All the stepping-stone stakes races have been run and now the best three-year-old colts, geldings and fillies are tuning up for their final preps for the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4 and the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 3, respectively.

The post position draws for both races take place Saturday.

On Friday, April 26, Derby favourite and 2023 Champion Two-Year-Old FIERCENESS  flew through another big workout, once again in company with his trusty company Agate Road. As Daily Racing Form notes writer Mike Welsch put on ‘X’,  “Fierceness terrific once again 4F 25.03,  48.63 with monster gallop out like last week at PBD up 3/4’s 1:12.50”.

Fierceness has won his races on the pace and will no doubt use that strategy on Derby day.

(You can watch the horses work and gallop on the Kentucky Derby Facebook page during the Morning Works show beginning at 7:25 a.m.)

On Thursday morning, HONOR MARIE had a speedy workout in company under his Derby rider, Ben Curtis, an Irishman who came to the US to ride this winter. The son of Honor Code, who was second in the Louisiana Derby to Chasing Freedom went 12.0, 23.4, 35.3, 47.2, 59.1, out 6f in 1:12.3, and up in  1:27.3 for seven furlongs. Honor Marie is trained by Whit Beckman.

Forever Young, seeking to become the first Japanese winner of the Derby, had a workout on Wednesday, a slow and steady 6 furlongs in 1:19.60 in company. The undefeated colt, who earned high speed ratings from his wins in the Saudi and UAE Derbies, has a tracking style and certainly is getting a lot of attention from handicappers.

Forever Young is a first cousin to SIERRA LEONE, the fancy $2.3 million auction purchase by Gun Runner, who had a powerful win in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and he is a nose away from being unbeaten for trainer Chad Brown.

MYSTIK DAN is just one of several colts who has been very strong in morning gallops and in fact, he has been very hard on his exercise rider, wanting to really go in the morning. The son of Goldencents is from a mare, Ma’am (Colonel John), who was a nice runner for Mystik Dan’s co-owners and breeder Lance Gasaway, Greg Gasaway and Daniel Hamby. Ma’am was a route horse who won four of 23 races and over $167,000. Mystik Dan, winner of the Southwest Stakes (G3) is the mare’s first foal.

Wednesday notes:

Susumu Fujita’s undefeated Japan-bred colt Forever Young  (Real Steel (Jpn)) worked six furlongs in 1:19.6 over a fast track Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs in preparation for the May 4 running of Kentucky Derby 2024.

With jockey Ryusei Sakai aboard, Forever Young posted fractions of 14.8, 28.8, :42.6, :55.2, 1:19.6 and out seven furlongs in 1:33.6. He was joined for the last half-mile by Cuffed Candy, an unraced 3-year-old for trainer Dale Romans.

Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young also visited the starting gate after the work. A two-time graded-stakes winner in the Saudi Derby (G3) and UAE Derby (G2) is scheduled to have another work next week.

Honor Marie, trained by Whit Beckman for owners Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver and Kenneth and Dave Fishbein, is scheduled to work Thursday morning at Churchill Downs.

Catalytic

After coming to the track for the first time Tuesday morning, Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George Isaacs’s Catalytic returned Wednesday to gallop 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Olaf Hernández.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Catalytic arrived at Churchill Downs on Monday morning after vanning from South Florida.

“He just galloped the mile-and-a-half,” said Tristan Ford, an assistant to Joseph. “We’re happy with everything. He’s feeling good.”

Catalytic, the Florida Derby (G1) runner-up behind expected Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness, is on target to work Sunday.

Catching Freedom, Encino, Just a Touch

Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Catching Freedom, Encino and Just a Touch all galloped about 1 1/2 miles Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. EDT and schooled in the starting gate.

All three horses are scheduled to breeze Saturday morning.

Cox said Encino’s jockey has yet to be confirmed for the Kentucky Derby.

Domestic Product, Sierra Leone

Trainer Chad Brown’s Derby duo of Sierra Leone and Domestic Product galloped 1 1/2 miles during the 7:30-7:45 a.m. EDT training window for Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) horses.

