Kentucky Derby Update for April 22

By Emily Shields

Kentucky Derby (May 4) action is heating up at Churchill Downs with four horses having workouts over the Louisville strip on Monday morning.

With trainer Bob Baffert in attendance, Improbable made quite the impression working four furlongs in :48 flat, the fourth fastest of 79 works at the distance. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.40.

Improbable wore blinkers in his workouts prior to the Arkansas Derby (G1), where he was the runner up, and in the race itself. His Sunday work was sans blinkers, which will come back off for the Run for the Roses. He will have his final workout next Sunday.

Louisiana Derby winner By My Standards worked six furlongs in 1:12.80 and is quickly becoming this year’s buzz horse. The Bret Calhoun trainee has been impressing in the mornings, and galloped out seven furlongs Monday.

Bill Mott trainee and Wood Memorial (G2) winner Tacitus worked in company with stablemate Ballagh Rocks, a Belmont Park graded stakes winner and grade 1 placed runner. Tacitus went a half mile in :50 flat. He has not worked since winning the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 6. His stablemate and fellow Derby hopeful Country House will not work until next weekend. 

Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Long Range Toddy went five furlongs in 1:02.60 and galloped out six panels in 1:16.20. Steve Asmussen trains the flashy son of Take Charge Indy, who is four for eight lifetime and has over $850,000 in earnings. It was his first work since running sixth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 13.

More horses are slated to arrive on the grounds soon. War of Will is next, scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, followed by Code of Honor Wednesday. Game Winner and Roadster are expected in from California either April 24 or 27, and Japanese contender Master Fencer will be on the grounds by April 29. Florida shippers Cutting Humor, Maximum Security, Spinoff, and Vekoma will be the last horses to arrive next week.

To find out more about the Kentucky Derby contenders, click here.

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