The GII Louisiana Derby runner-up GSW Honor Marie (Honor Code) and fourth-place finisher GSW Track Phantom (Quality Road) returned to the work tab Sunday morning at Churchill Downs as they continue to train towards Kentucky Derby 150.
In the early hours, Track Phantom breezed five furlongs in 1:02.00, the ninth fastest of 19 on the morning while sporting new equipment–a small set of blinkers. With Joel Rosario in the irons, the pair went in company with another Asmussen trainee and Track Phantom galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.20.
“I thought it was a nice first work getting back to Churchill,” Asmussen's assistant trainer Scott Blasi said.
Two hours later, Honor Marie breezed a half-mile in :47.80 in company, the third fastest move of 36 others after finishing a length ahead of his workmate, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.60 as timed by Churchill clocker John Nichols.
“I thought it was a really good move for his first work back here at Churchill,” conditioner D. Whitworth Beckman said. “He did well this winter down at Fair Grounds and the [GII] Risen Star is proving to be a very key race leading into the Derby.”
The winner of said Risen Star was Saturday's GI Toyota Blue Grass victor 'TDN Rising Star' GISW Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) while fourth place finisher GSW Resilience (Into Mischief) would win New York's crowning Derby prep, the GII Wood Memorial, the same day. The third-place finisher from the Risen Star GSW Catching Freedom (Constitution) would win the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 23.
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