Long Range Toddy ‘better’ in final Kentucky Derby 2019 work

With these the best horses of their generations coming up on the biggest race of their careers, we’re often inundated by praise for 2019 Kentucky Derby contenders’ workouts. But there are exceptions, with one of them Long Range Toddy.

Whereas he was said to have looked dull two breezes back, the Steve Asmussen-trained son of Take Charge Indy put himself back in the conversation Monday morning by going a half mile in 47.80 seconds.

“Long Range Toddy last time was OK,” said Churchill Downs analyst Joe Kristufek. “I thought this was a little better. This has always been one of those horses where I’ve been in between whether or not I like him, I don’t like him, or somewhere stuck in the middle.”

And that’s understandable given the Willis Horton Racing homebred’s resume. Long Range Toddy showed a major turn of foot to track down Improbable and win the first division of Oaklawn Park’s Rebel Stakes (G2). But in his last start, Long Range Toddy missed the board going over the slop in the Arkansas Derby (G1).

“You can see a good lead change. Ears are up,” said clocker Brandon Stauble. “…I’m sure that’s picture perfect for Mr. Steve.”

Long Range Toddy started with even splits of 12.60, 24.20 and 35.80 before galloping out a fifth furlong in 1:01.20.

“Jon gave him such a dream trip in the Rebel," Asmussen said of Jon Court, who's on the verge of becoming the Derby's oldest rider at 58. "Hopefully, we can recapture some of that magic Saturday. Hopefully, we’ll have a fast track like we had (Monday) morning.

"He worked beautifully this morning. At this time of the year, the 3-year-olds have to step up. He stepped up big time in the Rebel and hopefully can continue to improve. He’ll need to put up the race of a lifetime in the Derby.”