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On the Kentucky Derby worktab
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Big Truck, a game winner of the Tampa Bay Derby two back,
will attempt to rebound from a disappointing effort over the
Polytrack at Keeneland
(Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com) |
Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner BIG TRUCK (Hook and Ladder) breezed four furlongs
in :48 4/5 on Keeneland's Polytrack on Tuesday in preparation for the 134th
running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 3 at Churchill Downs. Trainer Barclay
Tagg described the move as a "maintenance work." It ranked eighth out of 43
works at the distance.
"He went a little faster that I wanted, but it's fine," Tagg said. "I
generally like their maintenance works to be around :49, but it's no problem."
Big Truck most recently finished 11th in the Blue Grass S. (G1) on April 12
at Keeneland. In his prior start, he defeated Atoned (Repent) in the Tampa Bay
Derby. The bay colt currently ranks 20th on the Kentucky Derby graded stakes
earnings list with $194,500.
Tagg's other Derby contender, Wood Memorial (G1) hero TALE OF EKATI (Tale of
the Cat), is scheduled to work five furlongs at Keeneland on Wednesday.
Javier Castellano has the mount on Big Truck and Eibar Coa is slated to ride
Tale of Ekati. Tagg plans to ship both colts to Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Gotham S. (G3) winner VISIONAIRE (Grand Slam), who finished a closing fifth
in the Blue Grass, breezed four furlongs in :49 3/5 in company with Scenery
Change (Royal Academy), a four-year-old maiden filly who was awarded the same
time.
Jockey Jose Lezcano was aboard the Michael Matz trainee, who is scheduled to
turn in his final work prior to the Run for the Roses on Monday at Churchill
Downs.
"He just did a little maintenance work here, and then he'll do one more at
Churchill," Matz said.
Visionaire currently ranks 19th on the graded earnings list with $202,500.
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OBS Championship S. winner HALO NAJIB (Halo's Image) breezed four furlongs in
:50 2/5 on a firm turf course at Churchill Downs. The Dale Romans trainee most
recently finished seventh in the Blue Grass after a good runner-up performance
in the Lane's End S. (G2) on March 22 at Turfway Park.
"I wanted to see how he would handle the grass," Romans said. "If you don't
get in (the Kentucky Derby), he would go in the Crown Royal (American Turf S.
[G3] on May 2). It looked like he handled if fine."
Halo Najib has $157,996 in graded stakes earnings and is on the outside
looking in with respect to securing a position in the Kentucky Derby field.
TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park), last seen finishing third in the Arkansas Derby
(G2) on April 12 at Oaklawn Park, breezed three furlongs on the main track in :35 3/5.
The Beau Greeley trainee has only $118,000 in graded stakes earnings and would need many
defections in order to make the field for Derby 134.
"It is not really frustrating," co-owner John Greeley said. "If a bunch drop
out and we get in, fine. If not, we go on to the Preakness (S. [G1] on May 17 at
Pimlico)."
In other Kentucky Derby news:
Blue Grass winner MONBA (Maria's Mon) and runner-up COWBOY CAL (Giant's
Causeway) remain on target for their final works on Saturday or Sunday at Keeneland prior to Derby 134, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.
"We'll stay here through the weekend and move to Churchill next week
depending on the weather," Pletcher said.
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