It was an action-packed morning on April 15 at Churchill Downswhere Hidden connection , Secret Vow , Turnerloose and Zozos being screened for the 1st grade races early next month. Hidden Connections, Oath of Secrets and Turnerloose are shown to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 6, Zozos to the Kentucky Derby May 7 presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
The Briland Ranch’s Vow of Secrets, expected to be one of the Oaks’ favorites, made the acquaintance of the great racer Luis Saez, including five feathers at: 59 1/5. Calculated over time periods: 12 2/5, :23 3/5 and :35 1/5, she galloped six times lasting for 1:12.
Secret Vow 5F: 59.20. End of 6F 1:12. #KyOaks pic.twitter.com/933B6s4oDk
– Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 15, 2022
Luis chose an Oaks mount for his 3-year-old Interrogation dirty. Most recently, she finished third ahead of men in the Arkansas Derby (G1) under Luis Contreras, being knocked out late after launching a daring wide rally in the second leg.
“I talked to Luis after the race and he was really surprised with her explosive kick in the three-eighth column,” said Hall of Fame coach D. Wayne Lukas. “With that explosive kick at that point in the race it was a bit too early. She was shuffled back at the start and contention but it was too much to ask for… We ran in the Arkansas Derby (G1) for a million and a half and I think we’re the best horse in the race and I still think we’re the best.”
She earned 20 qualifying points in the Arkansas Derby towards the Kentucky Derby, a number not enough to guarantee entry should the race end. She has 80 qualifying points for the Oaks, leaving her currently eighth on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard and safe in the 1/8 mile race.
Hidden Brook Ranch and the Black Breed’s Secret Link, second place in Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), also unleashed five feathers, crossing the gap in 1 hour under the lead of Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. Reylu Gutierrez. The Connect filly galloped six times for 1:12 3/5.
Gutierrez summed up the work in one word: “Wonderful.”
Hidden Connection gathers to test a nose behind champion Echo Zulu in Fair Grounds Oaks.
Hidden (external) connection ends one shot behind Echo Zulu in Fair Grounds Oaks at Fair Grounds Race Course
In other Friday practice sessions at Churchill Downs, Barry and Joni Butzow’s Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) runners-up Zozos worked five trousers at 1:00 on May 3 with Dawn and Ike Thrash’s Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) Turnerloose winner.
With rider Florent Geroux in the saddle, Zozos started about a quarter behind his steady friend and worked through the early fractions of: 24 and: 48 2/5 The duo began their year-long move at the half-mile post and Zozos finished even with Turnerloose at the seven-feathered marker. Zozos galloped out six stretches in 1:13 3/5.
Zozos 5F from the pole half a mile 1:00.60. He started a later part of #KyOaks rival Turnerloose and finish even at pole 7/8. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/5HiXJLY5yx
– Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 15, 2022
“He is a really smart horse,” said Geroux. “He started in and it was a really nice job this morning. I’ve settled back in (Turnerloose) and he’s finished well with her. Both horses are doing well. .”
Other potential Kentucky Derby starters based at Churchill Downs are Cyberknife , Crown Pride , Epicenter , Morelo , Happy smile Port Tawny, and Tiz the Bomb .
The next Derby contender scheduled to arrive is the Arkansas Derby Runner-up Haircut line Deliveries from Hot Springs, Ark., Friday at 2 p.m. and will arrive between 3 and 4 a.m. on April 16 at Barn 46.
Also on Friday, winners of Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) Hello West , who is scheduled to return in the seven-feathered Churchill Downs Stock presented by Ford (G1) during the Kentucky Derby Day undercard. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners is owned by Spin hard horse goes six feathers in 1:12 1/5 for coach Wayne Catalano.
