Victoria Ranch's King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) tuned up for the $3-million GI Kentucky Derby with a five-furlong drill that was clocked in :58.20 (see below), the quickest of 40 works at the distance. It was the second consecutive Churchill bullet for the strapping bay, who went the same distance in :59.40 (1/46) Aug. 15.
With Miguel Mena in the irons, the GII Tampa Bay Derby upsetter broke off in :11.40 for the opening eighth of a mile, then was timed in subsequent splits of :23 (flat) (:11.60 interval), :34.80 (:11.80) and :46.60 (:11.80) before covering his final furlong in :11.60. He galloped out three-quarters of a mile in a very strong 1:10.80 (:12.60) and was up seven furlongs in 1:24.20 (:13.40) according to a tweet from Churchill Downs's Kevin Kerstein. Samy Camacho, who rode King Guillermo in the Tampa Bay Derby and guided the colt to his runner-up effort in the faster division of the GI Arkansas Derby May 2, has the call in the Run for the Roses.
“You can sometimes get a little bit worried when horses work that fast, but he did it so effortlessly,” Mena said. “He has an unbelievable stride and is pretty tough in the bridle. When I broke off from the pony, he really wanted to go. He continued out really well around the turn and onto the backside.”
Mena has picked up the call on GIII Indiana Derby and Runhappy Ellis Park Derby third Necker Island (Hard Spun).
In other activity Saturday morning, GI Longines Kentucky Oaks hopeful Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) breezed six furlongs in 1:11.60 beneath exercise rider Edwin Vargas in sectional times of :12.60, :24.20, :35.40 and :59 flat. Florent Geroux has the call for trainer Brad Cox, who also oversaw a routine track gallop for Juddmonte Farms's GSW/GISP Bonny South (Munnings).
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