kentucky derby 147 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Highly Motivated Has Best-Of-Morning Half-Mile Breeze At Keeneland

Klaravich Stables' homebred Highly Motivated, runner-up to champion Essential Quality in the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland racecourse on April 3, began his final preparation for an expected run in the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve by working a half-mile in :47.20 over a fast main track Sunday morning at the Lexington, Ky., racecourse.

The move by the Into Mischief colt was the best of 27 at the distance. (Click here for a video of the work.)

Trained by Chad Brown, Highly Motivated worked in company with Founder, who was fifth behind Essential Quality in the 2020 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. The two came on the track shortly after 9 a.m. and worked on even terms through fractions of :12.20, :23.60, :36 and :47.20 with Highly Motivated galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 and 6 furlongs in 1:15.60.

Highly Motivated set Keeneland's track record for 6½ furlongs with his 1:14.99 clocking in winning the Nyquist Stakes during the first day of the Breeders' Cup World Championships last November. The colt is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs Monday, April 19, with Brown slated to arrive in Louisville on Wednesday, April 21.

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Trio Of West Coast Runners Prep At Santa Anita For Kentucky Derby

Rock Your World, impressive undefeated winner of the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3, worked five furlongs Saturday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., in :59.60 for the G1 Kentucky Derby on May 1.

The son of Candy Ride went in company with stablemate Tripoli, who was clocked in 1:00.20. Trainer John Sadler plans to have one more breeze at Santa Anita for Rock Your World, likely next Saturday, before shipping to Kentucky.

“I had him going a minute for five furlongs with Serapio Figueroa riding, in company with Tripoli,” Sadler said. “It was a pretty effortless work, just smooth and relaxed. I was very happy.”

Also working this morning for the Run for the Roses were Dream Shake, third in the Santa Anita Derby, who went five furlongs with Flavien Prat aboard in a bullet :59.20 for trainer Peter Eurton, and G2 Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie, who went six furlongs in 1:14.20, also with Prat up.

“It was a pretty comfortable work,” Eurton said. “He was well within himself. I'm very pleased.”

Dream Shake's time was the fastest of 72 at the distance, the average time of which was 1:01.60.

“He looked solid,” O'Neill said of Hot Rod Charlie, who will be ridden on May 1 by Prat. “So far, so good.”

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Brown Works Kentucky Oaks Candidate Search Results At Belmont

Klaravich Stables undefeated Search Results, last-out winner for trainer Chad Brown of the Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle on April 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., worked a half-mile in 48.33 seconds Saturday on the Belmont Park main track in preparation for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on Friday, April 30, at Churchill Downs.

Brown said he was impressed with the work by Search Results, who breezed in company with New York-bred sophomore filly Teetotaler.

“She put in one of the best works I've seen from her, so I think she's come out of her last race in really good shape,” said Brown. “She went in 48 and change and did it really nicely. I thought she galloped out strong.”

The Flatter filly, a $310,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, has posted successive 92 Beyer Speed Figures, including a half-length score in the one-turn mile Busher Invitational on March 6 at the Big A ahead of her two-turn debut in the Gazelle.

“We were cautiously optimistic she could handle the two-turns but you never know until you see them do it,” said Brown, who conditioned Lewis Bay to a third-place finish in the 2016 Kentucky Oaks. “It was nice to see her do it so well and it gives us a lot of confidence going over to Churchill to run at the same mile and an eighth distance.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will retain the mount in the nine-furlong Kentucky Oaks.

The Klaravich Stables duo of Crowded Trade and Risk Taking worked in company through a half-mile in 47.55 Saturday on Big Sandy.

Both horses are exiting the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on April 3 where they finished third and seventh, respectively.

“Risk Taking took some dirt but he really didn't have any excuse, he just didn't fire,” said Brown. “Crowded Trade, he missed the break a bit, and that might have cost him a little bit but he had an opportunity to run down the lane and he ran really well.”

Brown said Crowded Trade is aiming towards a start in the Grade 1 Preakness, second leg of the Triple Crown, on May 15 at Pimlico Race Course. Brown captured the 2017 Preakness with Cloud Computing.

Boasting a perfect in-the-money record in three starts, Crowded Trade won at first asking in January at Aqueduct ahead of a narrow nose defeat to Weyburn in the one-turn mile Grade 3 Gotham in March. Last out, the More Than Ready chestnut closed well to be third in the Wood.

