Ky. Derby: Coal Battle, Admire Daytona work at Churchill

Coal Battle and Admire Daytona put in half-mile works for Kentucky Derby 151 over a fast track on a pretty Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

Working during the 7:15-7:30 a.m. EDT training window reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders, Coal Battle was the first to go, clocking a half-mile in 47.8 seconds under Bethany Taylor. Fractions were 12.4, 24.6, 47.8, and out five furlongs in 1:00.8.

Admire Daytona, with Yoshimitsu Miyashita aboard, worked in 53.20 seconds starting at the three-eighths pole, with splits of 13.0, 39.2, and 53.2.

Between those works, Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks hopeful La Cara turned in the fastest of 30 half-mile moves, going in 46.0 seconds with Kevin Donnis aboard for trainer Mark Casse. Fractions were 11.6, 22.6, 34.2, 46.0, and out five furlongs in 58.6 and three-quarters in 1:12.2.

“Going back to grade school when they gave out an A, B, C or D, I’d give her work an A+,” Casse said. “I thought it was a little quick, but she was in a good rhythm. We had the radios, but I just told him to let her go on. She did it effortlessly.”

Casse said the work would serve as he only pre-Oaks drill since winning the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland on April 7.

“We’ve got 10 days now (before the Oaks) and plenty of time (to recover).”

Here's an update on Wednesday's Kentucky Derby activity.

Admire Daytona. The UAE Derby (G2) winner had his first serious move over the Churchill Downs surface Tuesday morning, recording a half-mile in 53.2 seconds under exercise rider and assistant trainer Yoshimitsu Miyashita.

Admire Daytona warmed up in the one-mile chute for about 10 minutes, then walked clockwise to the finish line. After briefly standing at the wire, he jogged back to the chute, stood for about five minutes then began his work.

The son of Drefong started picking up his gallop at the half-mile pole and, from the three-furlong marker, worked through splits of 13.0 and 39.2.

“With only three weeks between races, we just prepped him the same way we did in Dubai,” Miyashita said. “We let him decide what he wanted to do over the four furlongs. He increased his speed a bit in the straight on his own, and really it was exactly like the kind of work he turned in prior to the UAE Derby. He has managed to maintain his pre-UAE Derby physical condition perfectly, so we just have to help him keep it until race day.”

American Promise. American Promise, with exercise rider Tayja Smith aboard, galloped about 1 1/4 miles at 6:15 a.m. as trainer D. Wayne Lukas observed from his pony on the backstretch.

The chestnut son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify drew an appreciative nod from Lukas as he walked the shedrow following training.

“He’s just growing into his frame,” Lukas said of the Virginia Derby winner. “He won’t be 3 until May 17.”

American Promise will be ridden in Derby 151 by Nik Juarez, who will make his Kentucky Derby debut. Juarez is scheduled to ride Thursday at Oaklawn and will travel to Louisville on Friday.

Built. Built galloped at 7:15 a.m. with trainer Wayne Catalano watching from the backstretch.

Burnham Square. Burnham Square, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (GI), galloped during the Derby-Oaks training window with Mark Cutler aboard for trainer Ian Wilkes.

Burnham Square is expected to work Saturday.

Chunk of Gold. The Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up galloped at Turfway Park under trainer Ethan West.

The son of Preservationist is scheduled to work Friday.

Citizen Bull, Rodriguez. Trainer Bob Baffert’s duo of Citizen Bull and Rodriguez are expected to arrive at Churchill Downs on Thursday.

Their flight is scheduled to land in Indianapolis at 1:30 p.m.

Coal Battle. Coal Battle breezed a half-mile in 47.8 seconds during the Derby-Oaks training window under Bethany Taylor. Fractions were :12.4, 24.6, 47.8 and out five furlongs in 1:00.8. The time was the third fastest of 30 at the distance.

“I was thrilled with it. He keeps getting better every time he goes out there,” Taylor said after Coal Battle’s third local work. “He is improving every time.”

Trainer Lonnie Briley, who watched alongside jockey Juan Vargas, was pleased with the move.

“It was good and he came back like he hadn’t done anything, not even taking a drink of water,” Briley said.

Briley plans a three-eighths blowout next week.

“Four or five days before a race, I like to give them a three-eighths blowout to put some air in their lungs,” he said.

East Avenue. East Avenue, runner-up in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), trained earlier than usual Tuesday at 5:15 a.m., galloping about 1 1/2 miles under Stephen Dolan with trainer Brendan Walsh watching from his stable pony.

Final Gambit, Tappan Street. Things are picking up in trainer Brad Cox’s barn 22 at Churchill Downs.

Final Gambit and Tappan Street galloped Tuesday with notable visitors observing.

Elliott Walden, president of Tappan Street co-owner WinStar Farm was on hand alongside Cox. Also watching was Final Gambit’s jockey Luan Machado, joined by his agent Cory Prewitt.

Flying Mohawk. Flying Mohawk galloped at 7:15 a.m. under Maurilio Garcia.

Grande. Grande is scheduled to breeze Friday at Keeneland then ship to Churchill Downs later that day.

Journalism. Journalism, the anticipated favorite for Kentucky Derby 151, was en route to Churchill Downs from Southern California on Tuesday.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism was flying into Indianapolis, followed by a van ride to Louisville with a mid-afternoon arrival expected.

Luxor Cafe. Luxor Café was undergoing a 42-hour USDA quarantine in Chicago after his arrival from Japan on Monday.

He is tentatively scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Wednesday evening.

Owen Almighty. Owen Almighty jogged 1 ½ miles at 7:15 a.m. under Antonio Orellana for trainer Brian Lynch.

Owen Almighty is scheduled to work Friday.

Publisher, Tiztastic. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s duo of Publisher and Tiztastic trained Tuesday at 7:15 a.m.

Sandman. Sandman galloped 1 1/2 miles at 7:15 a.m. with Froylan Garcia aboard.

Trainer Mark Casse said the Arkansas Derby winner is scheduled to work Wednesday morning.

Sovereignty. Sovereignty galloped under Guesler Cardona during the 7:15-7:30 a.m. training window reserved for Derby and Oaks hopefuls.