Kentucky Derby: Check out Saturday's final workouts

On a picture-perfect Saturday morning at Churchill Downs, Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes winner Sierra Leone headlined a list of nine hopefuls who put in their works for the Kentucky Derby 2024.

Working in company with stablemate Domestic Product, the duo breezed five furlongs in 1:00.2. Splits for the duo were 13.0, 24.8, 36.4 and galloped out in 1:13.2 and 1:26.2.

Also working Saturday morning over a fast track were Catching Freedom and Encino going five furlongs together in 59.2 seconds; Dornoch and Society Man, four furlongs together in 46.6; Just a Touch, five furlongs in 1:00.8; West Saratoga, three furlongs in 37.2; and Mystik Dan, five furlongs in 1:01.2.

Two of Brad Cox's Kentucky Derby contenders, Louisiana Derby (G1) winner Catching Freedom and Lexington (G3) winner Encino, worked together Saturday morning as well. After the work, Encino was confirmed to be going to the Kentucky Derby.

Dornoch and Society Man, both trained by Danny Gargan, also worked in company Saturday morning. The pair was clocked at 46.6 seconds for a four-furlong drill.

Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Stronghold, Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Catalytic and Ashland (G1) runner-up Just F Y I. Possible to breeze are Wood Memorial (G2) winner Resilience and Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Just Steel are scheduled to work Sunday morning.

Post positions for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks will be drawn Saturday at 7:15 p.m. EDT.

Catalytic

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was preparing Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George Isaacs’ Catalytic for a planned Sunday work. On Saturday, the Florida Derby (G1) runner-up was out with exercise rider Olaf Hernández during the designated training time for Oaks and Derby horses.

“He’s doing well,” said Joseph, who plans to keep a string of horses stabled at Churchill for the entire meet. “He had a nice gallop today, about a mile-and-a-half again. I thought he got over the track well.”

Catalytic is scheduled to work Sunday during the designated training period for Oaks and Derby horses that starts around 7:30 a.m. EDT.

Catching Freedom, Encino, Just a Touch

“Let’s go to work.”

That was the statement Brad Cox said when he arrived at Barn 22 early Saturday morning before his trio of Kentucky Derby contenders, including Catching Freedom who went five furlongs in 59.2 seconds, Encino five furlongs in 59.2 and Just a Touch five furlongs in 1:00.8, had their final works prior to the run for the roses.

At 5:15 a.m. EDT, Albaugh Family Stables’ Catching Freedom worked to the inside of Godolphin’s Encino. The duo went an opening quarter-mile in 23.8 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.0.

During the 7:30-7:45 a.m. EDT exclusive training window for Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders, Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing and Marc Detampel’s Just a Touch breezed five furlongs in 1:00.8.

“Solid morning overall,” said jockey Florent Géroux, who worked both Encino and Just a Touch. “I thought both horses worked well. Encino seems to have bounced out of the Lexington in good shape and was solid. Just a Touch was very easy. He did everything on his own.”

Géroux is set to ride Just a Touch while 2023 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice rider Axel Concepción, represented by Cox’s son Bryson, will ride Encino.

“All three had good, solid moves this morning,” Cox said. “I liked the breeze this morning for Encino, and that was really the thing we were looking for as far as making the decision to enter the Derby. His work went great. We did a little more with him this morning than we normally would back in two weeks. He responded well, and so did Catching Freedom.

“I thought Just a Touch went pretty working a minute and change and galloped out in hand.”

All three Derby contenders are scheduled to have an easy Sunday morning and walk the shed row.

Domestic Product, Sierra Leone

Call it trainer-speak, but Chad Brown was definitive in his belief that what he saw from his two Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders Saturday morning was just the eyeful he was looking for one week out from the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Heading up a busy work tab morning under ideal weather conditions, the Brown-trained duo of Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook Smith’s Sierra Leone and Klaravich Stables’ homebred Domestic Product put in their final major piece of work ahead of the 1 1/4-mile classic on May 4. Working in company with Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Sierra Leone inside, the duo drilled five furlongs in 1:00.2 over the fast main track.

With Kriss Bon in the irons for Sierra Leone and Tyler Gaffalione up on Domestic Product, the duo notched splits of 13.0, 24.8, 36.4 and galloped out in 1:13.2 and 1:26.2. Gaffalione is set to be aboard Sierra Leone on Derby Day but has ridden Domestic Product in the past and was filling in for Irad Ortiz Jr., who had to be in New York.

“Just that,” Brown said when asked what he wanted to see from his Derby duo. “It was executed perfectly. I wanted them to a good five-eighths out in three-quarters but well within themselves. (Sierra Leone) is super fit, and it was just an outstanding work. I’m just trying to get him in there happy and sound.

