Four Kentucky Derby Hopefuls Post Workouts

The final prep has been completed and the countdown has finally begun. There are just thirteen days until the annual running of the Kentucky Derby. Much will be made of workouts from this point on, and its very important to take notice of who is doing well. However, don’t get too caught up in the fanfare; the way these horses have raced is much more important.

Dunkirk, the prized $3.7 million Unbridled’s Song colt purchased by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, worked five furlongs in :59.90 H at Palm Meadows Training Center. The workout was the best of twelve on Saturday. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he was most recently the runner up in the Florida Derby behind Quality Road. He will be the top pick of many handicappers for the Kentucky Derby. Jockey Garrett Gomez announced that he will be riding Pioneerof The Nile instead of Dunkirk. Hopefully he doesn’t come to regret that decision; Edgar Prado will ride Dunkirk.

The Godolphin duo of Regal Ransom and Desert Party worked at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Regal Ransom’s last race resulted in a win in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Derby. He finished just a half length in front of stablemate Desert Party. Regal Ransom is a son of Distorted Humor. He worked five furlongs over a fast track in :59.80. The worked ranked fourth of twenty eight. Desert Party went the same distance in 1:00.20.

“Both of them seemed to grab the track really good,” said Rick Mettee, assistant to Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor. “This is the first these two have worked over a dirt track since last fall. Of course, they ran over the dirt at Nad al Sheba, but that’s one reason why Saeed wanted to get them in here earlier. They’ve been training at the [synthetic] Tapeta [Footing surface] over at Al Quoz and then before they got there they trained over the conventional Polytrack [surface] at Keeneland.” (Thoroughbred Times)

Illinois Derby winner Musket Man also worked at Churchill Downs. Eibar Coa, who chose the son of Yonaguska over Bluegrass Stakes winner General Quarters, was in the irons for the workout. He breezed six furlong in 1:13 in the company of another horse.

“It went very well—it couldn’t have been a better work,” Ryan said. “I always work him in company. Every work he’s ever had has been in company, because he’s a little bit laid back on his own and we needed to get a good work in him.” (Thoroughbred Times)