2018 Kentucky Derby workout report for April 8

Three major Kentucky Derby (G1) preps took place over the weekend, meaning the Leaderboard underwent some major changes.

It also means only two races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby remain, as we are less than a month away from the 144th Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs.

FREE Brisnet Past Performances of 2018 Triple Crown nominees

(Workers in Leaderboard order)

Noble Indy (110 Derby Points) – Take Charge Indy colt breezed a half-mile in :50.20 over the fast dirt at Palm Beach Downs on April 6 in his first move since his neck win in the Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 24 at Fair Grounds; according to trainer Todd Pletcher, the once-beaten bay “could ship in 12 to 13 days before the (Kentucky Derby) and have a breeze over the (Churchill Downs) track.”

Bravazo (54) – D. Wayne Lukas pupil returned to the track on April 2 for the first time since a subpar eighth in Fair Grounds’ Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 24, breezing four furlongs in :48.60 over Oaklawn Park’s fast main track; Awesome Again colt upset the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at 21-1 by a nose prior to his lackluster performance in the Louisiana Derby.

Magnum Moon (50) – Undefeated Rebel Stakes (G2) winner recorded his third straight bullet breeze when going a half-mile in :48.65 over the fast dirt at Palm Beach Downs on April 7; Todd Pletcher charge is scheduled to fly to Arkansas on Monday in advance of his final Kentucky Derby prep, Oaklawn Park’s Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 14.

Runaway Ghost (50) – Todd Fincher-trained bay worked five furlongs over Sunland Park’s fast main track on April 6 ahead of his shot at Kentucky Derby glory; Ghostzapper colt was a late nominee to the race and secured a spot in the starting gate with 50 points when taking the March 25 Sunland Derby (G3) by 2 3/4 lengths; “He’s the number one Thoroughbred I’ve ever had,” breeder/owner Joe Peacock said. “I want to go to the Kentucky Derby as fast as I can.”

Quip (50) – Once-beaten Distorted Humor colt breezed a half-mile in :48.60 over Keeneland’s fast main track on April 6; Kentucky-bred bay was headed to the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on April 7 before trainer Rodolphe Brisset called an audible and scratched him from that contest; colt vanned overnight following his breeze to Oaklawn Park in advance of the April 14 Arkansas Derby (G1); Brisset said, “Watching the weather, we were not going to be able to breeze any Saturday or Sunday, so we decided to breeze him at five days. He did it on his own.”

Solomini (34) – Chestnut son of Curlin has worked twice this week, covering five furlongs in :59.80 on April 2 and then an in-company six furlongs in a bullet 1:13.60 on April 8, both over the fast main track at Santa Anita Park; the schedules of many Kentucky Derby hopefuls were adjusted when McKinzie was sidelined, including this fellow Bob Baffert trainee who was re-routed from the April 7 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct to the Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 14 at Oaklawn Park.

My Boy Jack (32) – Keith Desormeaux pupil worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 over Santa Anita Park’s fast main track on April 7; Grade 3-scoring Creative Cause colt just missed by three parts of a length in the Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 24 at Fair Grounds; headed to the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland on April 14 to ensure he has enough points to make the Kentucky Derby field.

Snapper Sinclair (22) – Steve Asmussen trainee recorded his first breeze at Churchill Downs this year on April 8, clocking a :51.80 half-mile over the fast main track; City Zip colt is currently on the outside looking into the Kentucky Derby field after a fifth-placing in the March 24 Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.

Combatant (22) – Maiden-winning son of Scat Daddy readied for his final shot at securing enough points to get in the Kentucky Derby with a five-furlong bullet breeze in 1:01.20 over Oaklawn Park’s fast main track on April 2; Steve Asmussen charge, third in the March 17 Rebel Stakes (G2) most recently, is expected to contest the Arkansas Derby (G1) at that venue on April 14.

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

Good Magic (134) – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) champion returned to the winner’s circle with a 1 1/2-length victory in the April 7 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland; Curlin colt will remain at Keeneland for the time being before heading to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby; “He’ll have his first breeze back here in a couple weeks then (go) over to Churchill,” trainer Chad Brown said.

Audible (110) – Into Mischief colt recorded his fourth straight victory taking Gulfstream Park’s Florida Derby (G1) by three lengths and exited that March 31 contest “excellent,” according to trainer Todd Pletcher; New York-bred bay will stay at Palm Beach Downs in Florida for the time being, but Pletcher added that he’d “like to have at least one breeze over the Churchill track, possibly two.”

