Videos: 4 Kentucky Derby contenders breeze, Cox reacts

With only three weeks remaining until Kentucky Derby 2024, Catching Freedom, Mystik Dan, Endlessly and Common Defense continued their training toward possible runs for the roses with published workouts Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Soon after the track opened at 5:30 a.m. EDT, Grade 2 Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom was the first Derby contender to work. Owned by Albaugh Family Stable and trained by Brad Cox, he went a solo half-mile in 48.0 seconds.

A few minutes later Southwest (G3) winner Mystik Dan cruised a half-mile in 48.0 seconds with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle for owners Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing and Valley View Farm and trainer Kenny McPeek.

Following the 7:30 a.m. EDT track renovation break, Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Endlessly, owned by Amerman Racing, breezed a half-mile in 49.0 inside his Michael McCarthy-trained stablemate Yellow Card.

Around the same time, Rebel (G2) runner-up Common Defense, owned by David Bernsen, Tony and Michael Holmes and Norevale Farm, worked an easy half-mile in 49.4 seconds for McPeek.

Catching Freedom, with exercise rider Edvin Vargas in the saddle, worked by himself while clipping early eighth-mile fractions of 11.6 and 23.6 seconds. The son of Constitution continued his work around the far turn through five furlongs in 1:01.0 and completed six furlongs in 1:14.6, according to Churchill Downs clocker Adam Wallace.

“He’s had very steady training the last five, six weeks,” Cox said. “We’ve worked him solo the last couple times, and he’s done very well. I’d say the track this morning was a bit heavy, but he still got over it fine. His last two works have been fairly easy, and we’ll see how things shake out over the next two weeks with what we’ll do before the Derby.”

Just after Catching Freedom completed his work, Mystik Dan began his move. Under Hernandez, who’s been aboard the colt in 5 of 6 career starts, Mystik Dan worked an opening quarter-mile in 24.2 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.8.

“He ran a credible third last time in the Arkansas Derby,” McPeek said. “I think he got a lot out of that race and has shown he handled it well in his training after.”

McPeek’s other possible Derby contender Common Defense needs at least two defections to make the field of 20.

At 7:30 a.m. EDT, Endlessly, who is possible to compete in the Kentucky Derby or the $600,000 American Turf (G2), worked on the inside of Turfway Park maiden special-weight winner Yellow Card. The duo stayed together until the wire when Endlessly began to gain the slight edge while galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.2.

Several other Kentucky Derby contenders had scheduled training sessions Saturday morning, including Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Dornoch and his stablemate Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Society Man. Both galloped about 1 1/2 miles under trainer Danny Gargan’s assistant Pricilla Schaefer.

Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders Tarifa and Thorpedo Anna also had published workouts Saturday. Tarifa, the winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), worked a half-mile in :48.8 at 7:30 a.m. EDT with exercise rider Alexis Aguilar in the irons. About 90 minutes earlier, Fantasy (G3) winner Thorpedo Anna worked a half-mile in :48.2.

Sunday’s work tab at Churchill Downs is expected to include Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up Honor Marie and Risen Star (G2) runner-up Track Phantom.

Around 4 a.m. EDT, before the track opened, Japan-based UAE Derby (G2) winner Forever Young arrived at the Kentucky Import Center and could train Sunday morning in preparation for the Derby.

These were the four Derby contenders’ workouts plus the one Triple Crown possibility for trainer Bob Baffert:

Catching Freedom (Constitution), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Louisiana Derby), worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the 14th fastest of 123 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four 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.

Mystik Dan (Goldencents), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Southwest), worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the 14th fastest of 123 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. 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.

Endlessly (Oscar Performance), a three-time Grade 3 winner (2024 Jeff Ruby Steaks, 2023 Zuma Beach, 2023 Del Mar Juvenile Turf), worked four furlongs in 49.0 seconds at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the 54th fastest of 123 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he won the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic at Turfway Park on March 23 for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Common Defense (Karakontie) worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. It was the 65th fastest of 123 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he placed fifth in the Louisiana Derby (G2) going 1 3/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on March 23 for McPeek.

Other Triple Crown possibility

Urban Legend (Into Mischief) worked four furlongs in 50.7 seconds at Gulfstream Park on Saturday morning. It was the 64th fastest of 80 works at the distance. His previous work was 94 days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed second in a maiden race going six furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 for trainer Bob Baffert.