockey Nik Juarez.

Winner of the Virginia Derby in his most recent start, American Promise drew post 5 for the Derby and was listed as a 30-1 proposition on the morning line.

“That’s a good spot,” four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas said as he watched American Promise graze. “He had a good work yesterday and everything has been positive.”

Also looking on was part owner Brian Coelho, who teamed with John Bellinger last year on the ownership of Just Steel for Kentucky Derby 150. Coelho lives in central California and Bellinger in San Antonio. Bellinger is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Tuesday afternoon.

BAEZA – The Kentucky Derby’s lone also-eligible, the McKinzie colt Baeza, galloped during the special Derby/Oaks training session Sunday morning at 7:15. Trainer John Sherriffs had veteran exercise rider Frankie Herrate up for the exercise. They’re planning on working the Santa Anita Derby (GI) runner up Monday.

The trainer was told that more than a few people believe that through belief in luck/bad luck/Derby gods, one of the other runners will come out before Friday morning and give his charge a chance to compete.

“We’re ready,” he replied with a smile.

BURNHAM SQUARE – Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Burnham Square returned to the track Sunday morning a day after working five furlongs in :59.40 to jog in the mile chute under Mark Cutler.

Co-fourth choice on the morning line at 12-1, Burnham Square drew post 9 for the Derby and will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. “That’s a good spot,” trainer Ian Wilkes said of the draw.

CHUNK OF GOLD – Terry Stephens’ Chunk of Gold had his first training session at Churchill Downs, jogging under trainer Ethan West.

The son of Preservationist drew post 19 for the Derby.

“I’d rather have post 19 then not have a post at all,” West joked. “I was hoping for the middle portion of the gate to have a better chance at not going so wide into the turn. (jockey) Jareth (Loveberry) has time to try and get into position into the turn.”

Following Chunk of Gold’s training session, West sent his Derby contender to the equine salt water spa, located within steps of his barn. “We’re taking it all in and as long as the horse is happy, I’m happy,” West said.

When the 32-year-old trainer wrapped up his morning at Churchill Downs, he was gearing up to coach his son’s championship basketball game in Northern Kentucky.

Chunk of Gold is scheduled to gallop on Monday.

CITIZEN BULL/RODRIGUEZ – The duo of Bob Baffert-trained colts headed for the 151st Kentucky Derby this coming Saturday both went trackside Sunday morning for the special 7:15 to 7:30 training session.

Citizen Bull, the nation’s 2-year-old champion in 2024, had exercise rider Humberto Gomez up for a solid gallop around the Churchill Downs oval. He’s scheduled to turn in his final drill leading up to the Derby Monday and regular rider Martin Garcia is on hand to be the driver for that run.

Stablemate Rodriguez, who’ll have Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the tack Saturday, had exercise rider Eric Garcia aboard for his move Sunday, which was a serious five-panel drill in 1:00. The track’s clockers caught his splits in :12.20, :24.20, :36.20 and :47.60, then timed him “out” in 1:12.60 and 1:27.

Garcia came off the track at the five and a half-furlong gap shaking his head in a form of pleasing disbelief. “Amazing work; amazing,” the rider said. “He was in hand all the way.”

Later at his Barn 33, Baffert had to agree with his rider. “Yes, it was an amazing work,” he stated.

Then, either showing some of his impish style, or foretelling a tale he knows well, he offered: “Right over there, on our shedrow rail, that’s where the roses are going to hang.”

COAL BATTLE – Norman Stables’ Coal Battle galloped a mile and a half during the 7:15-7:30 training period for Derby and Oaks horses with Bethany Taylor aboard.

Coal Battle drew post 16 for the Derby and is listed at 30-1 on the morning line.

“I was hoping for 8, 9, 10 or 11,” trainer Lonnie Briley said. “But it looks like most of the speed is inside of us so we can just drop in behind it.”

Coal Battle is scheduled for a three-eighths mile blowout Monday morning according to Briley.

EAST AVENUE – Godolphin’s East Avenue completed his major preparation for the Kentucky Derby, breezing five furlongs in :59.40 under jockey Manny Franco.

The colt worked to the outside of Joejoe Go through a quarter-mile of :24.20 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.20. Joejoe Go’s final time was :59.60.

East Avenue drew post 12 in the Derby.

“We’re really happy with our draw,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “There’s a lot of speed on our inside so I think it’s a good spot to be.”

FINAL GAMBIT – Juddmonte’s Final Gambit had a walk day at trainer Brad Cox’s barn following his five-eighths move in 1:01 Saturday morning.

The winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) drew post 3 for the Derby and will be ridden by Luan Machado.

FLYING MOHAWK – Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing and Kaleta Racing’s Flying Mohawk drew post 11 for the Kentucky Derby.