Vino Rosso (107) – Chestnut son of Curlin gave trainer Todd Pletcher yet another Kentucky Derby entrant when earning his first stakes victory in the April 7 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct by three lengths; Pletcher indicated the Kentucky-bred sophomore will have two breezes before the Kentucky Derby.

Bolt d’Oro (104) – Dual Grade 1 winner finished second while making his final prep for the Kentucky Derby in the April 7 Santa Anita Derby (G1); Medaglia d’Oro colt suffered a minor cut in the race, though owner/trainer Mick Ruis didn’t appear worried, “After the race there was a little blood by his front quarter on the right side. No flesh came off…it was like getting a splinter. In three days you won’t even know it’s there.”

Enticed (103) – Kiaran McLaughlin pupil ran second as the 6-5 favorite in the April 7 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct; dark bay son of Medaglia d’Oro scheduled to ship Tuesday to Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida to complete his Kentucky Derby preparations, “It’s very quiet there in the month of April…almost like a private training center. We’re doubtful that we’ll even work him at Churchill, because he won (the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes [G2]) there last fall and we already know that he likes the track,” McLaughlin explained.

Mendelssohn (100) – Track record-setting U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) winner headed to the Kentucky Derby for trainer Aidan O’Brien; Scat Daddy colt, a half-brother to Grade 1-winning leading sire Into Mischief and four-time Eclipse Award heroine Beholder, made his dirt debut in that contest on March 31 at Meydan, dominating the field by 18 1/2 lengths.

Justify (100) – Chestnut son of Scat Daddy moved his record to a perfect three-for-three taking his stakes debut in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 7; Kentucky-bred earned his shot at Kentucky Derby glory in that race and “looks good,” according to trainer Bob Baffert one day after his effort; “He’s still learning how to run, still a little green,” the conditioner admitted. “He was out there (on the lead) by himself, looking at everything, taking it all in.”

Flameaway (70) – Mark Casse charge finished second after leading early in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on April 7; Scat Daddy chestnut will return to his trainer’s Churchill Downs base on Monday to prepare for the Kentucky Derby.

Promises Fulfilled (52) – Shackleford colt training up to Kentucky Derby from conditioner Dale Roman’s Churchill Downs base following March 31 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park; Shackleford colt dueled on the lead through blazing-quick spits but tired to finish ninth in the Florida Derby.

Free Drop Billy (44) – Dale Romans pupil finished fourth, but was placed third via disqualification, in the April 7 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland; Union Rags chestnut headed to Kentucky Derby having not scored since taking the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) last October at Keeneland but according to Romans, “This horse is going to be a force to be reckoned with…he wants to go farther. The mile and a quarter will do nothing but make him better.”

Lone Sailor (42) – Maiden winner exited a tough-luck neck second in the March 24 Louisiana Derby (G2) in good order and was scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on April 2 ahead of the Kentucky Derby for trainer Tom Amoss.

Hofburg (40) – Chestnut son of Tapit rallied from the back of the Florida Derby (G1) field on March 31 at Gulfstream Park to be second, easily best of the rest by 7 3/4 lengths; trainer Bill Mott indicated the Kentucky Derby is under consideration following the race, “We’ve got to think about (the Derby), he ran well enough and galloped out good enough that we’ve got to take everything into consideration. He was much more seasoned and did everything right…the perfect gentleman.”

Firenze Fire (39) – Grade 1-winning Jason Servis pupil was a well-beaten fourth in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct on April 7; owner Ron Lombardi said he “was disappointed with how” the Poseidon’s Warrior colt ran in the Wood Memorial, that he was “too far back and he just didn’t have enough” but “if we do have the points we’re going (to the Kentucky Derby). We’re still on the bubble…have to wait and see what happens.”

Instilled Regard (29) – Arch colt was beaten double-digit lengths in the April 7 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and is off the Kentucky Derby trail; trainer Jerry Hollendorfer told DRF’s Jay Privman, “We’ll probably find a race for him here in California.”

Blended Citizen (22) – Doug O’Neill pupil was unable to add to his Kentucky Derby points total when fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) on April 7 at Keeneland; Proud Citizen colt earned his first stakes victory in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park on March 17.