Watch: Cyberknife, Smile Happy lead Derby works at Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs news release
Photo: Justin Manning / Eclipse Sportswire

Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders kicked it into high gear Saturday morning with several horses around the country logging their most serious workouts prior to the first weekend in May.

At Churchill Downs, Derby contenders Cyberknife (six furlongs, 1:12.2), Smile Happy (five furlongs, 1:00.4), Tiz the Bomb (five furlongs, 1:00.2) and Un Ojo (five furlongs, 59.4 seconds) all breezed for the Run for the Roses. At Keeneland, Blue Grass (G1) winner Zandon worked a half mile in 48.6 seconds before he ships to Churchill Downs on Sunday.

Related: Brown: Zandon 'moving super' in penultimate Derby drill

Gold Square’s Arkansas Derby winner Cyberknife breezed at 5:15 a.m. EDT with jockey Florent Geroux in the saddle. The son of Gun Runner worked on the outside of stablemate Koolhaus. Cyberknife started two lengths back at the five-furlong marker and finished two lengths in front at the wire. Cyberknife continued his strong move around the far turn and completed seven furlongs in 1:24.6, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“It was a really strong move and he’s a really good work horse,” Geroux said. “He continues to improve as time goes on and he showed that winning the Arkansas Derby. Even going back to his allowance win before the Arkansas Derby he showed a new level of class.”

During the 7:30-7:45 a.m. EDT training period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders, Lucky Seven Stable’s Blue Grass Stakes (G1) runner-up Smile Happy and Magdalena Racing Lessee’s Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Tiz the Bomb breezed in company. Smile Happy and jockey Corey Lanerie began the work about one length in front of Brian Hernandez Jr. and Tiz the Bomb. Hernandez and Tiz the Bomb moved to the outside of Smile Happy and finished in tandem at the wire.

“We were just looking for an easy move today and we got that,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “We’ll probably do the same thing again next week.”

Cypress Creek Equine’s Un Ojo arrived at Churchill Downs on Tuesday with trainer Ricky Courville’s son, Clay, in tow. Clay breezed Un Ojo through opening eighth-mile splits of 11.6, 23.0, 35.0 and 47.6 seconds. Un Ojo galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.2.

“It’s amazing being here at Churchill Downs,” Clay said. “I’ve been here before but nothing like this. (Un Ojo) is getting over the track really well.”

At Keeneland, Jeff Drown’s Zandon completed eighth-mile fractions of 12.8, 25.2 and 37.0 seconds. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.8, six furlongs in 1:13.8 and seven-eighths of a mile in 1:27.6. Trainer Chad Brown reported Zandon will ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday and be stabled in Barn 25.

Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders Hidden Connection (five furlongs, 1:00.6), Nostalgic (four furlongs, 48.8 seconds) and Venti Valentine (four furlongs, 47.2 seconds) all worked Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

Sunday morning, likely Kentucky Derby and Oaks favorites Epicenter and Echo Zulu are both scheduled to work for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

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