By Steve Sherack
LOUISVILLE, Ky – McCraken (Ghostzapper) was the undisputed headliner during Sunday's exclusive 15-minute training period (8:30-8:45 a.m) reserved for GI Kentucky Derby/Oaks contenders at Churchill Downs.
The popular Whitham homebred–already a perfect three-for-three beneath the Twin Spires as a juvenile–hugged the rail beautifully as he turned for home and glided down the stretch through another visually impressive five-furlong workout in 1:00.80 (9/25) on a very warm, humid and breezy morning under mostly cloudy skies in the Bluegrass. Regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr., sporting a GoPro camera on his helmet, was in the irons.
Whether you are willing or not to forgive McCraken's disappointing third-place finish as the favorite in the GII Blue Grass S.–this writer certainly is–trainer Ian Wilkes clearly has him heading in the right direction as the First Saturday in May approaches.
Hence (Street Boss), already considered to be this year's 'wise-guy horse' by many off his powerful win in a key renewal of the GIII Sunland Derby, made a great physical impression during his Sunday morning gallop. The well-built chestnut, ponied to the track by trainer Steve Asmussen, is one of three Calumet Farm homebreds being aimed for the Run for the Roses. Hence, as well as fellow Asmussen stablemates Lookin At Lee (Lookin At Lucky) and Untrapped (Trappe Shot), are slated to breeze Monday. The maiden Sonneteer (Midnight Lute), trained by Keith Desormeaux, is also scheduled to breeze.
The 31-1 Blue Grass upsetter Irap (Tiznow), meanwhile, got his first look at Churchill Downs Sunday and stepped onto the track with a nice bounce to his step as head Doug O'Neill assistant Leandro Mora watched with a big smile standing alongside a large group of media and photographers assembled on the backstretch.
Will Blue Grass runner-up Practical Joke (Into Mischief) be adding blinkers next weekend? After sporting the shades during his breeze Friday, the handsome bay, trained by Chad Brown, was not wearing them during his 1 3/8-miles gallop Sunday.
Juvenile champ Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile), out for only light exercise jogging after breezing four furlongs in :49.20 Friday, was guided back to the barn area with Mark Casse on the shank after being met on the track by the trainer by the chute.
The gray Fast and Accurate (Hansen), who figures to be one of the longest shots on the board in the Derby, also hit the worktab Sunday with an in-company five-furlong breeze in 1:01.20 (17/32). The GIII Spiral winner, stabled at Mike Maker's Trackside base, was making his first local appearance over the Churchill Downs main track.
Trainer Antonio Sano seems to be taking his first trip to the Derby right in stride. Sano, who has been quite active on his Twitter account (@ASanoRacing) lately, was one of many observers with their cell phone out as the GII Fountain of Youth S. winner Gunnevera (Dialed In) was getting cleaned up back at the barn.
An even bigger audience continued to assemble outside of Barn 26 as the aforementioned GII Kentucky jockey Club S. and GIII Sam F. Davis S. hero cooled out, walking the shedrow around 9 a.m. McCraken seemed to come out of his breeze in good spirits, keeping his handlers plenty busy during his bath as well.
Can't make it out to the track for the morning activity this week? A live stream of the Derby/Oaks training sessions, presented by TwinSpires.com, will be available at multiple sources, including on Twitter via @KentuckyDerby as well as www.kentuckyderby.com/workouts/live.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
