By Steve Sherack
LOUISVILLE, Ky – Heavy overnight rain made way for a much cooler morning as the Steve Asmussen-trained trio of GI Kentucky Derby breezers headlined Monday's activity.
Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), a jaw-dropping winner of the GI Florida Derby, continues to generate plenty of talk on the backstretch and was one of the first horses out to train over Churchill's sloppy surface at 5:45 a.m. The dark bay has been a real handful during his preparations since arriving from South Florida, and trainer Todd Pletcher switched things up a bit Monday, sending the dark bay out equipped with draw reins and a different exercise rider, Nick Bush. Always Dreaming fired a five-furlong bullet in :59.60 at Churchill Friday.
“He was better with it. I think he was getting the idea,” Bush told the Derby notes team while Pletcher added, “He'll be better tomorrow. It's going to be O.K.”
'TDN Rising Star' Untrapped (Trappe Shot) (:50.40) and Lookin At Lee (Lookin At Lucky) (:50.20) were also at it early for the Asmussen barn, turning in four-furlong maintenance moves over the saturated surface.
With temperatures hovering in the high 50s, the sun began to emerge as the main track was being harrowed just prior to the exclusive 15-minute training period reserved for the Derby/Oaks horses.
The first to step foot on the track at 8:30 a.m. was Hence (Street Boss), who was once again led out by Asmussen aboard his stable pony. The long-striding GIII Sunland Derby winner was credited with a four-furlong move in :48.80 over the upgraded “good” going. Hence continues to make a very good physical impression beneath the Twin Spires, as does the GII Blue Grass S. upsetter Irap (Tiznow), who galloped a strong 1 1/2 miles.
Gunnevera (Dialed In)'s chestnut coat shined bright in the Kentucky sun as he entered the track by the chute while the nearby Practical Joke (Into Mischief), unblinkered again, enjoyed a moment to take in his surroundings.
The Pletcher pair of Tapwrit (Tapit) and the one-eyed fan favorite 'TDN Rising Star' Patch (Union Rags) traveled over the ground nicely during their gallops. Despite a disappointing fifth in the Blue Grass, Taprwit does have a bit of history on his side. Invisible Ink and Bluegrass Cat, also conditioned by Pletcher, were able to rebound from similarly disappointing efforts in Lexington to complete the exacta at 55-1 and 30-1 on the First Saturday in May, respectively.
Champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile), with regular exercise rider Martin Rivera (awfully hard to miss sporting those red chaps) aboard, has been on his best behavior since joining the special Derby training period the past two days.
The maiden of 10 starts Sonneteer (Midnight Lute) zipped through a four-furlong bullet in :47, his first timed workout since finishing a rallying fourth in the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 15.
'TDN Rising Star' Battle of Midway (Smart Strike), a very game runner-up in the GI Santa Anita Derby, made the trip from Southern California in good form for Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, if his first tour around the Churchill main track late Monday morning was any indication.
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