Kriss Bon was aboard Sierra Leone, who gave Brown his third Blue Grass Stakes (G1) victory. Brown’s other Blue Grass winners were Good Magic, who finished second in the 2018 Derby, and Zandon, who finished third in the 2022 Derby.

Sierra Leone is owned by the partnership of Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook Smith.

Peter Roman partnered Domestic Product, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) in his most recent start. Klaravich Stables owns and bred Domestic Product.

Both colts are scheduled to work Saturday, weather permitting.

Dornoch, Society Man

Trainer Danny Gargan’s two Kentucky Derby hopefuls each galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Pricilla Schaefer.

Winner of the Fountain of Youth (G2), Dornoch is owned by the partnership of West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables. He put in his morning work at 7:30 EDT. Luis Sáez has the Derby mount.

Coming out at 9 o’clock EDT for his morning exercise was Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Society Man, who is owned by the partnership of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, West Paces, GMP Stables and Carl and Yurie Pascarella. Frankie Dettori has the mount on Society Man.

The two colts are scheduled to work in company Saturday morning with Sáez aboard Dornoch.

“I think they worked fine together last week and going to do it again this week,” Gargan said. “This time I’ll put Dornoch on the inside of Society Man. Another day of training down and one closer to the Derby.”

Endlessly

Amerman Racing’s Endlessly had a normal training day Wednesday, galloping 1 1/2 miles around 5:45 a.m. EDT.

The winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) is scheduled to work Saturday.

Fierceness

Repole Stable’s champion Fierceness galloped 1 3/8 miles under regular exercise rider Danny Wright for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November at Santa Anita to wrap up the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male, Fierceness is scheduled to work Friday morning with John Velázquez aboard.

Forever Young

Susumu Fujita’s undefeated Forever Young worked his six furlongs in company.

“Thanks to Dale Romans (for providing the workmate) so we were able to do exactly what we want to do this far out (from the Derby),” Sakai said through a translator.

As usual Forever Young warmed up in the mile chute for a half-hour during the first harrow break of the morning before starting his work that went off slowly and finished with a final quarter-mile in 24.4 seconds.

Following the work, Forever Young visited the starting gate.

“The gate was no problem,” said Sakai, who missed out on riding in last year’s Derby after Continuar was scratched days before the race. “He has been to the gate before at all the places he has run.”

Sakai has been aboard Forever Young in all five of his starts ranging in distance from a mile to 1 3/16 miles. Forever Young raced in Japan last year at age two and has been to Saudi Arabia and Dubai this year before coming to America.

Sakai said Forever Young, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, would have another work next week. However, Sakai will not be aboard for that, because he is returning to Japan to ride this weekend before coming back to Louisville late next week.

Grand Mo the First

Granpollo Stables’ Grand Mo the First exited his six-furlong work of 1:16.46 on Tuesday morning at Gulfstream Park in good order and is on schedule to van to Churchill Downs on Thursday.

Trainer Víctor Barboza will be at Churchill Downs on Friday, which is a scheduled walk day for Grand Mo the First.

Honor Marie

Trainer Whit Beckman was “calm, cool and relaxed” Wednesday morning watching Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up Honor Marie train.

“I don’t really get nervous when I run a horse in a race I think they can win,” Beckman said. “It’s a weird feeling, but right now I don’t feel too nervous.”

Honor Marie is scheduled to work Thursday morning with jockey Ben Curtis in the irons.

Just Steel

BC Stable’s Just Steel was the first Kentucky Derby contender to train Wednesday morning with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas closely watching aboard his pony.

The son of new Hall of Fame inductee Justify galloped about 1 1/2 miles.

Mystik Dan

Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing and Daniel Hamby III’s Mystik Dan galloped an easy 1 1/2 miles for trainer Kenny McPeek.

The winner of the Southwest (G3) and most recently third in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn, Mystik Dan is scheduled to work Saturday. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the Derby riding assignment.

Resilience

Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman’s Resilience had an easy gallop at 7:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday.

The winner of the Wood Memorial (G2) is scheduled to school in the paddock a couple times before the Derby, according to trainer Bill Mott.

