Girvin (Tale of Ekati), who sits atop the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard courtesy of victories in the GII Risen Star S. and GII Louisiana Derby, recorded his first breeze since winning the latter event Apr. 1 Saturday morning at Trackside Louisville, the satellite training facility located five miles from Churchill Downs.
With exercise rider and former jockey Rosie Napravnik in the irons, the Brad Grady runner clocked a half-mile in :47.80 in splits of :11.60, :23 flat and :35.20 before galloping out five-eighths of a mile in 1:02.80. Girvin went in the company of his dual stakes-winning stablemate Cool Arrow (Into Mischief).
“It was a little quicker than I would have liked for his first work back,” said 32-year-old trainer Joe Sharp. “Both he and Cool Arrow were on the bridle which is good. Rosie was happy with it and he seems to be cooling out well which will set him up for his work next week.”
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has taken the call on Girvin for the Derby and will fly in for next weekend's move. Sharp was uncertain whether the work would take place at Trackside or at Churchill.
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