With three weeks left until the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downstrio of Crown Pride (six clamps, 1:18 3/5), Cyberknife (five feathers, 1:00), and Tiz the Bomb (four furlongs,: 48 2/5) got active April 16th towards their next launch in the Rose Run on May 7th.
Gold Square’s Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Cyberknife was at work at 9:00 a.m. ET next to a multi-stakes stablemate Tommy Bee . Cyberknife begins two passages after Tommy Bee and completes the fractions: 12 1/5, :23 4/5 and: 47 1/5. Cyberknife finished even with Tommy Bee around the eighth pole and easily galloped out six grips in 1:15 2/5.
“I think he looks great,” said coach Brad Cox. “He’s done well at Churchill in the past and really enjoys it here.”
About 90 minutes earlier, Tiz the Bomb of Magdalena Racing Lessee, who won the $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) prize last month, got into a fight with racer Brian Hernandez Jr. in the iron. The duo crossed the opening quarter-mile at: 24/5 and galloped out five distances in 1:01 1/5.
Moments later, fitness racer Masa Matsuda overcame Teruya Yoshida’s UAE Derby sponsored by winner Mubadala (G2) Crown Pride six clamps from the half-mile pole. The foal completed the opening fractions of: 14 3/5, :28 1/5, :54 and 1:06 1/5. Crown Pride steadily got to work on its way forward and backward before completing a seven-grip gallop in 1:32 2/5.
Haircut line arrived at Churchill Downs early Saturday morning and was settling down at Barn 46 with coach John Ortiz. He is scheduled to work twice before the Kentucky Derby.
Florida Curlin Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) runner-up Charge it was scheduled to be transported from its South Florida base to Churchill Downs on Saturday. He and the rest of the Todd Pletcher Hall of Fame coaching staff will be based at Barn 35. Pletcher is planning to keep a barn full-time at Churchill Downs during the spring and summer.
May love the Kentucky Derby Epicenter slated to premiere early April 17 at Churchill Downs.
Elsewhere on Saturday, winner of Rebel Staking (G3) Un Ojo wrap up five sweaters at 1:03.15 at the At Copper Crowne Training Center.
Kentucky Oaks Contenders Drilling at Keeneland
Winngate Stables’ undefeated Kathleen O.–the leader of the points leaderboard for the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) 148 run at Churchill Downs–worked four in: 48 3/5 Saturday on a fast track at Keeneland for coach Shug McGaughey.
Kathleen O. catches the wind on April 16 in Keeneland
The Start up filly galloped out 5 stretches at 1:01 and 6 stretches at 1:15 4/5 after clock division were: 12 4/5, :25 3/5 and: 37 2 /5 under exercise racer David Jego.
Video
“I was hoping to see what I saw,” said McGaughey. “She doesn’t need much (practice). She’s leaving the race two weeks ago. (Time and gallop) is what I’m looking for. So far, we’re on the right track. “
Kathleen O. is slated to get one more job just in time at Keeneland and then move to Churchill to do her final job in front of the cows.
“We took her to Keeneland because horses thrive here in the spring,” says McGaughey. “I don’t think adapting to a new track (at Churchill) will be an issue.”
Two other loquats of a new design that started in Kentucky Oaks were up for half a mile on Saturday.
Tsunebumi and Sekie Yoshihara’s Yugiri Fantasy Stakes (G3) winner in her most recent start, crossed the distance: 50 with trainer Rodolphe Brisset on board.
Video
Don’t Tell My Wife Stables and Bourbonette Oaks winner by Keith Desormeaux, Candy Raid Accepted in: 50 2/5.
Yuugiri has accumulated 114 points for the Kentucky Oaks and is fourth on the leaderboard. Saturday’s job was her first since returning to Keeneland from Oaklawn Parkwhere she spent the winter.
“You can see a lot of times the horses come here from Florida with the change of the air, the change of the weather that they will bloom, and you can see that,” Brisset said. “She’s doing it, and I’m very pleased with her.”
Yuugiri had his first three starts last year at Churchill Downs, featuring a runner-up finish in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2).
“For now, I want to stay here for her next two works (before Oaks),” Brisset said. “She raced at Churchill, and we know she loves the track.”
Desormeaux points out that the Candy Raid will be back in action here next week and move to Churchill on April 28 and have her final work for the Oaks swarm beneath the Twin Spiers.
The Candy Raid has 51 points on the Oaks side, good for 13th and a spot in the starting door for the race, which is limited to box-crossing top 14 earners on May 2.
