Kentucky Derby 2018 Daily: Flameaway ‘better and better’

Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 5 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.

Surrounded by reporters at his Churchill Downs barn on Saturday morning, trainer Mark Casse actually appeared to ask the best questions when it comes to 2018 Kentucky Derby contender Flameaway.

In making the transition from age 2 to 3, “Have you seen a change in your horse? Has he improved?" Casse said. "And honestly, most of the time you’ll say, ‘No, not really. I haven’t seen a lot of change.’ With him, it’s just been unbelievable.”

From “chubby kid” to “sculptured man,” as Casse put it, the Derby longshot appears to be peaking at the right time. The son of Scat Daddy clicked through his final workout in company with stablemate Ride a Comet, measuring a half mile in 47.80 seconds.

Casse said he communicated to his exercise rider to slow the horse up in the lane, lest he work too quickly.

“I’ve never seen him breeze like this,” the trainer said. “He just seems to be getting better and better.”

Flameaway enters off a pair of runner-up efforts in Grade 2 company, first in the Tampa Bay Derby and again in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes. Before that, he won the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on dirt having made the transition back from turf to open this year’s campaign.

The John Oxley-owned chestnut is known for both his versatility and his attitude — laid back in the mornings, then an all-out fighter in the afternoons.

“This horse — what can I say?” Casse said.

Another good question.

“He just runs hard every time. Our goal is going to be to be on the lead or close to it turning for home, and then we know he’ll fight on.”

That’s the position Flameaway was in at Keeneland, at least until Blue Grass winner Good Magic’s jockey, Jose Ortiz, switched his whip to the left side. The riding crop, Casse said, came across the nose of Flameaway and caused him to take pause in deep stretch. The final margin was a length and a half.

A year ago, Casse entered the Derby with champion Classic Empire, and remarked Saturday at how different the 2018 running will be for him and his staff.

“At this time last year, it was intense,” he said. “This year, knock on wood — there’s still a little pressure there — but you come with a horse that just gives you everything. You’re just kind of happy to be here, and this one might be more enjoyable.”

Other action at Churchill Downs

It was a busy morning under the Twin Spires for Derby contenders putting in their final breezes. Additionally, the Todd Pletcher-trained quartet of Magnum Moon, Audible, Noble Indy and Vino Rosso were seen on track for light jogs a day after completing their final drills.

• Bravazo went out for trainer D. Wayne Lukas before sunrise, opting to breeze five furlongs in 1:01.40 before the 15-minute session exclusive to Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders.

“He’s doing really good,” said Lukas, who confirmed Luis Contreras will ride the colt next weekend. “It’s always great to have a horse in the Derby – even though this year’s field is tougher than others.”

• During the Derby/Oaks window, champion Good Magic skipped to  five furlongs in 1:01.20.

“This is as good as he’s ever worked,” said trainer Chad Brown. “He won the Breeders’ Cup last year off of a really, really good breeze. It’s really taken all winter and spring to get him right to what we see today, at his very best.”

• The Dale Romans-trained duo of Promises Fulfilled (four furlongs in 48 flat) and Free Drop Billy (four furlongs in 49.40) both drilled without company. The latter looked especially strong coming around the backside on his gallop out, still sprinting.

“I think most people know our plan in the Derby,” Romans said regarding Promises Fulfilled. “This horse is naturally fast and so we’ll be up front early and hope we can stay there late.”

As for Free Drop Billy, “He worked really good,” Romans added. “He already has a lot of foundation in him from the Blue Grass so he doesn’t need anything major to get him ready.”

• From the Keith Desormeaux barn, My Boy Jack put in his only breeze over the Churchill surface, going 5/8 in an easy 1:03.20. That’s obvious maintenance with the colt having run in both the Louisiana Derby and Lexington Stakes since March 24.

“He started out slow, but he picked it up pretty good at the end,” Desormeaux said. “That’s just what we wanted him to do.”

Up next

Florida Derby runner-up Hofburg's expected to complete his final Derby work on Sunday at Churchill Downs, while on the West Coast, Instilled Regard, the current last horse in, will drill. Likely Derby favorite Justify arrives for the race Monday, and Mendelssohn should be in by Tuesday.

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