Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Mage, who arrived at Churchill Downs early Monday, made his first appearance on the track Tuesday morning as he jogged a mile and galloped 1 ¼ miles.
Trained by Gustavo Delgado, Mage will be ridden in Kentucky Derby 149 by Javier Castellano. Castellano rode Mage to a fourth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth (G2) in the Good Magic colt's second start.
There were no timed workouts for any Derby or Kentucky Oaks hopefuls Tuesday morning but Wednesday morning is expected to have works from Japanese-based runners Derma Sotogake (JPN) and Continuar (JPN), the 1-3 finishers in the UAE Derby (G2).
ANGEL OF EMPIRE/HIT SHOW/JACE'S ROAD, VERIFYING – It was another routine morning at trainer Brad Cox's Barn 22 with all four of his Kentucky Derby contenders having routine gallops.
Albaugh Family Stable's Angel of Empire was the first of Cox's quartet of Kentucky Derby contenders to train at 5:30 a.m.
At 7:30 a.m., Gary and Mary West's Hit Show, West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stable's Jace's Road and Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor's Verifying all had 1 ½-mile gallops.
“We're pretty excited coming into this Derby,” Cox said. “We have four really nice colts and we're looking forward to next weekend. They'll all work once more this weekend. We're keeping an eye on the weather and make a decision in the next 24-48 hours.”
CONFIDENCE GAME – Don't Tell My Wife Stables and Ocean Reef Racing's Confidence Game galloped 1 ¼ miles under Alex Cano during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.
A two-time winner from four starts at Churchill Downs, Confidence Game would represent the fourth Kentucky Derby starter for trainer Keith Desormeaux, whose best Derby finish came from his first starter in 2016 with Exaggerator's runner-up effort.
CONTINUAR – Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd.'s Continuar (JPN) warmed up in the mile chute during the first track harrow break of the morning and then galloped 1 ½ miles under Kazunari Yoshida for trainer Yoshito Yahagi.
A winner of two of five career starts, Continuar is scheduled to work Wednesday morning.
DERMA SOTOGAKE – Hiroyuki Asanuma's $1.1 million earner Derma Sotogake (JPN), warmed up in the mile chute during the first track maintenance break of the morning and then galloped 1 ¼ miles with Masatoshi Segawa aboard.
Part of the morning activity also included a paddock schooling session for the winner of four of eight starts with the most recent victory coming in the UAE Derby (G2) by 5 ½ lengths.
Trained by Hidetaka Otonashi, Derma Sotogake is scheduled to work Wednesday morning.
DISARM – Winchell Thoroughbreds' Disarm had a routine walk day at Barn 38 following his five-furlong move in 1:00 Monday morning at Churchill Downs.
FORTE/KINGSBARNS/MAJOR DUDE/TAPIT TRICE – One of the rites of spring in Louisville is watching the weather, and for trainer Todd Pletcher, who has had an entrant in every Derby since 2000 except for 2003, this year is no different.
“It wouldn't be Derby Week without watching the weather,” Pletcher said. “It looks like there is some rain coming in Thursday and it could be a sketchy couple of days.”
Spendthrift Farm's Kingsbarns and Major Dude worked together last Thursday and both galloped 1 3/8 miles Tuesday morning with Elder Flores aboard Kingsbarns and Joel Osorio on Major Dude.
Pletcher has not named a rider for Kingsbarns.
Major Dude who is No. 23 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and in need of three defections by entry time Monday to get in the starting gate, has the 32nd running of the $500,000 American Turf (G2) on May 6 as his backup race should he not make the Derby field.
Pletcher's other Derby hopefuls also galloped 1 3/8 miles during the special Derby/Oaks training window from 7:30-7:45.
Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte, the probable morning line favorite for Derby 149, was partnered by Hector Ramos while Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable's Tapit Trice was partnered by Amelia Green.
MAGE – The Florida Derby (G1) runner-up, who gave likely Kentucky Derby favorite Forte a strong challenge in just his third lifetime start, took to the track for the first time, after the long van trip up from the Sunshine State.
For the Run for the Roses, he'll have Javier Castellano riding. Castellano rode him in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
“Yesterday, we made the decision on the rider,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., son of the colt's same-named trainer. “He's ridden him before, and we didn't want to try anyone new.”
With exercise rider J.J. Delgado, the colt owned by OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH galloped easily, going a mile-and-a-quarter.
“He's a pretty laid-back horse,” Delgado Jr. said. “He gave us the impression that he enjoys the track, so far, so good.”
RAISE CAIN – Andrew and Rania Warren's Raise Cain, fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) in his most recent start, is in need of a rider for Derby 149.
Javier Castellano initially was lined up to ride but he has opted to ride Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Mage.
“No rider yet,” trainer Ben Colebrook said. “We will wait it out. Never missed a race yet because of a rider.”
Stabled at Keeneland, Raise Cain is scheduled to work there Thursday morning.
ROCKET CAN – Trainer Bill Mott sent the colt owned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations out for a gallop with regular exercise rider Guelser Cardona aboard.
“He looked good, after we worked him Sunday, he had an easy day yesterday, then had him back on the track this morning,” said the Hall of Fame trainer. “We also walked him over to the temporary paddock that they'll use this year. It looked like he had good energy, and that he came out of the work in good shape.”
SUN THUNDER – Trainer Kenny McPeek sent the fourth-place finisher in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, to the Churchill Downs track again Tuesday with exercise rider Martin Vargas.
“He galloped a mile-and-a-quarter, and he stood in the starting gate … pretty routine, basic stuff,” McPeek said. “He'll work on Wednesday.”
WILD ON ICE – Frank Sumpter's Wild On Ice had a double schooling day Tuesday when he got acquainted with the Kentucky Derby starting gate and the paddock.
Trainer Joel Marr was alongside the Sunland Park Derby (G3) at 7:30 a.m. and walked him to the one-mile chute where he schooled in the starting gate with exercise rider Oscar Rojero on board. Then, Wild On Ice was led over to the frontside by outrider Greg Blasi and schooled in the paddock. Finally, the gelding galloped about 1 3/8 miles.
Marr stated Wild On Ice's final Derby work is scheduled for Thursday with jockey Ken Tohill slated to be aboard.
SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Here are the horses (with jockeys and trainers) that are qualified for the Kentucky Derby and those on the also-eligible list (in alphabetical order with AEs listed last in preference order):
Angel of Empire (jockey Flavien Prat, trainer Brad Cox); Confidence Game (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux); Continuar (JPN) (Ryusei Sakai, Yoshito Yahagi); Derma Sotogake (JPN) (Christophe Lemaire, Hidetaka Otonashi); Disarm (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen); Forte (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Hit Show (Manny Franco, Brad Cox); Jace's Road (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Kingsbarns (TBA, Todd Pletcher); Lord Miles (Paco Lopez, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Mage (Javier Castellano, Gustavo Delgado); Practical Move (Ramon Vazquez, Tim Yakteen); Raise Cain (TBA, Ben Colebrook); Reincarnate (John Velazquez, Tim Yakteen); Rocket Can (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott); Sun Thunder (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Tapit Trice (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher); Two Phil's (Jareth Loveberry, Larry Rivelli); Verifying (Tyler Gaffalione, Brad Cox); and Wild On Ice (Ken Tohill, Joel Marr).
Also-Eligible: Skinner (Victor Espinioza, John Shirreffs); Cyclone Mischief (TBA, Dale Romans); Major Dude (TBA, Todd Pletcher); and Mandarin Hero (JPN) (TBA, Terunobu Fujita).
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