Spendthrift Farm's duo of Louisiana Derby (Grade 2) winner Kingsbarns and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) runner-up Major Dude had their penultimate works prior to Kentucky Derby Day when they breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 Thursday morning at Churchill Downs.
Kingsbarns, who is qualified for the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday, May 6, worked outside his Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate Major Dude, who is No. 24 on the Derby preference list but is also nominated to the $500,000 American Turf (G2). The duo clipped through opening eighth-mile fractions of :12.60, :24.40 and :36.20. They galloped out together through six furlongs in 1:13.40.
“I think people gave Kingsbarns a discount because of the time of the Louisiana Derby,” Spendthrift Farm President Eric Gustavson said. “I don't think you should be penalized by going to the front and putting everyone else to sleep like he did. We're pretty confident coming into the Derby.”
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard Major Dude while Pletcher's exercise rider Humberto Zamora was in the saddle on Kingsbarns.
“Both of them went pretty well,” Pletcher said. “I thought it was a good, steady work with a strong gallop out. Kingsbarns accomplished a lot in a short period of time. I thought his debut was very professional. It's hard to win going one-mile first time out and he did it getting an education being behind horses. For his first start I thought that was impressive. We went the Tampa Bay Downs route to get a two-turn allowance race into him. I thought that worked out well. He made a big step forward then in the Louisiana Derby.”
Pletcher reported Kentucky Derby favorite Forte will breeze Friday along with Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Tapit Trice.
DERBY NEWS AND NOTES – Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Raise Cain worked five furlongs in 1:03.40 on Thursday at Keeneland. The Ben Colebrook-trainee is likely to stay at Keeneland until Kentucky Derby Week. He'll be ridden in the Derby by Javier Castellano. … Holy Bull (GIII) winner Rocket Can is likely to work Sunday at Churchill Downs, according to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Depending on the weather, the colt could have his work moved to Saturday. … The special Derby and Oaks saddle towels have been passed out at Churchill Downs and several trainers plan to put them on their horses Friday morning.
SPECIAL KENTUCKY DERBY, KENTUCKY OAKS TRAINING BEGINS SATURDAY – The special 15-minute training window for only Kentucky Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks contenders begins Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET.
Kentucky Derby contenders will wear a yellow saddle towel while Oaks contenders will sport a pink saddle towel.
The first morning of the Kentucky Derby Morning Works show is Monday.
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