“He’s a very rare horse. He’s just everything you want as a trainer.”

Touting himself in the morning hours is nothing new for Sierra Leone as he posted a similarly impressive four-furlong breeze at Keeneland last Saturday. With the last breeze now in the books, Brown can focus on getting the horse who may arguably be his best Kentucky Derby contender yet over to the starting gate in the best condition possible.

“We’re just really trying to stay out of his way. Me and my team, we’ve been managing this horse and just trying to allow him to be who he was meant to be,” said Brown, who best finish in the Kentucky Derby came when he second with Eclipse Award winner Good Magic in 2018. “Don’t do anything to prevent him from getting there really. He has a tremendous amount of power and endurance. He might not be the fastest horse early in his races, but once he gets moving, it does seem like his stride is probably two to the horses next to him.

Brown added that Sierra Leone, who was fractious while loading for the Blue Grass (G1), has had two gate-schooling sessions at Churchill.

“He’s visited the gate twice this week and did really well. There is no need to take him back,” Brown said.

Domestic Product is one Brown said has been “glowing” since he arrived at Churchill Downs. The winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 9 continued that trend with the way he handled the final workout.

“With these two horses, I feel as confident that I’ll have good runs in the Derby if they can get clear trips,” Brown said.

Dornoch, Society Man

Danny Gargan-trained Dornoch and Society Man have been workmates for each other throughout their careers. Hence, it was fitting the two pushed each other through the last major breeze ahead of the biggest race of their young lives.

Dornoch, owned by West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables, and stablemate Society Man were once again in company as they put in a half-mile move in 46.6 seconds during the 7:30-7:45 a.m. EDT training period at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

With Dornoch situated on the inside, the two posted splits of 11.6, 23.2, and 34.6 seconds before galloping out in 59.0 and 1:12.6.

“The track is playing super fast right now,” Gargan said. “We thought we’d go in 47 and change, I got them 46 and 4. They went out nice though, and … that’s kind of the work for everybody. They’re all going around the same time. We wanted to go a little bit slower, but they looked good doing it, they were in hand, (and) no one was asking them. We’re just hoping they come back good, everything looks good, and they’re cooling out good.”

Society Man, who is owned by the partnership of Reeves Thoroughbreds, West Paces, GMP Stables and Carl and Yurie Pascarella, has been friendly company for his multiple graded-stakes-winning stablemate since their juvenile seasons with Gargan saying the Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up is one of the few horses he has that can hang with Dornoch.

“They’ve worked together even as 2-year-olds,” Gargan said. “They’ve breezed together multiple times. I couldn’t even tell you how many times. They worked twice before the Remsen together, and they’ve worked twice here now together. They worked in Saratoga together as babies, so they’re definitely familiar with each other.”

Endlessly

Trainer Michael McCarthy was asked if the conversation had taken place.

“It’s been done,” the conditioner said. “We’ll be running in the Derby.”

The Oscar Performance colt had drilled a half-mile in 47.8 seconds Friday morning, and the trainer had called owner John Amerman not long after to discuss the next step for his multiple-stakes winner.

The bay was a winner of 5 of 6 starts, none of them on dirt. In light of that, the conditioner gently encouraged his boss to consider staying on the sure road and entering Endlessly in the $600,000 American Turf (G2) next Saturday.

But Derby fever is hard to cure, and owner-breeder Amerman and his wife Jerry opted to take their big shot at America’s biggest race.

So it will be a first-timers special for the connections around the bay. Owner, trainer and jockey Umberto Rispoli will all be experiencing their first go-round in the $5 million headliner.

Fierceness

The likely Derby favorite, Repole Stable’s Fierceness had a quiet walk morning Saturday at Churchill Downs following his 48.8 seconds final prep Friday for the run for the roses.

“He looked super this morning,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of his Florida Derby (G1) winner. “We’re all good.”

The trainer has lined-up Hall of Famer John Velázquez to be at the controls for 2023’s 2-year-old male champion. Racing fans with a recall for recent history might remember a similar scenario in 2017. Pletcher won the Florida Derby with Always Dreaming and then gave Velazquez a leg up on the colt in the Kentucky Derby. They met next in the winner’s circle.

Forever Young

Susumu Fujita’s Forever Young warmed up in the mile chute during the morning’s first harrow break and then galloped at a two-minute-mile clip under Yusaku Oka.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi is scheduled to arrive in Louisville, Ky., on Tuesday night. Fujita is scheduled to arrive Friday.

