Speed King continues working for next Kentucky Derby prep
Speed King returned to the work tab Saturday morning at Oaklawn, his first serious move since winning the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest Stakes for 3-year-olds Jan. 25.
Breezing over a fast surface just after the track opened for training, Speed King covered five furlongs in 1:04.0 under regular rider Rafael Bejarano. Clockers caught the gray son of Volatile in 38.6 seconds for his opening three furlongs and galloping out six furlongs in 1:17.0 and seven furlongs in 1:30.6.
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“Just a maintenance five-eighths,” trainer Ron Moquett said. “It was supposed to be nice and smooth. Just trying to let him stretch his legs a little bit. He’ll have a more serious work next week, and then that’ll tell us whether we’re going to the Rebel (G2) or we’re going to do something different.”
Speed King, who is owned by Ted Bowman of Hot Springs, Ark., is second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 25 points. Speed King collected 20 points for a gate-to-wire, one-length victory over Sandman in the 1 1/16-miles Southwest, Oaklawn’s second of four Kentucky Derby qualifying races. The four-race series ends with the $1.25 million Rebel at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 22 and the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles March 29.
“We’re leaning towards the Rebel,” Moquett said. “But obviously our first priority is making sure we do right to try to win the Derby, if we can.”
Sandman was scheduled Sunday morning to have his first workout since the Southwest, said Caden Arthur, who oversees dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse’s Oaklawn division. Sandman is being pointed to the Rebel, Casse said.
Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn next Sunday for the Rebel and five other stakes. They include the $500,000 Honeybee (G3), a Kentucky Oaks (G1) points prep for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.
The Rebel will offer 50-25-15-10-5 to the top five finishers toward Kentucky Derby starting eligibility, making it a virtual win-and-you’re-in qualifier for the May 3 classic at Churchill Downs.