Thursday Kentucky Derby update: Omaha Beach's work up to weather

Live Oak Plantation’s Win Win Win arrived at Churchill Downs at 5:15 a.m. Thursday morning following an overnight van ride from the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland for the 2019 Kentucky Derby.

Runner-up in the Blue Grass (G2) in his most recent start, Win Win Win is scheduled to work Sunday for trainer Michael Trombetta, who is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Saturday.

At Belmont Park, Shadwell Stable’s Haikal worked five furlongs in 1:01.21 on the main track to the satisfaction of trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Haikal is scheduled to van to Louisville with a Monday arrival with McLaughlin due in the following day.

Also at Belmont Park, R.A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable’s Tax worked a half-mile in :47.80 on the dirt training track for trainer Danny Gargan. That move was the fastest of 46 over that surface for the distance. Tax is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs Monday.

Here's an update on those already stabled at Churchill Downs...

BY MY STANDARDS – Trainer Bret Calhoun returned from the OBS sale Wednesday and was at Churchill Downs Thursday to watch Louisiana Derby (G2) winner By My Standards gallop 1 ½ miles over the muddy surface.

“I’m glad to be back in town,” Calhoun said. “We did well at the sale, so far, and now it’s time to get back to business for the Derby.”

By My Standards is expected to have his final breeze for the Kentucky Derby this weekend.

CODE OF HONOR – William S. Farish’s Code of Honor galloped an easy mile at 6:15 under exercise rider Brian Duggan for trainer Shug McGaughey.

It was the first day on track for Code of Honor, who arrived here from Keeneland early Wednesday afternoon.

Code of Honor is housed in Barn 43 and in the same stall as McGaughey's 2013 Kentucky Derby winner, Orb.

“There are a lot of great memories there,” McGaughey said.

McGaughey said Code of Honor probably would work Sunday.

COUNTRY HOUSE/TACITUS – Trainer Bill Mott’s Derby duo of Country House and Tacitus visited the paddock and then galloped a mile and a half. He said both horses probably would work Sunday.

Juan Quintero was aboard Tacitus, the leading point-getter on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, who will be ridden by Jose Ortiz in the Derby.

Marianne Scherer was aboard Country House, who will be ridden in the Derby by Flavien Prat.

“I have ridden him a couple of times,” Mott said of Prat. “He has done very well in California and people I have talked to say he is a very good rider.”

Prat is scheduled to arrive in Louisville o nWednesday night.

IMPROBABLE – With the Churchill Downs surface sealed following overnight showers, Arkansas Derby (G1) and Rebel runner-up Improbable, who races for WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International and Starlight Racing, was out for a brief training session Thursday under regular exercise rider Jose Contreras.

“We galloped about a mile-and-a-half, took it easy,” said Jimmy Barnes, assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, who’s expected back in Louisville on Friday.  “He’ll probably work on Sunday. I couldn’t be happier with the way he’s looking.”

Improbable’s Derby stablemates, Game Winner and Roadster, are expected to arrive from Southern California on Saturday, April 27. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Improbable in the Derby.

LONG RANGE TODDY – Accompanied to the track by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s longtime assistant Scott Blasi, Rebel Stakes winner Long Range Toddy galloped about 1 3/8 miles Thursday at Churchill Downs.

Veteran jockey Jon Court has been named to ride in the Derby. The 58-year-old journeyman will ride at Oaklawn on Saturday and plans to be on the backstretch Tuesday morning, according to his agent Steve Krajcir.

MASTER FENCER – Katsumi and Yasuyo Yoshizawa’s  Master Fencer cleared quarantine in Chicago at 11 a.m. and is scheduled to arrive at Keeneland at approximately 6 p.m., according to Kentucky Derby Japan-based representative Kate Hunter.

OMAHA BEACH – Fox Hill Farm’s Omaha Beach galloped a mile over a sealed track with exercise rider Taylor Cambra aboard for trainer Richard Mandella.

Omaha Beach is tentatively scheduled to work Friday, but that could change with rain forecast to begin Thursday afternoon and continuing into the next day.

“I just want to keep him happy and healthy,” Mandella said.  “I would prefer the track harrowed and not floated (like it was this morning). I will wait until I get the track I want and it could be Saturday or Sunday.”

PLUS QUE PARFAIT – UAE Derby (G2) winner Plus Que Parfait galloped about 1 ½ miles with exercise riderTom Molloy aboard Thursday morning at Churchill Downs.

Owned by Imperial Racing, Plus Que Parfait is scheduled to work this weekend.

WAR OF WILL – Gary Barber’s Risen Star Stakes (G2) winner War of Will galloped 1 ½ miles Thursday with exercise rider Jose Vasquez in the saddle for trainer Mark Casse.

“This is the best time of the year,” assistant trainer Allen Hardy said. “I guess I’m the ‘New Norm (Casse)’ or ‘New Nick (Tomlinson)’ following them as assistant for the Churchill string. I’ve worked for Mark for about eight years now. I was actually the foreman with Norm for a while and had some of Mark’s other strings until this year. It’s a great time of the year to be at Churchill and I’m really excited to be part of the process.”

Casse is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs Friday and War of Will is slated to breeze Saturday.