Tag: Caddo River

Essential Quality to Bypass Preakness; Belmont Possible

Trainer Brad Cox told Steve Byk on At the Races Tuesday morning that champion Essential Quality (Tapit), fourth in the GI Kentucky Derby as the 29-10 favorite, will skip the GI Preakness S. May 15.

The grey could be considered for the GI Belmont S. June 5, with Godolphin's Jimmy Bell telling TVG's Alicia Hughes that the Belmont is “part of the conversation, but that's not definitive at all. We're skipping the Preakness, that's for sure. Our primary goal is to run in the [Aug. 28 GI] Travers and we'll work backwards from there. His next start may or may not be in the Belmont as all options are being considered.”

Cox told Byk that Triple Crown decisions on Derby runner-up Mandaloun (Into Mischief) and Smarty Jones S. winner Caddo River (Hard Spun) would be made in the coming days with their respective co-owners.

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Cox Confirms Essential Quality Will Skip Preakness, Point To Belmont Stakes

Reigning champion trainer Brad Cox told Steve Byk this morning that Kentucky Derby fourth-place finisher Essential Quality will not return in the Preakness Stakes, but would instead come back in five weeks for the Belmont.

The 3-year-old son of Tapit was undefeated prior to his run on the first Saturday in May, winning the G1 Breeders' Futurity, G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, G3 Southwest Stakes, and G2 Blue Grass. He endured a challenging trip at the start of the Kentucky Derby, rushed up into contention prior to the clubhouse turn, and ran on well to finish fourth, beaten just a length by the winner, Medina Spirit.

Final decisions have yet to be made for Cox's other two Preakness potentials, Derby runner-up Mandaloun and G1 Arkansas Derby runner-up Caddo River.

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Derby Notes: Defection Of Caddo River Makes Room For Brooklyn Strong; Lanerie Picks Up Mount On Sainthood

Shortleaf Stable's homebred Caddo River was taken out of Kentucky Derby consideration Sunday morning by trainer Brad Cox because of an elevated temperature.

The defection of Caddo River moves Mark Schwartz's Brooklyn Strong into No. 20 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Trained by Daniel Velazquez, Brooklyn Strong is scheduled to work Monday morning at 6 o'clock (all times Eastern) at Parx near Philadelphia, Pa. If all goes well, Brooklyn Strong would leave at 6 p.m. with an early Tuesday morning arrival at Churchill Downs anticipated.

Updated Kentucky Derby leaderboard

Trainer Todd Pletcher announced that Corey Lanerie would have the Derby mount on WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s Sainthood. Lanerie has ridden in the Derby four times previously with his best finish being a second on Lookin At Lee in the 2017 running.

Two prominent Kentucky Derby hopefuls from California, Hronis Racing and David Talla's Rock Your World and Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and Strauss Bros Racing's Hot Rod Charlie arrived at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., shortly after noon following a flight from Southern California.

BURBONIC, DYNAMIC ONE, KNOWN AGENDA, SAINTHOOD – With just one little wrinkle in the mix, trainer Todd Pletcher's quartet of Kentucky Derby 147 horses went back to the racetrack Sunday morning following a walk day Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Leading the crew was the dark colt Sainthood who had Amelia Green attached for a one-mile jog at 6:50 a.m. on a “good” track following a rainy Saturday.

The chestnut 3-year-old Bourbonic was scheduled to join Sainthood for his exercise, but that plan was put on hold when it was determined the Wood Memorial winner needed a new left rear shoe. A farrier handled the procedure in good order and Bourbonic instead went out an hour later at 7:50 with Hector Ramos in the boot for his one-mile jog.

The two other Pletcher colts – Florida Derby (GI) winner Known Agenda and Wood Memorial runner-up Dynamic One – took advantage of the 7:30 to 7:45 Derby/Oaks training period on the big oval with the smooth chestnut “Agenda” going through an easy mile and one-quarter gallop with Ramos doing the steering and white-faced “Dynamic” merely jogging a mile for exercise rider Carlos Perez Quevedo.