Stronghold

Eric and Sharon Waller’s Stronghold, who arrived at Churchill Downs Tuesday at 4 p.m. EDT from his base at Santa Anita, jogged a mile Wednesday morning with trainer Phil D’Amato’s wife Sherri in the saddle.

Weather permitting, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner is scheduled to work Saturday with Joe Talamo up.

Also-eligibles

Welch Racing’s Epic Ride, third in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) in his most recent start, galloped Wednesday morning at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Ky., for trainer John Ennis.

Trainer Jeff Engler reported Mugatu is back in consideration for the Kentucky Derby also-eligible list. The fifth-place finisher of the Blue Grass (GI) is based at Belterra Park in Ohio.

 

KENTUCKY OAKS FILLIES – Recent activity

Gin Gin, Tarifa

The pair worked together Friday morning with Gin Gin beginning front of a very rank Tarifa.

Calumet Farm’s Gin Gin along with Godolphin’s Tarifa each galloped about 1 1/2 miles Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. EDT and then schooled in the paddock following training.

Into Champagne

Gulfstream Parks Oaks (G3) third-place finisher Into Champagne had an easy, 1 1/2-mile gallop Wednesday morning for trainer Ian Wilkes.

She is scheduled to breeze Friday or Saturday.

Just F Y I

Champion filly Just F Y I returned to the track Wednesday for the first time since her sharp five-furlong move in 59.8 seconds Monday morning.

The Bill Mott trainee had a light gallop at 7:30 a.m. EDT.

Leslie’s Rose

Whisper Hill Farm’s Ashland (G1) winner Leslie’s Rose galloped 1 3/8 miles with exercise rider Joel Osorio aboard for four-time Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer Todd Pletcher. Leslie’s Rose is scheduled to work Thursday morning.

Regulatory Risk, Ways and Means

Klaravich Stables’ Regulatory Risk and Ways and Means each galloped 1 1/2 miles Wednesday morning for trainer Chad Brown.

Ways and Means, second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) in her 2024 debut, galloped early under Peter Roman. She will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione in the Oaks.

DRF writer Welsch noted on ‘X’ that Ways and Means had a solid workout on Friday – Al”…another huge one from potential Oaks favorite Ways and Means 4F 24.69 46.18 out 58.90 up 3/4’s 1:11.89.”

Tapit Jenallie

Willis Horton Racing’s Tapit Jenallie is on target to work Thursday morning in preparation for the Oaks eight days later.

Trainer Eddie Milligan Jr. took the homebred daughter of Tapit to the starting gate and paddock before galloping her 1 1/2 miles Wednesday.

“She’s doing really well right now,” Milligan said. “She went into the gate real good, relaxed real good, and she did everything I needed her to do today. We’ll breeze her an easy half-mile (Thursday) then walk her a couple of days after that.”

Tapit Jenallie is scheduled to work Thursday with jockey Manny Ésquivel up.

Thorpedo Anna

Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing’s Thorpedo Anna galloped 1 1/2 miles for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Thorpedo Anna is the winner of three of her four starts with Brian Hernandez Jr., most recently having captured the Fantasy (G2) in her first start this year.

The Fast Anna filly is scheduled to work Friday.

Where’s My Ring

Michael McMillan’s Gazelle (G3) winner Where’s My Ring galloped 1 1/2 miles early Wednesday under David Rodríguez.

“She will jog Thursday and then work a half-mile Friday,” trainer Val Brinkerhoff said of the filly who will be piloted in the Oaks by José Lezcano, who was aboard for the Gazelle victory.

Also-eligibles

Manama Gold, who, at number 15, would be one spot outside the main draw, and Candied, at number 17, each galloped a 1 3/8 miles for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Manama Gold was out early under Jonathan Fabian Águilar, and Candied galloped at 7:30 a.m. EDT under Carlos Quevedo. They are scheduled to work Thursday.

Pletcher said Luis Sáez would have the mount on Candied should she make it into the main body of the race. The rider for Manama Gold is to be determined.

“We will see how she breezes (Thursday),” Pletcher said of Manama Gold and her Oaks status.

Tags: 50th Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, Forever Young, Kentucky Oaks,

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