Kentucky Derby, Oaks: Hopefuls begin having final works

Ten hopefuls for next Friday’s 149th running of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks took center stage Thursday morning at Churchill Downs.

Leading the charge was probable morning-line favorite Wet Paint who worked five furlongs in company with stablemate and Oaks hopeful The Alys Look in 1:01.0 for trainer Brad Cox.

Also working for Cox was Botanical, who breezed five furlongs in 1:00.6 in company with Flashy Gem.

Four-time Oaks-winning trainer Todd Pletcher worked Gambling Girl and Julia Shining a half-mile together, with Gambling Girl being clocked in 50.0 seconds and Julia Shining in 49.6.

Pretty Mischievous worked a half-mile in company with Gilmore in 47.8 seconds for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Southlawn worked a half-mile in 48.8 seconds for trainer Norm Casse.

Wonder Wheel worked a half-mile in 47.2 seconds for trainer Mark Casse.

Flying Connection worked five furlongs in company with Olivia Twist in 1:00.6 for trainer Todd Fincher.

Hoosier Philly worked a half-mile in 48.4 for trainer Tom Amoss.

At Keeneland, Affirmative Lady worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 for trainer Graham Motion.

Two Kentucky Derby hopefuls worked away from Churchill Downs Thursday morning.

Two Phil’s worked at Hawthorne going five furlongs in 59.0 seconds with jockey Jareth Loveberry aboard for trainer Larry Rivelli.

At Keeneland, Raise Cain worked a half-mile in 49.0 seconds at Keeneland with Gerardo Corrales aboard for trainer Ben Colebrook.

Angel of Empire, Hit Show, Jace's Road Verifying. It was a regular training day for Angel of Empire, Hit Show, Jace’s Road and Verifying, who all galloped 1 1/2 miles ahead of their Saturday morning works.

“We’re still keeping an eye on the weather as to what time we’ll work Saturday,” trainer Brad Cox said.

Confidence Game. Confidence Game walked the shedrow Thursday.

“They all walk Thursdays and Sundays,” said Julie Clark, assistant trainer to Keith Desormeaux. “He’s doing good. He went two miles Tuesday. Jogged yesterday and walked today. We think he is going to gallop tomorrow and have his last breeze Saturday.”

The plan is to go out with the other Derby entries at 7:30 a.m. EDT, entering at gap three. Regular rider Alex Cano will be on board.

“I usually take him back up to the chute first,” Cano said. “We’ll stand before galloping all the way around and then pull up by the kitchen and come back.”

Continuar. The Japan-bred colt walked the shedrow in the Quarantine Barn after working a half-mile in 50.0 seconds on Wednesday.

Derma Sotogake. The other Japan-bred Derby contender walked the shedrow in the quarantine barn after working five furlongs in 1:01.4 Wednesday.

Disarm. Disarm had an easy 1 3/8-mile gallop at 7:30 a.m. with exercise rider Roberto Howell in the irons.

The Steve Asmussen-trained colt is scheduled to work Monday.

Forte, Kingsbarns, Major Dude, Tapit Trice. The Todd Pletcher trio of Forte, Tapit Trice and undefeated Kingsbarns visited the starting gate and then galloped about 1 3/8 miles.

Hector Ramos was aboard Forte, Amelia Green was on Tapit Trice and Elder Flores was on Kingsbarns.

Pletcher has Irad Ortiz Jr. signed on to ride Forte in Derby 149 and Luis Saez to pilot Tapit Trice. Jose Ortiz will work Kingsbarns on Saturday morning, but the riding assignment for the Derby has not been finalized.

Mage. The lightly raced Good Magic colt had another gallop Thursday morning.

“He galloped a mile-and-a-half again today, but he did it at a higher tempo than he did yesterday,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., assistant trainer to his father, Gustavo Delgado.

“The way my father trains, he tries to build on each race,” Delgado Jr. said. “He’s showing improvement every time he goes out. He’s switching leads perfectly. His exercise rider said he couldn’t be happier with him.”

Regular exercise rider J.J. Delgado was aboard, and he’s expected to ride him in his final timed workout. Gustavo Delgado said the team is expecting to breeze Mage on Saturday morning. His Derby rider, Javier Castellano, was to arrive in Louisville Thursday.

Raise Cain. The Gotham (G3) winner Raise Cain worked in company a half-mile in 49.0 seconds at Keeneland with Gerardo Corrales aboard for trainer Ben Colebrook.

“Very good work … well within himself,” Colebrook said of Raise Cain, who finished fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) in his most recent start.

Raise Cain galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.8.

No rider has been confirmed for Raise Cain, who is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Monday morning after training at Keeneland.

Rocket Can. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott again sent the colt out for a gallop with regular exercise rider Guelser Cardona aboard. A final breeze ahead of the Derby is still planned for this weekend.

“He galloped again today,” said Mott, who noted that he’ll continue to get paddock schooling in the days ahead. “He was in the paddock twice yesterday, once under tack and one time after training. And he’s going to go back today.”

Skinner. Santa Anita Derby (GI) third-place finisher Skinner is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs Saturday. Trainer John Shirreffs reported Juan Hernandez will pick up the mount in the Kentucky Derby. Skinner became eligible for the field after an injury to Wild On Ice, who was euthanized Thursday.

Sun Thunder. Sun Thunder walked the shedrow, a day after breezing a half-mile in 48.6 seconds with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.

Greg Geier, assistant to trainer Kenny McPeek, said the fourth-place finisher in the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) at Keeneland exited his workout in good shape. “He’s fine this morning,” he said.

Two Phil's. Trainer Larry Rivelli was on hand at Hawthorne Race Course to watch Two Phil’s breeze for the final time ahead of his run in the Derby. Going five furlongs Thursday morning, the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner posted a bullet going 59.0 seconds.

“He chased a pretty fast horse (stablemate Smokin Richie), and effortlessly ran by him,” Rivelli said. “He galloped out three-quarters in 1:12. He couldn’t blow out a match after. The last two works were almost identically the same, but I changed it up a bit by putting him back in company. I haven’t wanted to work him every seven days because he’s been racing frequently and he’s fit. I just want to have him focused in on what he likes to do, which is sit behind a horse and idle off until you ask him and then make his move when it’s time. And he’s done that in both works. The track was in great shape today. It’s all systems go, and I couldn’t be happier with how he’s going into the race.”

Regular jockey Jareth Loveberry flew to Hawthorne for the drill then headed back to Kentucky to ride his Thursday mounts at Keeneland.

Rivelli will bring Two Phil’s to Churchill Downs on Sunday night and plans to have him on the track at 7:30 a.m. Monday.

On the waiting list

Cyclone Mischief, No. 21 in the standings, galloped about 1 1/2 miles with rider Faustino Herrarte in the irons. After training, Cyclone Mischief schooled in the Churchill Downs paddock. Trainer Dale Romans stated a rider has not yet been confirmed for the Kentucky Derby should he get into the race.

Major Dude, No. 22, visited the starting gate and then galloped 1 3/8 miles under Joel Osorio for trainer Todd Pletcher and is scheduled to work Saturday.

Mandarin Hero, No. 23, was en route to Churchill Downs Thursday from Santa Anita, where he worked five furlongs in 1:04.6 Wednesday. Runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his U.S. debut, Mandarin Hero is trained by Terunobu Fujita.