Pletcher gave a thumbs up to the whole business, then filled in a blank concerning Sainthood when he announced that Corey Lanerie, a 10-time riding champion at Churchill Downs, would have the call on Sainthood for Saturday's Run for the Roses.

“We know how well Corey rides Churchill,” the seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer said. “That was the key element in giving him the mount. We're thinking along the lines that we did with Super Saver (in the 2010 Kentucky Derby) and Calvin Borel. He rode this track so well and that earned him the mount then.”

Pletcher and the Sainthood connections will surely be hoping for a similar outcome for their son of the Medaglia d'Oro stallion Mshawish. In 2010 – on May 1, just as this year's race will be – Borel rode the rail (as he was famous for doing) on a sloppy track and got Super Saver home by 2 ½ lengths to give the trainer his first victory in America's most famous race.

BROOKLYN STRONG – Mark Schwartz's Brooklyn Strong is scheduled to work Monday morning at 6 o'clock at Parx for trainer Daniel Velazquez. If all goes well, Brooklyn Strong would leave at 6 p.m. with an early Tuesday morning arrival at Churchill Downs anticipated.

    Winner of the Remsen (G2) to close his 2020 campaign, Brooklyn Strong finished fifth in the Wood Memorial (G2) on April 3 in his 2021 debut.

CADDO RIVER, ESSENTIAL QUALITY, MANDALOUN – Trainer Brad Cox reported Sunday morning that Shortleaf Stable's Caddo River would be removed from Kentucky Derby contention.

“We noticed he was off his feed and took his temperature yesterday afternoon. It was slightly elevated,” Cox said. “It's just really bad timing being this close to the Derby. We drew blood on him (Sunday) morning and his white cell counts were a little high. We just can't run him on Saturday with being a little off his game.”

Cox's remaining two Kentucky Derby starters, Juddmonte Farm's Mandaloun and Godolphin's Essential Quality, walked the shedrow following their Saturday breezes.

Both horses are scheduled to train early Monday.

HELIUM, SOUP AND SANDWICH – D J Stable's Helium and Live Oak Plantation's homebred Soup and Sandwich both returned to the track Sunday morning for the first time since competing their final Derby works Friday. The pair jogged two miles over a “good” main track then went to the paddock to school, according to trainer Mark Casse's assistant David Carroll.

“They'll school in the paddock in the morning every day and on Tuesday in the afternoon,” Carroll said. “Obviously Derby Day horses can get a bit more pumped up with the big crowd, and in this year, a lot of these horses haven't seen that many people. It's practice to get them used to their surroundings and you don't want to go into this race not checking off all the boxes.”

HIDDEN STASH – BBN Racing's Hidden Stash had a scheduled walk day at trainer Vicki Oliver's barn at Keeneland.

Hidden Stash, who will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano in Saturday's Kentucky Derby, is scheduled to gallop early Monday and Tuesday morning at Keeneland and then van to Churchill Downs following training on Tuesday.

HIGHLY MOTIVATED – Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated exited Saturday's final Derby breeze in good order, according to trainer Chad Brown. The son of Into Mischief went five furlongs in 1:00.40 under exercise rider Peter Roman and simply walked the shedrow Sunday morning.

    “Normally I do a walk day and then a jog day, so I'll probably jog him tomorrow,” Brown said. “There's so many things to get through to run in this race and one of them is the final work. Are they OK the next day? And then coming up on the post position draw. We're getting through each hurdle successfully.”

HOT ROD CHARLIE – The Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Hot Rod Charlie arrived shortly after noon at Churchill Downs Sunday following a flight from Southern California that he shared with several other Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks runners.

The colt's conditioner, Doug O'Neill, will be boarding another plane Sunday in L.A. and heading to Louisville also.

O'Neill has already won two Kentucky Derbys. He was first with I'll Have Another in 2012, then he clicked again with Nyquist in 2016.

KEEPMEINMIND – Keepmeinmind, winner of last fall's Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs, returned to the main track Sunday morning to jog two miles shortly after 6 o'clock under exercise rider Walter Davila.

Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Keepmeinmind had worked a bullet half-mile in :46.20 Friday morning followed by a walk day.

