Kentucky Derby 2018 Daily: Hofburg passes eye test in work

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.

Sitting atop a pony on track, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott took advantage of Churchill Downs’ giant video board Sunday morning, able to see 2018 Kentucky Derby contender Hofburg’s final workout in its entirety.

And it was certainly one to see.

“He looked smooth as silk coming by me,” Mott said after the last-out Florida Derby runner-up clicked through a half mile in 48.20 seconds, blowing by his workmate and continuing with a gallop out of five furlongs in 1:01.20, with 6/8 in 1:14.80.

“When he passed the eighth pole and approached the wire, he looked really good,” Mott added. “Switched leads, went into the turn and galloped out well into the turn. I’m really pleased with the work. The rider was pleased with the work. Visually, it was as good as you could look.”

And so the hype continues to build for Hofburg, a son of Tapit bred and campaigned by Juddmonte Farms. Already, Horse Racing Nation’s Super Screener handicapping system deemed the colt a 20-1 longshot you can’t leave off your tickets next weekend. Question is, will Hofburg go off lower than 20-1?

The horse is lightly raced with just three starts, but has won going two turns this year, with both trips that sprayed dirt in his face.

“You never know how they’re going to react to 160,000 people,” said Garrett O’Rourke, who manages Juddmonte’s U.S. operation. “I think that is something that you just have to wait and see. Maybe some of the more seasoned horses have been through that in the past and handle it better. But this is a smart horse. He handled himself really well at the Florida Derby.”

O’Rourke said typical baby issues such as sore shins prevented Hofburg from making more than one start at age 2. But the colt remained in training throughout, and Mott has handled his charge confidently at 3, taking him straight from a maiden special weight win to the Grade 1 level.

“Everything just has fallen into place to where you want to go into a race like this where the horse is dragging you there,” O’Rourke said. “We feel like the horse is dragging us there.”

Juddmonte is the international racing and breeding operation of Prince Khalid bin Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. O’Rourke noted they’ve won the Kentucky Oaks, a Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup races.

“I’m working my way around the table there, and the big, gaping hole is the Kentucky Derby,” he said. “It would be huge.”

In three Derby tries, the organization has come close, with Aptitude second in 2000 before Empire Maker’s runner-up in 2003.

“It only whets your appetite to get the nose in front,” O’Rourke said. “It’s very, very important to us.”

Quiet day otherwise

The 15-minute morning session at Churchill Downs saw the fewest number of horses on track in a week, with many opting to walk the shed row after Saturday’s big final work day. Steve Asmussen-trained Combatant was another Derby contender on track as he prepares for a work, likely on Monday.

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who on Friday breezed Magnum Moon, Audible, Vino Rosso and Noble Indy, sent them back to the track Saturday for gate schooling and a jog. That quartet did not appear Sunday.

“I like to see where they are the day after a breeze,” Pletcher said. “I want to see how they’re moving — how they’ve come out of their exercise.”

And he added: “We’re where we want to be with them.”

Up next

On the West Coast, Solomini and Instilled Regard are expected to complete their final Derby works at Santa Anita Park before shipping Monday to Churchill Downs. On the same plane will be Justify and Bolt d’Oro, a pair of the top choices.

As for Mendelssohn, the UAE Derby winner, we’re hearing it could be until Thursday before the Aidan O’Brien trainee trains at Churchill. He’ll have to first ship internationally and pass through quarantine.

In case you missed it…

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Editor's note: This story originally credited Hofburg with two wins this year. He was won one of three starts. The article has been updated.