Ky. Derby 2023: At Churchill, connections plan next works

Two weeks remain until Kentucky Derby 2023 and it was a quiet Saturday morning at Churchill Downs where only four Kentucky Derby contenders trained during the special 15-minute period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders from 7:30-7:45 a.m. EDT.

Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up Disarm and Holy Bull (G3) winner Rocket Can galloped about 1 1/2 miles at 7:30 a.m. while Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Angel of Empire and Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Hit Show jogged about one mile.

The quiet Saturday morning was the opposite of last year on this day when eight Derby and Oaks contenders recorded published workouts. However, five Kentucky Derby contenders recorded published workouts Friday: Angel of Empire (six furlongs, 1:13.4); Forte (five furlongs, 1:02.0); Hit Show (five furlongs, 1:01.0); Tapit Trice (four furlongs, 48.6 seconds) and Verifying (five furlongs, 1:01.0).

Rocket Can, trained by Bill Mott, is scheduled to breeze Sunday while the next workouts for Rebel (G2) winner Confidence Game and Blue Grass (G1) fourth-place finisher Sun Thunder are still to be determined, according to their respective connections.

Sunland Park Derby winner Wild On Ice had an easy day in Barn 43 for trainer Joel Marr following his two-mile gallop Friday. Marr said Wild On Ice could work again Thursday or Friday.

UAE Derby (G2) winner Derma Sotogake (JPN) and third-place finisher Continuar (JPN) had a regular training day Saturday. Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby representative Kate Hunter stated Friday on Inside Churchill Downs that the duo could record published workouts early next week.