Keepmeinmind is owned by the partnership of Spendthrift Farm, Cypress Creek and Arnold Bennewith.

KING FURY – After a Saturday morning work, Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm's King Fury was scheduled by trainer Kenny McPeek to only walk the shedrow Sunday. According to assistant trainer Greg Geier, the colt exited the work in fine shape in his final preparations for the Kentucky Derby.

On Saturday, King Fury worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard. The splits were :12.80, :25.20, :36.80, and :48.40. He was ridden out to six furlongs in 1:12.80 and seven furlongs in 1:26.60.

LIKE THE KING – M Racing Group's Like the King “jogged great on the main track” at Keeneland for trainer Wesley Ward a day after working five furlongs in 1:01 at the Lexington, Kentucky, track.

Winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park on March 27 in his most recent start, Like the King is scheduled to gallop the next two mornings at Keeneland before vanning to Churchill Downs after training Tuesday.

MEDINA SPIRIT – Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit galloped 1 3/8 miles under Humberto Gomez for trainer Bob Baffert.

Gomez, who arrived in Louisville Saturday night, is back on familiar ground beneath the Twin Spires. He served as the exercise rider last year for Derby winner Authentic as well as for Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018.

Baffert is scheduled to arrive in Louisville tonight.

MIDNIGHT BOURBON, SUPER STOCK – Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon galloped about 1 ¾ miles over the track, which was listed as “good,” Sunday morning and will have his final Derby breeze Monday morning, though trainer Steve Asmussen has yet to commit to a time.

“I'm going to look at the race track this afternoon,” Asmussen said. “I thought it was a little heavy (this morning) after the first drag, so if it's still that moist I'll probably go first thing.”

Asmussen reported that Erv Woolsey's and his father Keith Asmussen's Super Stock came out of his final Derby breeze Saturday morning in fine form. The son of Dialed In went five furlongs in 1:01.20 and had some down time walking the shedrow Sunday.

“We're extremely happy,” Asmussen said. “He cleaned up all his feed last night and walked really good this morning with a high energy level.”

O BESOS – Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry L. Stephens' O Besos jogged one mile and galloped about one mile under exercise rider Margarito Fierro.

“Less than one week out we're doing pretty well,” trainer Greg Foley said. “He's a horse that will be ready to make his most serious run at the top of the lane.”

ROCK YOUR WORLD – Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Rock Your World arrived at Churchill Downs early Sunday afternoon, completing his journey from Los Angeles aboard a flight that held several Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses.

Trainer John Sadler, who has steered the Candy Ride colt to a perfect three-for-three record so far, was grabbing another flight Sunday that would also get him into Louisville and allow him to train his horse Monday morning.

Sadler sent Rock Your World through his final major prep for Kentucky Derby 147 Saturday morning at Santa Anita when he worked in company in :59.20 for five furlongs, which was the third best of 68 at the distance. Joel Rosario is slated to handle the speedy colt in the Run for the Roses.

Rock Your World has a racing Hall of Fame connection in his background via his breeder. He is out of the Empire Maker mare Charm the Maker, who is owned by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and his wife Deborah. McAnally, who trained many a stakes winner in his 60-plus years of conditioning, but most famously multiple Horse of the Year John Henry, still trains in California at age 88 and most assuredly will be rooting for “Rock” this Saturday.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, May 1, in order of preference (with possible jockey and trainer): Essential Quality (Luis Saez, Brad Cox); Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat, Doug O'Neill); Super Stock (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Like the King (Drayden Van Dyke, Wesley Ward); Known Agenda (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Rock Your World (Joel Rosario, John Sadler); Bourbonic (Kendrick Carmouche, Todd Pletcher); Medina Spirit (John Velazquez, Bob Baffert); Midnight Bourbon (Mike Smith, Steve Asmussen); Mandaloun (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Highly Motivated (Javier Castellano, Chad Brown); Helium (Julien Leparoux, Mark Casse); Soup and Sandwich (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Casse); Dynamic One (Jose Ortiz, Todd Pletcher); Sainthood (Corey Lanerie, Todd Pletcher); Hidden Stash (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver); O Besos (Marcelino Pedroza, Greg Foley); King Fury (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro).

