Kentucky Derby 2020: Updates from Churchill Downs

Under foggy conditions at Churchill Downs, John Oxley’s $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (Grade 3) winner Enforceable continued his preparation for the $3 million Kentucky Derby with a six-furlong move on Sunday in 1:12.20 under jockey Adam Beschizza.

The fog moved into the Louisville area just past midnight and the conditions did not improve at the start of training on Sunday at 5:15 a.m. Enforceable, outside of stablemate Ghost Fighter (six furlongs, 1:13.80), worked from the five-furlong pole to the wire in :59.20 and the duo continued their work around the turn to the seven-eighths pole.

“It was a really good work, from what I could see,” trainer Mark Casse said. “From the videos I’ve seen over the last couple of weeks I’ve been really excited how he’s doing at Churchill. We’re hoping that it is a fast early pace in the Derby because we know with his running style he’ll be making a run from off the pace.”

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Sunday’s 7:30-7:45 a.m. training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks saw only two participants: George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds’ $1 million Travers Stakes (G1) third-place finisher Max Player and Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Bonny South. Derby contender Max Player, ridden by Juan Vargas, galloped about 1 1/2 miles and Oaks contender Bonny South, ridden by Gustavo Abrego, galloped about the same distance. Max Player is scheduled to breeze on Monday.

Other Kentucky Derby contenders on the track Sunday included Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister’s $200,000 Ellis Park Derby runner-up, Attachment Rate, who worked a half-mile in :48.60 at 9 a.m. under exercise rider Faustino Herrarte. Attachment Rate is also nominated to the $500,000 Pat Day Mile (G2) on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

Lloyd Madison Farm’s $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) runner-up Major Fed returned to the track early Sunday morning following a scheduled walk day Saturday with a one-mile jog under exercise rider Margarito Fierro. Another Derby contender that returned to the track Sunday following a scheduled walk day was West Point Thoroughbreds and Pearl Racing’s $600,000 Arkansas Derby (G1) third-place finisher Winning Impression, who jogged one-mile with exercise rider Emerson Chavez in the saddle.

Following his speedy five-furlong move in :58.20 on Saturday, Victoria Ranch’s King Guillermo had a scheduled walk day along with fellow Derby contender Necker Island.

Bruce Lunsford’s recent Ellis Park Derby hero, Art Collector, is scheduled to arrive back to trainer Tommy Drury’s Churchill Downs base in the upcoming days and will have one local work prior to the Kentucky Derby.

Arrival information

Several Kentucky Derby contenders have yet to converge on Churchill Downs but are scheduled to arrive in the upcoming week. The following is the latest arrival information, according to Steve Hargrave, senior director of the stable area:

• Monday or Tuesday via van from Skylight Training Center to Churchill Downs: Art Collector (trainer Tommy Drury)

• Tuesday via flight from San Diego to Louisville: Rushie (Michael McCarthy)

• Aug. 30 via flight from New York to Louisville: Caracaro (Gustavo Delgado) and Ny Traffic (Saffie Joseph)

• Aug. 30 via van from Florida to Louisville: Sole Volante (Patrick Biancone)

• Aug. 31 via flight from San Diego to Louisville: Authentic (Bob Baffert), Honor A. P. (John Shirreffs), Storm the Court (Peter Eurton); and Thousand Words (Baffert)

Kentucky Derby 2020: Updates from Churchill Downs

2020 Kentucky Derby (G1)

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