2018 Kentucky Derby workout report for April 1

A number of Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls worked this past week as the final major preps for the 144th Run for the Roses take place over the next two weekends. In addition, sophomores around the world took part in points races during the week to earn their shot at Derby glory on May 5 at Churchill Downs.

FREE Brisnet Past Performances of 2018 Triple Crown nominees

(Workers in Leaderboard order)

Bolt d’Oro (64 Derby Points) – Mick Ruis-owned and -trained colt has clocked two works over Santa Anita Park’s fast main track since last week’s Derby workout report, working a swift bullet half-mile in :47 on March 26 and returning April 1 to cover five furlongs in 1:01.20; Medaglia d’Oro colt readying for final Kentucky Derby prep, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 7.

Enticed (63) – Kiaran McLaughlin pupil posted his final major move ahead of the April 7 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct when breezing a half-mile in :49.95 over the fast dirt at Palm Meadows Training Center on March 30; Medaglia d’Oro colt brings a 2 3/4-length victory in the March 10 Gotham Stakes (G3) into the Wood.

Quip (50) – Bay son of Distorted Humor recorded his final major breeze ahead of the April 7 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) when clocking five furlongs from the gate on April 1 in 1:00.40 over Keeneland’s fast dirt; Rodolphe Brisset trainee made his sophomore bow last out a one-length score at 19-1 in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on March 10.

McKinzie (40) – Bob Baffert pupil breezed a bullet, best-of-118, five furlongs in :59.40 over Santa Anita Park’s fast dirt on March 26; Street Sense colt was pointing for the April 7 Santa Anita Derby (G1) but those plans have been scrapped after the bay showed a problem with one of his hind legs; Baffert told Blood-Horse, “We X-rayed him, we (nuclear) scanned him, and there was something that came high on the (nuclear) scan. But when he came back, he 100 percent jogged fine. I don’t know what it was, but we’re being very cautious.”

Good Magic (34) – Chad Brown-trained champion scheduled to ship to Keeneland on April 2 after breezing a bullet half-mile over the fast dirt at Palm Meadows Training Center on March 31 ahead of the April 7 Blue Grass Stakes (G2); Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) hero finished third while making his three-year-old bow last out in the March 3 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Solomini (34) – Chestnut son of Curlin worked a half-mile in :48 over Santa Anita Park’s fast main track on March 26; runner-up in the March 17 Rebel Stakes (G2) last out at Oaklawn Park, the Bob Baffert trainee is “90 percent” likely to go in the April 7 Wood Memorial (G2) according to co-owner Ahmed Zayat.

Flameaway (30) – Scat Daddy chestnut breezed a half-mile in :48.75 on March 30 over the fast dirt at Palm Meadows Training Center; trainer Mark Casse is sending the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) winner and Tampa Bay Derby (G2) runner-up to the April 7 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.

Firenze Fire (29) – Jason Servis trainee breezed four furlongs in :50.33 over the fast dirt training track at Belmont Park on March 27; Poseidon’s Warrior colt headed to the April 7 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct off a well-beaten fourth last out in the Gotham Stakes (G3) on March 10 at the Big A.

Free Drop Billy (24) – Son of Union Rags headed to the April 7 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland after a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.80 over Gulfstream Park’s fast dirt on March 31; Grade 1-winning Dale Romans charge last seen finishing third in the March 10 Gotham Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct.

Blended Citizen (22) – Doug O’Neill charge breezed five furlongs in 1:01 over Keeneland’s fast main track on March 31; Proud Citizen colt is a half-brother to last year’s Kentucky Derby runner-up and is headed to the April 7 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) off Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) score at Turfway Park on March 17.

The horses listed below have either not worked or are exiting a recent race.

Audible (110) – Todd Pletcher trainee asserted his case for favoritism in the Kentucky Derby with a romping three-length victory in the March 31 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park; Into Mischief colt has suffered only one loss in his career and brings a four-race win streak into the Run for the Roses.

Noble Indy (110) – Take Charge Indy colt was bumped from the number one spot on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard by fellow Todd Pletcher trainee Audible; WinStar Farm homebred still guaranteed a spot in the Derby starting gate thanks to a game neck victory last out in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds on March 24.

Mendelssohn (100) – Aidan O’Brien pupil smashed the track record when taking the March 31 U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) at Medyan in 1:55.18 while making his dirt debut; Scat Daddy colt, who captured last November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar, turned the 1 3/16-mile contest into a rout by crossing under the wire 18 1/2 lengths clear of his nearest rival.

Bravazo (54) – Jockey Gary Stevens on D. Wayne Lukas colt’s subpar eighth-placing last out in the March 24 Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds: “Maybe they’ll find some cuts in his mouth or a bad tooth or something. That’s what he acted like, like he was really fighting the bit. He was lugging out with me the entire trip and I had both hands on the inside rein, literally, trying to hold him in. I was breaking his momentum and he was fighting me and I was just trying to keep him on track but wasn’t really able to accomplish that. I can’t explain why. He was sound after the race, pulled up good, but he was mad.”

Promises Fulfilled (52) – Shackleford colt set crazy-fast early fractions in the March 31 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park before fading badly to be ninth and last in the 1 1/8-mile affair; trainer Dale Romans not ruling out Kentucky Derby bid for chestnut colt, “You live by the sword, you die by the sword. We went wire-to-wire last time (taking the March 3 Fountain of Youth Stakes [G2]), but that doesn’t mean we don’t regroup and go back in the Derby.”

Magnum Moon (50) – Malibu Moon colt breezed a bullet half-mile in :48.07 over the fast dirt at Palm Beach Downs on March 31; Todd Pletcher trainee brings a perfect three-for-three mark, including his black-type debut in the March 17 Rebel Stakes (G2), into the April 14 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park.

Runaway Ghost (50) – Bay son of Ghostzapper followed a late nomination to the Triple Crown with a 2 3/4-length victory in the March 25 Sunland Derby (G3) for trainer Todd Fincher.

Lone Sailor (42) – Majestic Warrior colt scheduled to leave for Churchill Downs on April 2 to begin final preparations for the Kentucky Derby; Tom Amoss trainee just missed by a neck when second last out in the March 24 Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.

Hofburg (40) – Bill Mott charge finished second in the March 31 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park to earn his shot at Kentucky Derby glory; Tapit colt was making his stakes debut in that contest after breaking his maiden on March 3 at Gulfstream.

My Boy Jack (32) – Creative Cause colt finished third in the March 24 Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds last out; trainer Keith Desormeaux waiting to see if his charge’s 32 Kentucky Derby points will be enough to make the race or if he needs to send the dark bay out to another points race to ensure his spot in the 144th Run for the Roses.

Catholic Boy (24) – Jonathan Thomas trainee off the Derby trail after well-beaten fourth in the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park on March 31; co-owner Robert LaPenta’s racing manager John Panagot told DRF’s David Grening that the More Than Ready colt “bled a significant amount. We’re going to have to stop on him and let him heal.”

Snapper Sinclair (22) – Steve Asmussen pupil ran fifth in the March 24 Louisiana Derby (G2) most recently at Fair Grounds; City Zip colt, who just missed by a nose in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) on February 17, shows only one stakes win, which came on the turf during his juvenile campaign.

Combatant (22) – Scat Daddy colt has placed in all three of Oaklawn Park’s Kentucky Derby prep stakes, most recently finishing third in the Rebel Stakes (G2) on March 17 for trainer Steve Asmussen; might show up next in the April 14 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park.