Possible starters within the Top 20: Brooklyn Strong (TBA, Danny Velazquez).

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Churchill: 17 Oaks, Derby Hopefuls Log Final Breezes

On a cool Kentucky morning, a total of 17 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses put in their final timed workouts before next weekend's editions of the $3 million Derby and $1.25 million Oaks.

The fastest move of the morning was a half-mile drill in :46.20 by Keepmeinmind, with Dynamic One, one of four Derby workers for Todd Pletcher, having the second-fastest clocking of the 108 at the distance in :47.80.

Other Derby workers for Pletcher were Bourbonic (half-mile in :49.60) and Known Agenda and Sainthood (five furlongs together in 1:01.

Other Derby workers were Caddo River (five furlongs in 1:00.60), Helium (half-mile in :49.80), Soup and Sandwich (half-mile in :50), Hozier (six furlongs in 1:16) and Starrininmydreams (five furlongs in 1:00.20).

Headlining the Kentucky Oaks workers were the Brad Cox-trained duo of Travel Column and Coach, both of whom covered five furlongs in 1:00.40.

Other Oaks workers were Search Results (five furlongs in 1:02.60), Malathaat (half-mile in :48.40), Will's Secret (half-mile in :48.20), Ava's Grace (half-mile in :49.20) and Competitive Speed (five furlongs in 1:02.40).

Working at 5:30 at Keeneland was Hidden Stash, who covered five furlongs in 1:00.60.

Scheduled to work at Churchill Downs Saturday morning for the Derby are Essential Quality, Mandaloun, Highly Motivated, Super Stock and King Fury. Scheduled to work for the Oaks are Crazy Beautiful and Millefeuille.

Other works involving Kentucky Derby hopefuls are scheduled on three fronts Saturday. Slated to work at Santa Anita are Rock Your World and Hot Rod Charlie; at San Luis Rey will be Get Her Number, and, at Keeneland, Like the King.

Maracuja is scheduled for her final Oaks work at Belmont Park.

BOURBONIC, DYNAMIC ONE, KNOWN AGENDA, SAINTHOOD – Trainer Todd Pletcher, seeking his third Kentucky Derby victory, put the final touches on his quartet of Derby 147 hopefuls with works Friday morning.

At 7:30, Pletcher worked St. Elias Stable's Known Agenda and WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s Sainthood in company through five furlongs in 1:01 while Repole Stable, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable's Dynamic One worked a half-mile in :47.80 in company with the graded stakes-placed Prime Factor.

Florida Derby (G1) winner Known Agenda, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, worked inside of Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) runner-up Sainthood and Amelia Green through fractions of :12.60, :24.40, :36.20 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.20 and seven-eighths in 1:27.20. The five-eighths time was the 17th fastest of 50 at the distance.

“Known Agenda is not the most aggressive work horse,” Pletcher said. “He is not an Always Dreaming (the 2017 Kentucky Derby winner) that will work in :59. He has had two good works here (1:00.40 last Friday) and I liked the way Sainthood worked with him.”

Dynamic One, with jockey Jose Ortiz in the boot, posted fractions of :24.40 and :36.20 en route to a :47.80 half-mile that was the second fastest of 108 at the distance. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.60 and six furlongs in 1:13.20.

“He finished full of energy with his ears pricked,” Pletcher said.

The final Pletcher runner to work was Calumet Farm's Bourbonic who covered a half-mile on his own in :49.60 under exercise rider Hector Ramos.

Fractions on the work were :12.80, :24.40 and out five furlongs in 1:02.40. The work was the 71st fastest of 108 at the distance.

“He has been pretty aggressive in his gallops so we worked him by himself today,” Pletcher said. “It was a good steady work with a strong gallop out.

“It was a very good morning with excellent breezes going the way we hoped they would. That was the final piece of major work and now they will have routine gallops with some gate and paddock schooling.”

CADDO RIVER, ESSENTIAL QUALITY, MANDALOUN – Shortleaf Stable's Caddo River completed his major preparation prior to the Kentucky Derby with a five-furlong drill in 1:00.60.

