The 144th running of the infamous Kentucky Derby is just 13 days away. All of the final prep races have been completed and the twenty horses worthy of competing for the roses have been discovered. The final step left for these equine athletes is to train for their life changing start in America's greatest race.
With the first Saturday in May creeping ever closer, each and every move made by these young contenders will be critical. There is no room for setbacks or mistakes at this point. To find success in a race as demanding and exalting as the Kentucky Derby, a horse needs to come into the race in top form, both mentally and physically, as the twenty horse fray and sea of over 100,000 screaming fans will be unlike anything these young horses have ever seen before. They are about to enter the biggest race of their entire lives, and fortunately for some of the top contenders, they couldn't be doing any better right now.
Good Magic returned to the work tab on Saturday, April 21st, exactly two weeks after his impressive score in the Blue Grass Stakes (Gr.2). With rider, Walter Malasquez in the saddle, Good Magic enthusiastically got down to business, drilling over the Keeneland track with superb vitality. It quickly became clear that the Blue Grass Stakes took little out of him, as he swiftly and effortlessly kicked through four furlongs in :48 flat. The Keeneland clockers timed his gallop out at 1:00 flat at the five furlong mark, and a final time of 1:14 when he galloped out six furlongs.
The sharp work that Good Magic delivered was the 8th fastest move of the 77 horses that worked four furlongs that morning. Good Magic's solid time and willing mindset were exactly what trainer, Chad Brown, wanted to see. The work was dubbed as "outstanding" by Brown, who stated that the work was everything he was looking for. The flashy chestnut seems to be steadily improving every day, which is a scary thought for his competition, as Good Magic may just be coming into the Kentucky Derby in the best form of his life. Good Magic is slated to arrive at Churchill Downs on Sunday (April 22), so that he can have a full week to adjust to the battlegrounds of the Kentucky Derby. His final drill for the "Run for the Roses" will come next weekend. After that, it won't be much longer until we find out if magic is real.
Another formidable contender for the Kentucky Derby who is looking sharp is the undefeated, Justify. The Bob Baffert trainee worked six furlongs at Santa Anita on Saturday, starting off a couple of lengths behind his workmate. The big, red horse was striding along easily enough, and began to turn things on as the work progressed. Extending his mechanical-like stride, Justify gracefully propelled himself ahead of his workmate and began drawing away at the five furlong mark. His six furlong move was completed in 1:13.20, with a gallop out time of 1:26.80 for seven furlongs.
Baffert was pleased with the strong work that his charge turned in and plans to breeze his colt one last time at Santa Anita before shipping his colt to Churchill Downs. If Justify continues to work toward the Kentucky Derby with the same gusto and fortitude that he has carried through every step of his career so far, he just might have a say in the outcome of this year's Kentucky Derby.
Just like Good Magic and Justify, Enticed seems to be blossoming as he prepares to make his bid in the "Run for the Roses". The massive son of Medaglia d'Oro worked five furlongs on April 19, with stablemate, Take Charge Paula. The dark, imposing colt pounded through his drill in 1:01.20, dashing away from Take Charge Paula at the end. Enticed's move was the second fastest work for five furlongs at Palm Meadows that day.
Trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin stated via Twitter that the five furlong move was one of the best workouts he has seen from his charge this whole year. Enticed is set to have his next workout for the Kentucky Derby on Thursday, April 26.
The immensely talented and incredibly gritty, Flameaway, has gotten a jump start on many of his contenders, and is already settled in at Churchill Downs. The gallant son of Scat Daddy had his first work over the Churchill Downs strip on April 21, traveling five furlongs in 1:00.40. The plucky colt then galloped out six furlongs in a solid final time of 1:14.40, streaking merrily down the stretch. His strong gallop out and obvious enthusiasm was an impressive sight, as Flameaway isn't the type of horse who normally turns in flashy gallop outs during his works. In fact, the connections of Flameaway declared that it was the greatest gallop out they had ever seen from their colt, suggesting that Flameaway is coming into the Kentucky Derby in the best form of his life. This courageous, battle-tested colt couldn't be doing any better, and that makes him a serious threat to his foes when the starting gates open on the first Saturday in May. Flameaway is a reliable horse that always shows up and runs his race, and based off of how he is training right now, you can count on hearing from him in the stretch of the Kentucky Derby.
Flameaway is expected to turn in a final maintenance work for the Kentucky Derby on either the 28th or 29th of April.
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