Grand Mo the First

Granpollo Stables’ Grand Mo the First made his first appearance on the track Saturday morning for trainer Víctor Barboza Jr., jogging a mile under exercise rider Amel Macias.

Grand Mo the First walked around in the grass behind barn 41 before going to the track at 6:45 a.m. EDT when equine traffic thinned before the first harrow break of the morning. Barboza said the colt would train at the same time during the coming week.

Grand Mo the First worked six furlongs in 1:16.46 at Gulfstream Park on Tuesday. That will serve as his final pre-Derby work.

“No works here, but he will go to the paddock and gate one or two times,” said Barboza, who won an allowance race last year at Churchill Downs on Derby day with Petulante.

Third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and Florida Derby (G1) in his past two starts, Grand Mo the First will be ridden in the Derby by Emisael Jaramillo.

Barboza was eager Saturday morning to see what this evening’s post-position draw would bring.

“The draw is very important,” Barboza said. “I don’t want to be inside where a lot of horses could come over on you. I’d prefer the middle to the outside, say from the 12 to the 18.”

Honor Marie

Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up Honor Marie went back to the track Saturday for the first time since his sharp five-furlong drill in 59.2 seconds Thursday.

“He came out of the work great,” trainer Whit Beckman said. “I was very happy when I got back to the barn from the work, because he looked like he didn’t do much at all.”

Honor Marie jogged about a mile under regular exercise rider Maurílio García.

Just Steel

BC Stable’s Just Steel, runner-up in the Arkansas Derby (G1) in his most recent outing, galloped during the special 7:30-7:45 a.m. EDT training period with trainer D. Wayne Lukas looking on.

“The next couple days I might do something with him,” Lukas said regarding when Just Steel might have his final pre-Derby breeze.

Mystik Dan

Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing and Daniel Hamby III’s Mystik Dan put in his final major tune-up Saturday for the Derby for trainer Kenny McPeek. He was timed for the five furlongs at 1:01.2 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., finishing up in 1:14.4.

“It was pretty basic stuff out there,” McPeek said. “For me he worked fast enough last weekend. He didn’t need a whole lot. I told Brian to go a minute and change, and that I didn’t want him to go 59. He went in 1:01, which is fine, and he had a nice gallop-out. He’ll gate school, paddock school and have regular gallops all week.”

Mystik Dan, the winner of the Southwest (G3) and most recently third in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn, will have Hernandez aboard in the Derby.

Traffic problems may have cost him an even better finish in the Arkansas Derby.

“He could have had a cleaner trip. He got turned sideways on the first turn, and I think it cost him some ground,” McPeek said. “But he ran well enough to get him some points to get in. He likes it here. This is his home track. He almost got the track record for 5 1/2 (furlongs) on a dry track. We’re pretty optimistic, whether it’s rain or shine.”

Resilience

Similar to Friday, Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman’s Wood Memorial (G2) winner Resilience galloped during the 7:30-7:45 a.m. EDT training session Saturday after taking a trip through the new Churchill Downs paddock. Trainer Bill Mott said his intention is to work Resilience on Sunday.

Stronghold

The Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Stronghold again trained during the special 7:30-7:45 a.m. EDT Oaks-Derby session Saturday at Churchill Downs. The Ghostzapper colt galloped strongly for exercise rider Sherri Alexander, covering about a 1 1/2 miles on a fast track during a warm morning.

Trainer Phil D’Amato looked on from the clocker’s stand on the backside and said he liked what he saw.

“He seems like he’s full of energy,” the conditioner said, “and that what you like to see. I’m very happy with how he’s coming up to this.”

D’Amato has scheduled Stronghold’s final prep for the $5 million Derby for Sunday during the training period for Oaks and Derby runners. He’s signed on local rider Joe Talamo to be aboard for a work of “probably five furlongs.”

Stronghold’s Derby date means it will be another case of owners Eric and Sharon Waller, trainer D’Amato and jockey Antonio Fresu getting their first go-round in the Kentucky Derby.

T O Password

Tomoya Ozasa’s Japan-bred T O Password left the quarantine barn at 5:45 a.m. EDT on Saturday for his first activity at Churchill Downs since arriving early Friday from Chicago, where he was in quarantine.

With training assistant Yuichi Tomomichi aboard, T O Password and stablemate T O Saint Denis warmed up for about a half-hour in the mile chute and then galloped a mile before returning to the chute to cool down. T O Saint Denis is a candidate for Friday’s $750,000 Alysheba (G2).

Trainer Daisuke Takayanagi is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Monday afternoon. Breeder Bokujo Yanagawa arrives Friday and will represent the owner.

