Two weeks remain until the $3-million Kentucky Derby (G1) and it was a quiet Saturday morning at Churchill Downs where only four Derby hopefuls trained during the special 15-minute period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders from 7:30-7:45 a.m. (ET).
TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up Disarm and Holy Bull (G3) winner Rocket Can galloped about 1 ½ miles at 7:30 a.m. while Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Angel of Empire and Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Hit Show jogged about one mile.
The quiet Saturday morning was the opposite of last year on this day when eight Derby and Oaks contenders recorded published workouts. However, five Kentucky Derby contenders recorded published workouts Friday: Angel of Empire (six furlongs, 1:13.40); Forte (five furlongs, 1:02); Hit Show (five furlongs, 1:01); Tapit Trice (four furlongs, :48.60), and Verifying (five furlongs, 1:01).
Rocket Can, trained by Bill Mott, is scheduled to breeze Sunday while the next workouts for Rebel (G2) winner Confidence Game and Blue Grass (G1) fourth-place finisher Sun Thunder are still to be determined, according to their respective connections.
Sunland Park Derby (G3) winner Wild On Ice had an easy day in Barn 43 for trainer Joel Marr following his two-mile gallop Friday. Marr said Wild On Ice could work again Thursday or Friday.
Japan-bred UAE Derby (G2) winner Derma Sotogake and Japan-bred third-place finisher Continuar had a regular training day Saturday. Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby representative Kate Hunter stated Friday on “Inside Churchill Downs” that the duo could record published workouts early next week.
Monday will begin the first of 11 days for the Kentucky Derby Morning Works Show presented by TwinSpires.com featuring expert handicappers Joe Kristufek, Scott Shapiro, and Kaitlin Free along with an array of popular industry figures such as former leading rider Rosie Napravnik and Churchill Downs Track Announcer Travis Stone.
The one-hour program will be streamed live on www.KentuckyDerby.com/works from 7-8 a.m. starting Monday and will feature the 15-minute exclusive training period for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders from 7:30-7:45 a.m. Fans can also watch the broadcast across several of the Kentucky Derby social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
The post Angel Of Empire, Rocket Can Among Quartet To Train Saturday During Churchill’s Special Time For Derby/Oaks Hopefuls appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
