Ky. Derby works: Chief Wallabee drills with blinkers again

Chief Wallabee, outfitted with blinkers for the second time and with jockey Junior Alvarado aboard, worked five furlongs in company in 1:00.0 on a crisp Monday morning at Churchill Downs ahead of next week's Kentucky Derby 2026.

Working during the special training period for Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses from 7:15 to 7:30 a.m. EDT with recent maiden winner Gilded Bandit, Chief Wallabee produced fractions of 24.8, 36.6, 48.2 and 1:00 while galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 and seven-eighths in 1:26.60.

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Albus, Incredibolt. Albus galloped a mile under exercise rider Antonio Garcia at 7:15 for trainer Riley Mott.

“It was his first day back (after working a half-mile in :49 on Saturday),” Mott said of the Grade 2 Wood Memorial winner.

Before Albus went to the track, Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt arrived at Churchill Downs at 6:15 from Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida.

Chief Wallabee. “It was a good work,” jockey Junior Alvarado said. “We added blinkers to see how he would handle them, and he was very focused. He had a strong gallop out and did everything we wanted to.”

Trainer Bill Mott, seeking to become the first trainer since Bob Baffert in 1997-98 to win the Derby in consecutive years, also was happy with the work from Chief Wallabee, who was third in the Florida Derby (GI) in his most recent start.

“I thought it was very good, he finished really well and galloped out strong,” said Mott, who saddled Horse of the Year Sovereignty to victory in last year's Kentucky Derby. “He’s an inexperienced horse (with three starts), and we put the blinkers on to give him a little something to help him focus.”

Sovereignty, who was scheduled to ship in to the Mott barn at Churchill on Monday after his runner-up finish in Saturday’s Oaklawn Handicap (G2), had two works at the Louisville track last spring before his Derby victory. Mott plans a similar path for Chief Wallabee, with a final work coming next Sunday or Monday, depending on weather.

Commandment, Fulleffort, Further Ado. Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Commandment, Fulleffort and Further Ado all galloped early Monday morning.

Commandment, with assistant trainer and exercise rider Katie Tolbert aboard, jogged one mile and galloped one mile, and stablemates Fulleffort and Further Ado each galloped about 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Edvin Vargas.

Cox was at Keeneland on Monday and will return to Churchill Downs Tuesday.

Emerging Market. Undefeated Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Emerging Market arrived at Churchill Downs at 5 a.m. with a string of trainer Chad Brown’s horses from Payson Park Training Center in South Florida.

Right to Party. Trainer Kenny McPeek’s Kentucky Derby hopeful, Right to Party, jogged Monday morning with exercise rider Robby Albarado aboard. It was Right to Party’s first time returning to the track since working five furlongs in 1:00.80 Saturday morning.

Silent Tactic. Silent Tactic, runner-up in the Arkansas Derby (G1) in his most recent start, jogged two miles in the mile chute shortly after the track opened for training at 5:15. Dass Garcia was aboard.

“It’s a lot quieter back in the chute,” said Allen Hardy, assistant to trainer Mark Casse. “He will train early tomorrow and Mark will be here Wednesday morning, and we will probably go during the Derby training period.”

Stark Contrast. Stark Contrast jogged at 5:30 with exercise rider Christian Garcia aboard for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Wonder Dean. Wonder Dean, jogged in the chute, jogged about one mile on the main track and schooled in the starting gate Monday morning.

His countrymate from Japan and fellow Kentucky Derby contender, Danon Bourbon, was on a flight Monday to Chicago and was scheduled to undergo 42 hours of quarantine prior to arriving at Churchill Downs.

Also-eligibles. Trainer Steve Asmussen’s Kentucky Derby hopeful Chip Honcho jogged at 7:15 a.m. with exercise rider Roberto Howell aboard and was accompanied by Asmussen’s chief assistant Scott Blasi on the pony. The colt needs one defection to make the field for the Kentucky Derby.