Sun King works at Churchill Downs

Sun King is undefeated in two starts this year  (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

In his first workout at Churchill Downs, SUN KING (Charismatic) breezed five furlongs

over a fast track in

1:02 4/5 on Monday in preparation for the

$750,000 Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland on April 16. With owner Tracy Farmer

and trainer Nick Zito watching from the grandstand, the dark bay colt went in

fractions of :13, :25 2/5, :37 3/5 and :49 1/5 before galloping out six furlongs

in 1:16 2/5 under exercise rider Carlos Correa.

Sun King won the March 19 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) by 3 1/4 lengths as the

prohibitive 1-20 favorite after rolling to an impressive 5 3/4-length victory against

first-level allowance foes going one mile in his seasonal debut at Gulfstream

Park in late February. The colt, who closed out his juvenile campaign with solid

third-place performances in the Champagne S. (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile

(G1), is widely considered one of Zito's best three-year-olds and a top

contender for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1).

Zito said his one-two finishers in last Saturday's Florida Derby (G1) -- HIGH

FLY (Atticus) and NOBLE CAUSEWAY (Giant's Causeway) -- arrived at Keeneland on

Sunday. He hopes that both horses can be shipped to Churchill Downs in the next

few days. Horses stabled at Palm Meadows and Gulfstream Park are currently

prohibited from shipping into Churchill Downs due to the recent outbreak of

strangles in Florida.