Reviewing the final workouts of Kentucky Derby contenders

As of Monday morning, with just hours remaining until the Kentucky Derby (G1) post position draw, the majority of the Derby contenders have completed their final pre-race workouts.

It was a busy weekend for Derby horses around the country, but especially at Churchill Downs, where excitement is building for the first Saturday in May.

Let’s catch up on the latest workout action:

Forte

On Saturday at Churchill Downs, the expected Kentucky Derby favorite worked half a mile in :49 4/5 under regular rider Irad Ortiz. In his third timed exercise since winning the Florida Derby (G1), Forte traveled in company with recent allowance winner Bright Future, starting off about one length behind before finishing on even terms. Add Forte to Stable Alerts

Practical Move

The Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner clocked five furlongs in a rapid :59 3/5 on Friday at Santa Anita. Add Practical Move to Stable Alerts

Angel of Empire

The Arkansas Derby (G1) hero worked five furlongs in company with fellow Kentucky Derby contender Jace’s Road, starting off behind his stablemate on his way to a final time of 1:01 2/5. The exercise took place on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Add Angel of Empire to Stable Alerts

Tapit Trice

In his second breeze since winning the Blue Grass (G1), Tapit Trice went in company with Equivoque on Saturday at Churchill Downs, traveling half a mile in :48 1/5. Add Tapit Trice to Stable Alerts

Two Phil’s

The Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner completed his serious training a bit earlier than other Kentucky Derby contenders, working five furlongs in a rapid :59 on Thursday at Hawthorne. Regular jockey Jareth Loveberry was aboard for the exercise. Add Two Phil's to Stable Alerts

Lord Miles

The upset Wood Memorial (G2) winner has been training at Gulfstream Park, where he clocked five furlongs in an easy 1:02 2/5 on Friday. Add Lord Miles to Stable Alerts

Derma Sotogake

Japan’s runaway UAE Derby (G2) hero worked five furlongs on Wednesday at Churchill Downs, traveling in company for part of the journey with fellow Japanese raider Continuar, who worked half a mile. Derma Sotogake started off behind his workmate but wound up in front after clocking splits of :25 4/5, :37 1/5, and :48 3/5 on his way to a final time of 1:01 2/5. He is expected to work again this Tuesday. Add Derma Sotogake to Stable Alerts

Kingsbarns

The Louisiana Derby (G2) winner breezed half a mile on Saturday at Churchill Downs, working in company with fellow Derby contender Major Dude to complete the distance in :48 2/5. Add Kingsbarns to Stable Alerts

Raise Cain

Gotham (G3) hero Raise Cain clocked half a mile in :49 on Thursday at Keeneland. Add Raise Cain to Stable Alerts

Rocket Can

Working with the blinkers he’ll add in the Kentucky Derby, Rocket Can worked inside of Mr. McGregor and clocked five furlongs in :59 4/5 on Sunday at Churchill Downs. The Holy Bull (G3) winner started off with splits of :12 4/5, :24 2/5, and :36 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13. Add Rocket Can to Stable Alerts

Hit Show

The Withers (G3) winner worked five furlongs in company with Tapit’s Conquest on Saturday at Churchill Downs, starting off with splits of :23 3/5, :35 4/5 and :47 2/5 before completing the exercise in :59 3/5 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:13 4/5. Add Hit Show to Stable Alerts

Confidence Game

Unraced since winning the Rebel (G2) back in February, Confidence Game wrapped up his serious pre-Derby training with a bullet five furlongs in :59 on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Add Confidence Game to Stable Alerts

Verifying

Coming off a runner-up finish in the Blue Grass (G1), Verifying breezed five furlongs in :59 2/5 on Saturday at Churchill Downs, traveling in company with Everso Mischievous through fractions of :23 1/5, :35 1/5, and :47 1/5 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 4/5. Add Verifying to Stable Alerts

Sun Thunder

The durable Risen Star (G2) runner-up added blinkers for a half-mile workout on Wednesday at Churchill Downs and completed the move in :48 3/5. Plans call for Sun Thunder to work again this Tuesday. Add Sun Thunder to Stable Alerts

Mage

Coming off a runner-up finish in the Florida Derby (G1), Mage clocked six furlongs in 1:16 4/5 on Saturday at Churchill Downs. He started off slow with an opening quarter-mile in :27 2/5, but picked up the pace through three furlongs in :40 and four furlongs in :52 1/5 before galloping out seven furlongs in 1:30 1/5. Add Mage to Stable Alerts

Disarm

The Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up wrapped up his preparations on Monday at Churchill Downs, breezing a solo half-mile in :49 1/5. Add Disarm to Stable Alerts

Reincarnate

One of the swiftest of the final pre-Derby workouts came from Sham (G3) winner Reincarnate, who blazed half a mile in :46 2/5 on Friday at Santa Anita. Add Reincarnate to Stable Alerts

Jace’s Road

Last year’s Gun Runner S. winner worked in company with Angel of Empire and traveled five furlongs in 1:01.20. Add Jace's Road to Stable Alerts

Skinner

The Santa Anita Derby (G1) third-place finisher turned in a strong final workout on Saturday at Santa Anita, getting six furlongs in 1:14. According to trainer John Shirreffs, the son of Curlin sprinted the final furlong in a fast :11 2/5. Add Skinner to Stable Alerts

Continuar

Working in company with Derma Sotogake on Wednesday at Churchill Downs, Continuar completed half a mile in :50 off splits of :13 2/5 and :26 2/5. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:04 2/5. Like Derma Sotogake, Continuar may return to the work tab this Tuesday. Add Continuar to Stable Alerts

Cyclone Mischief

Expected to be entered in the Kentucky Derby as an also-eligible entrant, Florida Derby (G1) third-place finisher Cyclone Mischief wrapped up his pre-race training with five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 off splits of :23 2/5 and :36. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 3/5. Add Cyclone Mischief to Stable Alerts

Major Dude

As described above, Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) runner-up Major Dude worked in company with Kingsbarns through half a mile in :48 2/5. Add Major Dude to Stable Alerts