Kentucky Derby, Oaks hopefuls work at Churchill Downs

On a gorgeous Thursday morning at Churchill Downs, trainer Bill Mott’s barn was bustling with activity as Grade 2 Wood Memorial winner Resilience and Ashland (G1) runner-up Just F Y I retuned to the work tab to continue their preparations for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1), respectively.

Resilience breezed four furlongs in 50.2 seconds, and Just F Y I went the same distance in 50.0 seconds.

The accomplished duo began their work together at 7:30 a.m. EDT after galloping about one mile. Just F Y I worked to the outside of Resilience and began one length behind. By the quarter-pole, Just F Y I moved about a length in front of Resilience but, by the wire, the duo finished together. Resilience finished his five-furlong gallop out in 1:02.80, and Just F Y I completed five furlongs in 1:03.40, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“I thought (Resilience) had a great trip in the Wood Memorial,” Mott said. “I thought Johnny (Velazquez) rode him great. He might have gotten a little jammed up on the first turn but got clear down the backside. When he asked him, he responded and he finished up well. The best part is he looked good visually.

“The entire family of this horse has been very accomplished on the racetrack. Part of the family is Courageous Cat, who I trained for a Grade I win (in the Shoemaker Mile). The owners have been in the breeding business a long time and Resilience is just the result of their program.”

Resilience was bred in Kentucky by Pam and the late Marty Wygod, the parents of Bushnell. This would be the first starter in the Kentucky Derby for the Wyogod family and for Resilience co-owner Ric Waldman, a longtime partner of the Wygods.

Fantasy Stakes (G3) third-place finisher and Kentucky Oaks hopeful Tapit Jenallie made her first appearance working at Churchill Downs on Thursday when she and jockey Rafael Bejarano flew five furlongs in 58.4 seconds, the fastest of 19 works at the distance.

Trained by Eddie Milligan Jr., Tapit Jenallie blitzed an opening quarter-mile in 22.8 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in a solid 1:11.80, according to Churchill Downs clocker Adam Wallace.

The speedy homebred daughter of Tapit was based this winter at Oaklawn, where she finished fourth in the Martha Washington and second in the Honeybee (G3) before her third-place finish in the March 30 Fantasy.

Milligan’s Kentucky base is at Churchill Downs’ Trackside Louisville, about three miles from the main track. But Tapit Jenallie will remain at Churchill Downs, borrowing a stall in trainer Bret Calhoun’s barn.

Also Thursday, Epic Ride, who is at no. 23 on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard worked four furlongs in 48.2 seconds at The Thoroughbred Center. It was the second fastest of nine works at the distance. It was his first work since his last race, when he was third in the Blue Grass (G1) for trainer John Ennis.