With Florent Geroux in the saddle, Caddo River worked in company with Warrant. Caddo River started two lengths behind his stablemate and clipped through fractions of :12.20, :23.80 and :47.60. Caddo River galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.

“He's a really solid horse and we saw that with a good effort in the Arkansas Derby,” trainer Brad Cox said. “He has a lot of speed as we've seen in his previous races.”

Cox's other two Derby contenders, Mandaloun and likely favorite Essential Quality, are scheduled to work at 5:15 a.m. Saturday.

Geroux will work Mandaloun, who he will ride in the Derby, while Essential Quality's regular exercise rider Edvin Vargas will likely be up for the work. Luis Saez has the call for the Derby.

DREAM SHAKE – Exline-Border Racing, SAF Racing and Richard Hausman's Dream Shake will bypass the Kentucky Derby in favor of the $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU (G2), per trainer Peter Eurton.

GET HER NUMBER – Gary Barber's Get Her Number is scheduled to work for trainer Peter Miller at San Luis Rey Saturday morning.

HELIUM, SOUP AND SANDWICH – D J Stable's Helium and Live Oak Plantation's homebred Soup and Sandwich completed their final Derby preparations Friday morning for trainer Mark Casse. Helium, a son of Ironicus, hit the track at 5:25 under Julien Leparoux and went four furlongs in company with fellow 3-year-old Laker Mamba in :49.80, while galloping out five furlongs in 1:03. Soup and Sandwich, under jockey Tyler Gaffalione, was on the track at 7:30 during the designated 15-minute training period for Derby and Oaks horses and worked four furlongs in company with 4-year-old graded stakes winner Peace Achieved in :50, while galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:03.60.

“Very happy with both of them,” Casse's assistant David Carroll said. “I thought Helium's work was good; he's a very smooth-moving horse. He's the better work horse of the two and he went absolutely beautiful; in hand the whole way, just waiting for Julien to ask him. He just stretched his legs but that's all we were looking for.

“Soup and Sandwich was a little rank going to the pole but he's a horse that likes to train. We only jogged him two miles the other day so he was a little fresh. He was anxious to get going but once he broke off he was very smooth the whole way, switched leads, galloped out nicely, and came home great; you couldn't ask for anything better.

“These were the works we wanted for the final pieces of works. Both horses are in great shape so hopefully we have a good week and we have a good draw.”

HIDDEN STASH – BBN Racing's Hidden Stash worked five furlongs in company in 1:00.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.80 over a fast track shortly after the track opened at Keeneland Friday morning.

“We decided to work this morning and beat the rain that is forecast and he worked great,” trainer Vicki Oliver said.

With exercise rider Darragh Sweeney aboard, Hidden Stash started three lengths in back of Esperer (FR), a 3-year-old maiden, and finished four lengths in front.

“He is going to jog and stand in the gate tomorrow and walk Sunday,” said Oliver, who was aboard Hidden Stash's workmate. “He will gallop Monday and Tuesday and ship to Churchill after he trains Tuesday morning.”

HIGHLY MOTIVATED – Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated came out onto the track under Peter Roman at 6:07 and galloped about 1 ½ miles. The son of Into Mischief was second, beaten a neck, by champion Essentially Quality in the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland in what was his two-turn debut for trainer Chad Brown.

“I'm probably going to work him five-eighths tomorrow,” Brown said. “He's a horse that carries a lot of conditioning on him. He's a big, strong heavy guy that can handle a pretty solid work tomorrow. I was proud of him in the Blue Grass and I think it's a race he can build off of.”

HOT ROD CHARLIE – Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and Strauss Bros Racing's Hot Rod Charlie is scheduled to work Saturday morning at Santa Anita and ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday for trainer Doug O'Neill.

HOZIER, MEDINA SPIRIT – Rebel Stakes (G2) runner-up Hozier worked six furlongs in 1:16 under jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Working on his own after 9 o'clock, the Bob Baffert trainee produced fractions of :12.80, :25.20, :37.80, 1:03.20 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:29.

Stablemate Medina Spirit, owned by Zedan Racing Stables, worked six furlongs in 1:12.20 Thursday morning at Santa Anita and arrived at Churchill Downs Friday afternoon.

