Florida Derby candidates get to work

Undefeated DUNKIRK (Unbridled's Song), the highly rated sophomore who is

undefeated in two starts, posted his latest workout Saturday morning at Palm

Meadows Training Center as trainer Todd Pletcher prepares him for his first

career stakes attempt in the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) on March 28 at

Gulfstream Park.

Dunkirk breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 under exercise rider Patti Barry.

Pletcher caught the colt's last quarter-mile in :23 4/5.

A $3.7 million Keeneland September Yearling Sales purchase in 2007, Dunkirk has been

very impressive in maiden and allowance victories on January 24 and

February 19, respectively. Dunkirk was a 5 3/4-length winner of his

seven-furlong debut, then blasted a nine-furlong allowance field by 4 3/4

lengths while overcoming a wide trip. The two performances have been enough to

make Dunkirk co-favored in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 going

into a major weekend of prep races.

"I guess it looks like the public has the same opinion of this horse that we

do," Pletcher said. "He's been very impressive in his two starts and he has the

pedigree to go along with the ability that he's shown."

Pletcher indicated Dunkirk's next two weeks ahead of the Florida Derby would

be "straightforward," with a final breeze slated for next Saturday,

weather permitting.

With two weeks to go until the Florida Derby, Fountain of Youth S. (G2)

runner-up THEREGOESJOJO (Brahms) displayed what is becoming a trademark quick

turn of foot in his latest workout Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park.

The Kentucky-bred coasted through most of his five-furlong drill under

exercise rider Amanda Tamburello while in company with maiden Glittermans Cartel

(Champali) until the eighth-pole. That's when Tamburello asked Theregoesjojo for

his move. He responded by drawing away from his workmate in a matter of a few

strides, crossing the finish line in 1:01 4/5.

Trainer Ken McPeek, in New Orleans to saddle Free Country (Big Country) in

the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds, received updates by phone from

assistant trainer Billy Wright and declared himself satisfied with the way the

colt worked. Wright said he clocked Theregoesjojo's final eighth in :11 3/5.

Theregoesjojo has a seven-furlong allowance victory on his resume from

earlier this meet when he defeated Quality Road (Elusive Quality) by 2 3/4

lengths on January 10. The two reversed that order of finish in the February 28

Fountain of Youth, with Quality Road scoring by 4 1/4 lengths in the one-mile

rematch. Both are expected back for the Florida Derby.

BEETHOVEN (Sky Mesa), another Florida Derby probable, is getting stronger

each day and displayed some of that Saturday morning at Gulfstream with a

five-furlong workout.

"He looks like Sylvester Stallone," trainer John Ward said. "He is really

muscling up right now."

Ward sent the Kentucky-bred into Saturday's drill looking for some of that

strength, but also some controllability. After a jog, and then galloping once

around Gulfstream's 1 1/8-mile main track with Grade 1-placed Dr. Pleasure

(Thunder Gulch) acting something like a pony, exercise rider Bulent Muhcu shook

Beethoven into action and they cruised through steady fractions to an official

clocking of :59 4/5.

Ward caught the seven-furlong gallop out in 1:27, but said he told Muhcu by

radio to back off the colt through the stretch.

Beethoven was very nervous in the paddock before his most recent start when

third in the Fountain of Youth and developed a considerable sweat ahead of that

race. He was sweaty again Saturday morning and stopped three times from the barn

to the track, but Ward is dismissing those things as signs his athlete is

developing.

"He's like one of those basketball players that never plays well in the first

six minutes of a game," he said. "Those guys don't get going until they've got a

sweat going and they're all warmed up. He's like that too."

Ward also showed off one of the things that he feels is helping Beethoven

reach his athletic potential. After two laps around the shedrow following the

work, Beethoven is turned loose in his stall where he takes two enthusiastic

rolls in his bed of hay.

"It helps him loosen everything up and gets everything back in alignment,"

Ward said. "He gives himself a full-body shake. He's like a dog getting back

from a bath. It's good for his whole body and it shows that he's got everything

in the right place and feeling good after a tough work like that."

Ward said Beethoven would be back on track next Saturday for his final

workout before the Florida Derby. After winning the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2)

at Churchill Downs on November 29 to close out his two-year-old campaign, the

colt finished fourth in the January 31 Holy Bull S. (G3) after drawing the

outside post going 1 1/8 miles. He was then third in the Fountain of Youth while

cutting back to a one-turn mile. Ward is happy with the way the schedule has

unfolded in the last two months.

"We changed up the days between his works for his last race," he said. "Now

I've got him back on a seven-day (workout) schedule. He'll come back next week

with one of his slow, easy works. Then we just look forward to a fair draw in

the Florida Derby."