Kazushi Kimura, who has the Derby mount, is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Monday.

Track Phantom

L and N Racing, Clark Brewster, Jerry Caroom and Breeze Easy’s Track Phantom had another routine 1 1/2-mile gallop Saturday around 5:45 a.m. EDT under exercise rider Roberto Howell.

The Steve Asmussen trainee is scheduled to school in both the paddock and starting gate prior to the Derby.

West Saratoga

With Veruchi and trainer Larry Demeritte looking on from the frontside, West Saratoga clocked an initial eighth at 11.8 seconds and galloped out a half-mile in 50.2 seconds.

“He was good this morning and handled the track well,” said Castañón, who waited to work until six other Derby and two Oaks hopefuls had completed their breezes. “He has handled every track that I have been on him. ... Tampa, Turfway, Keeneland and here.”

Demeritte only got to see the last part of the work.

“By the time we got to the frontside, I just got to see the stretch,” Demeritte said. “I liked the gallop-out. I was hoping for 36 (seconds), but he had strong gallop out.”

Demeritte said West Saratoga would walk Sunday and then gallop up to the race with paddock schooling slated for Monday and a gate visit for Tuesday.

After the work, West Saratoga was a handful after getting a bath.

“He likes to show off for the cameras,” Demeritte said. “If he’s happy, I’m happy.”

West Saratoga is named for the street in Littleton, Colo., where Veruchi grew up.

“It is six blocks from the old Centennial racetrack, which closed in 1983,” said Veruchi, who is in Louisville through the Derby.

Also-eligibles

Welch Racing’s Epic Ride galloped a mile under Sophie Doyle for trainer John Ennis.

Epic Ride arrived at Churchill Downs at 8 p.m. EDT on Friday from The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, where he worked a half-mile in 51.2 seconds that morning.

Epic Ride will need one defection from the anticipated Derby field to make the main field.

“We are going to go to the paddock maybe Wednesday and the gate Thursday,” Ennis said. “If we get in, we get in. If we don’t, after scratch time Friday, we will go back to Lexington. I’m not sure (where he may run next) if he does not get in the Derby.”

Average Joe Racing Stables and Dan Wells’ Mugatu galloped at a two-minute lick under Joe Talamo at 9 a.m. EDT on Saturday for trainer Jeff Engler.

Mugatu arrived at Churchill Downs at 5 p.m. EDT on Friday from Belterra Park.

“We moved to Belterra from Turfway so he could train on the dirt,” Engler said. “If he doesn’t get in the Derby, he would probably work here and then ship Saturday or Sunday for the Peter Pan.”

The 1 1/8-mile, $200,000 Peter Pan (G3) will be run May 11 at Aqueduct.

Workout digest

Catching Freedom (Constitution), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Louisiana Derby), worked five furlongs in 59.2 seconds at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the second fastest of 58 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he won the Louisiana Derby (G2) going 1 3/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on March 23 for trainer Brad Cox.

Domestic Product (Practical Joke), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Tampa Bay Derby), worked five furlongs in 1:00.2 at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the 15th fastest of 58 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start he placed second in the Holy Bull (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 3 for trainer Chad Brown.

Dornoch (Good Magic), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2024 Fountain of Youth, 2023 Remsen), worked four furlongs in 46.6 seconds at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the second fastest of 130 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he placed fourth in the Blue Grass (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Keeneland on April 6 for trainer Danny Gargan.

Encino (Nyquist), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Lexington), worked five furlongs in 59.2 seconds at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the second fastest of 58 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Lexington (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Keeneland on April 13 for trainer Brad Cox.

Just a Touch (Justify) worked five furlongs in 1:00.8 at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the 26th fastest of 58 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he placed second in the Blue Grass (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Keeneland on April 6 for trainer Brad Cox.

Mystik Dan (Goldencents), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Southwest), worked five furlongs in 1:01.2 at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the 35th fastest of 58 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he placed third in the Arkansas Derby (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on March 30 for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Blue Grass), worked five furlongs in 1:00.2 at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the 15th fastest of 58 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Keeneland. In his last start he won the Blue Grass (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Keeneland on April 6 for trainer Chad Brown.

Society Man (Good Magic) worked four furlongs in 46.6 seconds at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the second fastest of 130 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he placed second in the Wood Memorial (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on April 6 for trainer Danny Gargan.

West Saratoga (Exaggerator), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Iroquois), worked three furlongs in 37.2 seconds at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 27 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going six furlongs at Keeneland. In his last start he placed second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic at Turfway Park on March 23 for trainer Larry Demeritte.