Risk Taking, a $240,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, captured the nine-furlong Grade 3 Withers in February at Aqueduct ahead of a seventh in the Wood Memorial as the post-time favorite. The Medaglia d'Oro bay is targeting a start in the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan on May 8 at Belmont.

“They both seem to have bounced out of the Wood in fine shape,” said Brown . “We'll monitor them week to week, but they were moving well. I'm leaning towards the Preakness for Crowded Trade and with Risk Taking I'm leaning towards the Peter Pan.”

Brown will be represented in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby by Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated, who will work at Keeneland on Sunday. The Into Mischief bay, a $240,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, graduated at second asking at Belmont in September ahead of winning the 6 1/2-furlong Nyquist at Keeneland in November.

Following a third in the Grade 3 Gotham in his seasonal debut, Highly Motivated gave likely Derby favorite Essential Quality a test in the Grade 2 Blue Grass on April 3 at Keeneland, battling the 2-year-old champion down the lane en route to a narrow neck loss.

“He'll work a half-mile at Keeneland tomorrow,” said Brown. “I thought he ran terrific in the Blue Grass and he came out of it good.”

Brown's previous Kentucky Derby starters include Good Magic [2nd, 2018], Practical Joke [5th, 2017], Shagaf [20th, 2016], My Man Sam [11th, 2016] and Normandy Invasion [4th, 2013].

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Essential Quality Among Derby Candidates Breezing At Churchill Downs; Concert Tour Taking Bypass To Preakness

On an action-packed Saturday morning beneath the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Godolphin's undefeated champion colt Essential Quality continued his march to the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) with a swift five-furlong move in :59.60 early Saturday morning. Fellow Derby contenders Mandaloun (six furlongs, 1:11.40) and Soup and Sandwich (five furlongs, :59.80) also worked toward their start in the “Run for the Roses.”

Essential Quality, the recent winner of the $800,000 Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland, worked at 5:15 a.m. (all times Eastern) with jockey Luis Saez aboard through splits of :12.80, :24.60 and :47.40. The gray Tapit colt began his work one length behind two-time winning stablemate Spa City and finished even at the wire. Spa City's final five-furlong time was :59.80, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. Essential Quality galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.20 and completed seven furlongs in 1:28.60.

“I'm not taking a deep breath yet but we're very pleased with where we are at today two weeks from the Derby,” trainer Brad Cox said. “He really had to work for that win in the Blue Grass and we were very pleased how well he ended up bouncing out of it.”

Mandaloun working under Florent Geroux at Churchill Downs

Following Essential Quality's move, Juddmonte Farm's Mandaloun worked with jockey Florent Geroux aboard in company with maiden winner Colonel Bowman. The duo began their six-furlong move from the five-eighths pole through splits of :12.40, :24.20, :35.60 and :58.80. Mandaloun continued to extend his stride in front of Colonel Bowman through a seven-furlong gallop out in 1:25.20 and completed one-mile in 1:41.60. Colonel Bowman's final six-furlong time was 1:11.80.

“(Mandaloun) worked great,” Cox said. “We were all puzzled after the Louisiana Derby (G2) but he's been doing great since that race maybe that was just a head scratcher. He's a really good-looking son of Into Mischief and we know he's better than what we saw in his last start.”

At 7:30 a.m., Live Oak Plantation's homebred Soup and Sandwich cruised five furlongs with jockey Tyler Gaffalione on board. The once-beaten son of Into Mischief worked in company with four-time winner Epic Dreamer through opening fractions of :12.40, :24.20 and :35.20. Soup and Sandwich began drawing clear of his workmate at the wire and galloped out strongly in front with a six-furlong time of 1:12.40 and completed seven furlongs in 1:25.20.

“This horse is just starting to figure things around the racetrack,” trainer Mark Casse's assistant David Carroll said. “Tyler was in cruise control around there and that gallop out was great.”

Soup and Sandwich working under the Twin Spires

Saturday started the 7:30-7:45 a.m. training period for Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks contenders. During that time window, Phoenix Thoroughbred's $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) winner Crazy Beautiful worked a five-furlong bullet move in :59 with opening fractions of :12.40, :24, :35.40 and :47. She completed her work with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:12.40.