“Post 11 seems like a pretty good post,” trainer Whit Beckman said. “It’s right in the middle of the gate. He’ll break out of there and probably track the pace. So, we’re good with it.”

Co-owner Jayson Werth was in attendance Saturday night at the draw and was very pleased with drawing post 11.

“My grandpa played 19 years in the big leagues and for most of it, his number was 11. So, I have some history with that number and it was one of my favorite numbers growing up as a kid. We are here in the Kentucky Derby with the guy we never thought would make it here. I think he’s live at number 11.”

Jockey Joe Ramos has the mount and was tabbed at 30-1 on the morning line.

GRANDE – The lightly raced Curlin colt returned to regular training Sunday morning with exercise rider Juan Suarez aboard for a mile and three-eighths gallop during the special Derby/Oaks training period at Churchill Downs starting at 7:15.

Trainer Todd Pletcher oversaw the exercise and gave it a thumbs up. “He’ll just gallop the rest of the week,” the trainer said. “And I’m fine with his Derby post draw.”

Grande drew post 10 at the draw Saturday evening on the Paddock Plaza Terrace. Saturday he’ll have old pro John Velazquez in the irons.

JOURNALISM – One could tell by the crowd of Media types and looki-loos surrounding Barn 35 that Journalism is a big deal for this year’s Kentucky Derby 151. The strapping Curlin colt had the backside at Churchill Downs all atwitter Sunday morning as he went through his final drill for America’s most famous race.

The fact that he drew a pleasing post (#8) for the race Saturday evening and was hung the morning line favorite at 3-1 over 19 rivals stirred the pot, of course, as has his run of three straight graded stakes tallies coming into The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports, capped by a nifty score in the Santa Anita Derby.

Sunday morning, the bay had the airplane-challenged rider Umberto Rispoli up for a move of 1:01.40, preceded by splits of :13.60, :25.80 and :37.60 and followed by some “out” marks of 1:13.60 and 1:26.80. They went about their business on a sunny and slightly chilly morning in Louisville.

Rispoli, the ebullient Italian who works out of Southern California these days, went through an airplane adventure in which he came into Louisville Saturday on the planned-though-scratched work day, attempted to fly back to California only to wind up spending five hours in the Atlanta airport trying to make connections, then returning to Louisville later Saturday so he could be on hand for his saddle services Sunday.

Nonetheless, the rider liked what his mount had done out on the racetrack that morning. “He was good today,” he said. “Very professional. He’s a professional horse; a pleasure to ride.”

Conditioner Michael McCarthy, who watched the work from the frontside with several of his clients, also found the exercise to his liking.

“I was very pleased with the work,” he offered. “Umberto was happy, so that’s good. He’ll just walk tomorrow. It’s all good for now.”

LUXOR CAFÉ – Fukuryu Stakes winner Luxor Café visited the paddock Sunday morning

Trainer Noriyuki Hori is expected to arrive in Louisville on Monday and the horse could breeze Tuesday.

NEOEQUOS – C2 Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables and Stefania Farms’ Neoequos trained for the first time at Churchill Downs Sunday morning, jogging at 7:15 a.m. for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. He drew post 2 in the Derby.

OWEN ALMIGHTY – Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing’s Owen Almighty galloped a mile and a half under Antonio Orellana for trainer Brian Lynch at 7:15.

Assigned morning line odds of 30-1, Owen Almighty drew post 20 for the Derby.

PUBLISHER/TIZTASTIC – It was a busier than usual morning for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen as his Derby duo of Publisher and Tiztastic had their final published workouts prior to the Run for the Roses.

Publisher, with Wilson Fabian in the irons, breezed a half-mile in :49 and Tiztastic, ridden by Carlos Rosas, worked a half-mile in :50.20.

The duo drew adjacent starting positions for the Derby with Publisher breaking from post 13 and Tiztastic post 14.

“It’s an ideal draw for both of them being next to each other,” Asmussen said. “They’ve been training together, everything is coming together perfectly. I just hope we can catch a day that’s going to be sunny and a fast track. We couldn’t be more excited.”

Tiztastic, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, won the 1 3/16 TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII) six weeks ago.

“I think the distance was the difference with him,” Asmussen said. “If the Louisiana Derby were any shorter, he would’ve been fourth or fifth. I think the key to him is getting the opportunity to go this far.”

Gus King and the Estate of Brereton C. Jones’ Publisher has accomplished a lot but has yet to win a race. The runner-up in the Arkansas Derby (GI) added blinkers for that race and will wear them again in the Kentucky Derby.

“I think we get better focus with him with the addition of blinkers. It was a big jump forward from a numbers standpoint,” Asmussen said. “He’s been very impressive since he’s started training here.”

Publisher will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. while Tiztastic will have Joel Rosario in the irons. Both horses are tabbed at 20-1.