Whitham Thoroughbreds' McCraken (Ghostzapper) tuned up for Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby with a five-furlong work in 1:00.80 at Churchill Downs Sunday. Working on his own, McCraken produced fractions of :13, :25.20, :36.80, :48.60 and 1:00.80 with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:13.40, seven-eighths in 1:27.20 and the mile in 1:41.80. The five-eighths time was the 10th fastest of 32 at the distance.
“It was just what I wanted,” trainer Ian Wilkes said of the work. “I only wanted him to gallop out an extra eighth because I wanted him to want to do more and he wants to do more.”
McCraken won his first four starts, including the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. and GIII Sam F. Davis S., before suffering his first defeat in the Apr. 8 GII Toyota Blue Grass S.
“I feel like he is back into his rhythm,” Wilkes said. “The Blue Grass was a little different for him in that he was fresh and didn't switch leads and that took away from his punch.”
• Also working towards the Derby Sunday at Churchill was GIII Spiral S. winner Fast and Accurate (Hansen), who went five furlongs in company with Grade I placed Adventist (Any Given Saturday) in 1:01.20.
“Everything went smoothly,” trainer Mike Maker said. “It was nothing out of the ordinary with him. I thought he handled the dirt well.”
Fast and Accurate has won on turf and synthetic, but was off the board in his only dirt appearance at Parx last fall.
• GII Wood Memorial winner Irish War Cry (Curlin) worked six furlongs Sunday at Fair Hill Training Center in 1:13.20. The move was accomplished in company with 4-year-old maiden Providence Road (Bellamy Road) and jockey Rajiv Maragh was in the irons.
“He pretty much did what he wanted,” trainer Graham Motion said. “He sat a couple of lengths off his workmate and did it nicely. I was very happy.”
Motion continued, “I think Rajiv was very comfortable with him. He had been anxious to see how he'd handle sitting off another horse, which is something we'd done with him before in Florida, but Rajiv hadn't been on him then and wanted to see how he'd be. He handled it very well and was very relaxed about it.”
• Clearview Stable's Ever So Clever (Medaglia d'Oro), winner of the GIII Fantasy S., tuned up for Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks with an easy half-mile in :49.80 Sunday at Churchill Downs. “It was spot on,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It's a good race, but the filly is doing wonderful. She's very comfortable here at Churchill and has run solid over the racetrack. We feel that she has that going for her. And, obviously we were impressed with today's move.”
• Also working for a possible start in the Oaks, Westrock Stable's Torrent (Blame) worked a sharp half-mile in :47.60. The filly still needs one more defection to make the Oaks field. “It was a smooth, fast work,” trainer Ron Moquett said of the move that was the eighth fastest of 61 at the distance. “Just what I wanted.”
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