Bravazo put in race-like situation for Kentucky Derby 2018 work

Calumet Farm’s Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes winner Bravazo breezed six furlongs in 1:15.40 on Friday morning at Churchill Downs in preparation for the 2018 Kentucky Derby, which will be staged for the 144th consecutive year on Saturday, May 5.

Bravazo breezed in company with stablemates Take Notice and Berke (1:16.40) through splits of :25.20, :37.80, :50.60 and 1:03, before finishing five lengths in front on the seven-furlong gallop out in 1:28.80, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“I was very pleased with the work,” Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “It will be six weeks since he last raced so I wanted to put him in a situation where it would feel like an actual race. He did everything just like we wanted and I think he’ll get a lot out of this work. He didn’t want to pull up after he was finished. My rider was exhausted.”

The homebred son of Awesome Again scored a 21-1 upset in the Feb. 17 Risen Star but disappointed with an eighth-place effort in the March 24 Louisiana Derby (GII).

“We know he’s better than what he showed last time,” Lukas said. “It’s tough coming into the Derby with a six-week break but I think his breeze this morning showed us he’s doing well.”

Including Bravazo (Barn 44), there are five horses within the Kentucky Derby field stabled on the Churchill Downs backstretch: Flameaway, Free Drop Billy, Promises Fulfilled and Lone Sailor. 

Flameaway, Free Drop Billy, and Promises Fulfilled are on schedule to breeze Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET, according to their respective trainers.

Training hours at Churchill Downs are 5:15-10 a.m. with two renovation breaks at 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Derby and Oaks horses will have an exclusive training window beginning Saturday from 7:30-7:45 a.m.