Kentucky Derby workouts and bubble watch: April 26, 2021

The field is (presumably) set, the post position draw is right around the corner, and all the serious pre-race workouts are complete.

The 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) is just five days away, and you can feel the tension building.

Let’s check out the latest workouts and see where things stand as the “Run for the Roses” draws closer.

On the work tab

Bourbonic

He worked a solo half mile Friday at Churchill Downs and completed the move in :49.60, off splits of :12.80 and :24.40. He then galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.40.

Brooklyn Strong

The Remsen (G2) winner was confirmed for the Kentucky Derby after he breezed five furlongs in 1:00.92 Monday morning at Parx.

Dynamic One

He turned in a quick half-mile workout Friday at Churchill Downs, where he traveled in company with Prime Factor to complete the distance in :47.80.

The opening quarter-mile was :24.40, but Dynamic One accelerated during the second half of the work. He covered three furlongs in :36.20 and the final furlong in :11.60, then continued through five furlongs in 1:00.60 and six furlongs in 1:13.20.

Essential Quality

The Kentucky Derby favorite was sharp Saturday morning at Churchill Downs, where he breezed in company with Spa City to record five furlongs in 1:00.40, off fractions of :12.80, :24.80, and :48.20. Essential Quality then eased up through six furlongs in 1:14.60.

Helium

He worked early Friday morning at Churchill Downs, where he covered a half-mile in :49.80, alongside Laker Mamba, who traveled the distance in :50. Helium then galloped out to five furlongs in 1:03.

Hidden Stash

Originally scheduled to breeze Saturday, Hidden Stash instead took to the Keeneland main track Friday to beat a weekend rain forecast.

The result was a sharp exercise, as Hidden Stash started three lengths behind workmate Esperer, then roared to the finish line four lengths clear, in 1:00.60. He also galloped out to six furlongs in 1:13.80.

Highly Motivated

He turned in a stiff, five-furlong workout in company with Southern District on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

He completed the move in 1:00.80, then continuing on to six furlongs in 1:14.20 and seven furlongs in 1:28.40.

Hot Rod Charlie

He wrapped up his serious training with six furlongs in 1:13.60 Saturday at Santa Anita, then traveled to Churchill Downs on Sunday.

Keepmeinmind

He burned up the Churchill Downs main track Friday morning, when he blazed a bullet half-mile in :46.20.

In company with Shasta Star, the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner posted fast fractions of :22.80 and :34.40, then galloped out to five furlongs in :59.20.

King Fury

King Fury out slow but finished fast in a five-furlong workout Saturday at Churchill Downs.

After he posted splits of :12.80, :25.20, :36.80, and :48.40, King Fury completed the work in 1:00.20, then continued on through six furlongs in 1:12.80 and seven furlongs in 1:26.60.

Known Agenda

He teamed up with stablemate Sainthood to breeze five furlongs 1:01 flat Friday at Churchill Downs.

The son of Curlin posted splits of :12.60, :24.40, and :36.20, then galloped out to six furlongs in 1:14.20 and seven furlongs in 1:27.20.

Like the King

He breezed alongside Canadian champion female sprinter Artie’s Princess on Saturday at Keeneland.

He broke off two lengths behind his workmate and completed the five-furlong exercise in 1:01 flat. Like the King then galloped out to six furlongs in 1:15.40.

Mandaloun

He turned in an eye-catching, five-furlong workout in 1:00 flat Saturday at Churchill Downs.

After he started a half-dozen lengths behind stablemate Joe Frazier, Mandaloun motored through splits of :23.20, :35.60, and :47.60, then galloped out to six furlongs in 1:12.60 and seven furlongs in 1:27.20.

Medina Spirit

The Bob Baffert trainee worked six furlongs in 1:12.20 Thursday at Santa Anita, then shipped to Kentucky and settled in at Churchill Downs on Friday afternoon.

Midnight Bourbon

The last Kentucky Derby contender to turn in a timed workout at Churchill Downs, Midnight Bourbon clocked five furlongs in 1:02.40 Monday. He posted splits of :24.40 and :49.60, and galloped out to six furlongs in 1:16.20.

O Besos

He clocked a half-mile in :48 flat Thursday at Churchill Downs. O Besos posted fractions of :12 and :36.20, before he galloped out to five furlongs in 1:00 and six furlongs in 1:12.60.

Rock Your World

The Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner turned in a five-furlong workout Saturday at Santa Anita, where he traveled in company with Best Chance and completed the distance in :59.20.

He shipped to Churchill Downs on Sunday.

Sainthood

He worked five furlongs in 1:01 flat Friday at Churchill Downs, where he breezed in company with Known Agenda and posted identical fractions of :12.60, :24.40, and :36.20, plus gallop-out times of 1:14.20 and 1:27.20.

Soup and Sandwich

He took things pretty easy Friday at Churchill Downs, where he clocked a :50 flat half-mile, in company with graded stakes winner Peace Achieved. The Florida Derby (G1) runner-up then continued on to five furlongs in 1:03.60.

Super Stock

He worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 Saturday at Churchill Downs, which was a particularly noteworthy exercise, since he breezed alongside 2020 Kentucky Derby fifth-place finisher Max Player.

Super Stock was in no hurry to ease up after the finish line, as he continued to six furlongs in 1:14.60 and seven furlongs in 1:28 flat.

On the bubble

With less than 24 hours until the post-position draw, only 20 horses remain under consideration for the Kentucky Derby. The defection of Caddo River allowed Remsen (G2) winner Brooklyn Strong to squeeze into the field, which means “the bubble” has burst. There aren’t any horses on the outside looking in.

Stay tuned to TwinSpires Edge for more Kentucky Derby news and notes as the first Saturday in May approaches.