Wednesday works: 10 graded-stakes winners + 2 Derby hopefuls

Trainer Gary Contessa has not started a horse at Keeneland since 2015, but that will change Saturday when he sends out Nutella Fella in the 38th running of the Grade 3, $350,000 Commonwealth.

“You don’t come here unless you have a good horse,” Contessa said after Nutella Fella got a feel for the track with a three-furlong blowout in 36.60 seconds with Lacey Williams aboard.

The lone Grade 1 winner in the field of 12 for the seven-furlong Commonwealth, Nutella Fella has been sidelined twice. After nine months away, he returned with a third-place finish in the Woody Stephens (G1) last June. The winner of the 2023 Hopeful (G1) did not return to the races until seven months later at Tampa Bay Downs.

Nutella Fella finished second in his comeback race and in his most recent start won the listed Pelican on Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs.

“The Commonwealth was the plan after the Pelican or the Carter (G2) at Aqueduct this weekend or the Count Fleet (Sprint Handicap, G2) at Oaklawn next weekend,” Contessa said. “But the owner (Nick Beaver) thought this was the best place to come.”

Luis Saez will have the mount Saturday for the first time, taking over for Junior Alvarado, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Contessa is seeking his second Keeneland stakes victory. His first was a big one, the first Grade 1 score of his career with Do It With Style in the 1991 Ashland.

Nutella Fella was one of 10 graded-stakes winners with published works on Wednesday, including Kentucky Derby hopeful Final Gambit and Good Cheer, who is undefeated and headed to the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Nutella Fella (Runhappy), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Hopeful), worked three furlongs in 36.6 seconds at Keeneland on Wednesday morning. It was the fifth fastest of 21 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs. In his last start he won the Pelican going six furlongs on the main track at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 8 for trainer Gary Contessa.

Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro), a three-time Grade 2 winner (2025 Fair Grounds Oaks, 2025 Rachel Alexandra, 2024 Golden Rod), worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Churchill Downs on Wednesday morning. It was the 31st fastest of 68 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she won the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on March 22 for trainer Brad Cox.

Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Golden Rod), worked four furlongs in 48.4 seconds at Churchill Downs on Wednesday morning. It was the 26th fastest of 68 works at the distance. Her previous work was 10 days ago going four furlongs at Fair Grounds. In her last start she placed fourth in the B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile (G1) going one mile on the main track at Santa Anita on March 8 for trainer Tom Amoss.

Seal Team (War Front), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Twilight Derby), worked six furlongs in 1:13.2 at Santa Anita on Wednesday morning. It was the only work at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed second in the Thunder Road (G3) going one mile on the turf at Santa Anita on Feb. 1 for trainer Richard Mandella.

Trademark (Upstart), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Clark), worked three furlongs in 38.2 seconds at Keeneland on Wednesday morning. It was the 18th fastest of 21 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed sixth in the Fayette (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Keeneland on Oct. 26 for trainer Vicki Oliver.

Best Actor (Flatter), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Smarty Jones), worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Turfway Park on Wednesday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 27 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Turfway Park. In his last start he placed fifth in the Knicks Go Overnight going one mile on the main track at Churchill Downs on May 4 for trainer Brad Cox.

Final Gambit (Not This Time), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Jeff Ruby Steaks), worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Churchill Downs on Wednesday morning. It was the 36th fastest of 68 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic at Turfway Park on March 22 for trainer Brad Cox.

Lagynos (Kantharos), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Commonwealth Turf), worked four furlongs in 49.6 seconds at Keeneland on Wednesday morning. It was the 46th fastest of 66 works at the distance. His previous work was 10 days ago going five furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he won the Woodchopper going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on Dec. 28 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Tejano Twist (Practical Joke), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Whitmore), worked four furlongs in 48.4 seconds at Oaklawn on Wednesday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 36 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed third in the Whitmore (G3) going six furlongs on the main track at Oaklawn on March 15 for trainer Chris Hartman.

Verbal (Flintshire), a Grade 3 winner (2021 Cecil B. DeMille), worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Turfway Park on Wednesday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 14 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won a claiming race going one mile on the synthetic at Turfway Park on March 15 for trainer Brendan Walsh.

In addition to Final Gambit, one other horse in Kentucky Derby futures worked Wednesday.

Surfside Moon (Malibu Moon) worked six furlongs in 1:16.0 at Fair Hill. It was the faster of two works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Fair Hill. In his last start he placed second in the Withers going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on Feb. 1 for trainer Chuckie Lawrence.