It was a busy Friday morning at Churchill Downs with 10 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks contenders logging their penultimate work prior to the first weekend in May.
Half of those workers were from Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's barn–Oaks contenders GII Gulfstream Park Oaks runner-up Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft) (five furlongs, 1:00.80); GI Central Bank Ashland S. winner Nest (Curlin) (four furlongs, :49.80); and unbeaten G3 UAE Oaks heroine Shahama (Munnings) (five furlongs, 1:00.80) and Derby contenders GI Curlin Florida Derby runner-up Charge It (Tapit) (five furlongs, 1:00.40) and GII Wood Memorial S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) (four furlongs, :50.20).
“Nest went a nice half in about :50 and galloped out nicely,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We were looking for a little bit more from Goddess of Fire and Shahama. Goddess of Fire hasn't run since the Fair Grounds Oaks and Shahama hasn't run since the UAE Oaks. So, we were looking for a little bit of a stronger work from them. They galloped out well and I was pleased with how they went.”
Pletcher added, “With Charge It, we were looking for a good, solid breeze. He went a minute and four-fifths with a super big gallop out. We were really happy with that. With Mo Donegal, with the Wood just 13 days ago, we were just looking for an easy half in :50. He had a nice gallop out as well. All the horses got over the track well. The track still had a little moisture in it from yesterday but they all handled it well.”
Other Derby and Oaks contenders that worked Friday at Churchill Downs were GI Arkansas Derby runner-up Barber Road (Race Day) (six furlongs, 1:16.40); GIII Fantasy S. runner-up Beguine (Gun Runner) (five furlongs, 1:01); Ashland runner-up Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo) (five furlongs, 1:01.20); GII Rachel Alexandra S. winner Turnerloose (Nyquist) (five furlongs, 1:01.20) and GII Louisiana Derby runner-up Zozos (Munnings) (six furlongs, 1:12.40).
“It was another really strong move,” trainer Brad Cox said of Zozos. “He galloped out really well around the turn and is really doing well over this track. He's a quick horse as he showed in the Louisiana Derby but he settles into his works nicely.”
At Gulfstream, meanwhile, GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. winner and Florida Derby third Simplification (Not This Time) worked five furlongs in :59.42. “I'm so happy. The work was impressive. He did it very handily, very easy,” trainer Antonio Sano said. “Junior [Alvarado] worked the horse. He told me, 'Your horse wins the Derby.”
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