Fellow Oaks contender Ava's Grace, the runner-up in the $600,000 Fantasy (G3) behind Pauline's Pearl, worked a half-mile in :48.60 at 5:15 a.m. with jockey Adam Beschizza up. Owned by Cypress Creek Equine and trained by Robertino Diodoro, Ava's Grace has yet to finish off the board four starts with one win, one second and two third-place finishes.

DERBY NEWS AND NOTES – Six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert reported via text Saturday morning that Gary and Mary West's Concert Tour, third while beaten 2 ½ lengths as the favorite in the April 10 Arkansas Derby (G1), would bypass the May 1 Kentucky Derby. Text: “Concert out. Wait for Preakness.” … Three horses remain listed as “possible” starters in the Derby: Caddo River for trainer Brad Cox and either Highly Motivated or Crowded Trade for trainer Chad Brown. If Brown only runs one as expected that would put American Pharoah (G1) winner and Arkansas Derby fourth Get Her Number into the field and Lexington Stakes (G3) winner King Fury at No. 21 awaiting the Caddo River decision. … Cox reported that Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Caddo River is continuing to train towards a start in the Kentucky Derby but would talk the race over with owner John Ed Anthony and make the decision in the next week. … Klaravich Stable's Blue Grass runner-up Highly Motivated galloped Saturday at Keeneland and is scheduled to work on Sunday. The colt is tentatively scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Monday. … M Racing Group's Like the King worked six furlongs in 1:12.80 at Keeneland for trainer Wesley Ward. The Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner is scheduled to arrive Derby Week to Churchill Downs.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby 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, Todd Pletcher); Rock Your World (Umberto Rispoli, John Sadler); Bourbonic (Kendrick Carmouche, Todd Pletcher); Medina Spirit (John Velazquez, Bob Baffert); Midnight Bourbon (Mike Smith, Steve Asmussen); Mandaloun (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); 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); Dream Shake (TBA, Peter Eurton); and O Besos (Marcelino Pedroza, Greg Foley).

Possible starters within the Top 20 on the preference list: Caddo River (TBA, Brad Cox); Highly Motivated (Javier Castellano, Chad Brown); and Crowded Trade (TBA, Chad Brown).

Next up in order of preference: Get Her Number (TBA, Peter Miller); King Fury (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ken McPeek); Hockey Dad (TBA, Doug O'Neill); Keepmeinmind (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro).

Out of race: Rebel's Romance (IRE) (June 5 Belmont Stakes); Greatest Honour (rest); Concert Tour (May 15 Preakness); Life Is Good (ankle chip); Weyburn (May 8 Peter Pan); Panadol; Proxy; Rombauer (May 15 Preakness); Drain the Clock (shorter distances); New Treasure (IRE); Hozier; Spielberg (rest); and Jackie's Warrior (May 1 Pat Day Mile).

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY OAKS – Likely starters in the 147th running of the Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on Friday, April 30, in order of preference (with possible jockey and trainer): Search Results (Irad Ortiz Jr., Chad Brown); Travel Column (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Crazy Beautiful (Jose Ortiz, Kenny McPeek); Pauline's Pearl (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Malathaat (Joel Rosario, Todd Pletcher); Soothsay (Flavien Prat, Richard Mandella); Clairiere (Tyler Gaffalione, Steve Asmussen); Will's Secret (Jon Court, Dallas Stewart); Millefeuille (TBA, Bill Mott); Moraz (Umberto Rispoli, Michael McCarthy); Ava's Grace (TBA, Robertino Diodoro); Pass the Champagne (Javier Castellano, George Weaver); and Maracuja (Kendrick Carmouche, Rob Atras).

Possible starters within the Top 14 on the preference list: Beautiful Gift (John Velazquez, Bob Baffert).

Next up in order of preference: The Grass Is Blue (TBA, Chad Brown); Competitive Speed (TBA, Javier Gonzalez); Coach (Luis Saez, Brad Cox); Souper Sensational (TBA, Mark Casse); Moon Swag (TBA, Brendan Walsh); Army Wife (TBA, Mike Maker); and Spritz (Chris Landeros, Rodolphe Brissett).

Out of race: Wholebodemeister; Mnasek; Adventuring; Kalypso; Vequist; Miss Brazil; and Nayefah.

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