LIKE THE KING – M Racing Group's Like the King is scheduled to work at Keeneland at 7:30 Saturday morning for trainer Wesley Ward.

KEEPMEINMIND – Spendthrift Farm, Cypress Creek and Arnold Bennewith's Keepmeinmind blitzed a half-mile in :46.20, the fastest of 108 at the distance over a fast track Friday morning at Churchill Downs.

With jockey David Cohen aboard, Keepmeinmind posted fractions of :22.80, :34.40 and galloped out five furlongs in :59.20 while working in company with Shasta Star.

“I am very happy with both of them,” said trainer Robertino Diodoro whose Ava's Grace worked for the Kentucky Oaks just prior to Keepmeinmind's breeze. “He worked really good today and he loves the track here, too.”

While Diodoro was watching the work from the backstretch, connections at Spendthrift were watching the work on Twitter.

“I just got a text from them, 'very sharp',” Diodoro said.

Keepmeinmind, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) here last fall, is No. 22 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and would need two defections to make the field of 20.

“It is a tough spot,” Diodoro said. “If we don't get in, we will train here for the Preakness.”

KING FURY – Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm's King Fury galloped 1 ½ miles with exercise rider Lalo Jose Quiroz during the time reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses, trainer Kenny McPeek said.

“He fully galloped, we shortened (Kentucky Oaks probable Crazy Beautiful's) gallop a little.”

The colt, winner of the Lexington at Keeneland in his most recent start, is expected to complete his final workout on Saturday. The possibility of rain in the weather forecast for Saturday doesn't concern McPeek.

“Rain shouldn't bother him,” McPeek said. “They (King Fury and Crazy Beautiful) both like the mud, so I think they'll be fine. We can push it back to Sunday, if we need to. Now we just need to get in.”

King Fury is at No. 21 on the Derby points leaderboard, and will need a shakeup of the top 20 to make the field when drawn Tuesday.

MIDNIGHT BOURBON, SUPER STOCK – Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon and Erv Woolsey's and Keith Asmussen's Super Stock had another leisurely morning for trainer Steve Asmussen, with the former looking visually impressive while galloping 1 ¼ miles, while the latter went 1 3/8 miles. Midnight Bourbon will have his final Derby work Monday, while Super Stock figures to beat any potential rain with an early move Saturday.

O BESOS – Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry L. Stephens' O Besos walked trainer Greg Foley's Barn 11 shedrow Friday morning

He's expected to go back to the track early Saturday.

ROCK YOUR WORLD – Hronis Racing and David Talla's Rock Your World is scheduled to work Saturday morning at Santa Anita for trainer John Sadler and ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday.

STARRININMYDREAMS – Stewart Racing and WinStar Farm's third-place Lexington Stakes (G3) finisher Starrininmydreams worked a swift five furlongs in 1:00.40 through splits of :12.60, :24.80 with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:14.20.

He's currently No. 23 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby preference list.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, May 1 in order of preference (with possible jockey and trainer): Essential Quality (Luis Saez, Brad Cox); Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat, Doug O'Neill); Super Stock (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Like the King (Drayden Van Dyke, Wesley Ward); Known Agenda (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher); Rock Your World (Joel Rosario, John Sadler); Bourbonic (Kendrick Carmouche, Todd Pletcher); Medina Spirit (John Velazquez, Bob Baffert); Midnight Bourbon (Mike Smith, Steve Asmussen); Mandaloun (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Caddo River (TBA, Brad Cox); Highly Motivated (Javier Castellano, Chad Brown); Helium (Julien Leparoux, Mark Casse); Soup and Sandwich (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Casse); Dynamic One (Jose Ortiz, Todd Pletcher); Sainthood (TBA, Todd Pletcher); Hidden Stash (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver); O Besos (Marcelino Pedroza, Greg Foley); Get Her Number (TBA, Peter Miller).

Possible starters within the Top 20 on the preference list: Hozier (TBA, Bob Baffert).

Next up in order of preference: King Fury (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro); Starrininmydreams (TBA, Dallas Stewart).

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