In addition to the great workout insights in the 1/ST BET and Xpressbet Kentucky Derby Wager Guide, the talented team at XBTV has provided some additional, updated insights.
Millie Ball’s Updated Workout Notes
MIDNIGHT BOURBON
Midnight Bourbon’s final work April 26 was very different from his breeze April 19. While still enthusiastic about his job, he remained controlled from start to finish, and by working alone this week, there was no temptation to race his company. His is an imposing 3-year-old who, on this particular morning, moved very fluidly over the Churchill surface and who, according to Steve Asmussen, “has a high cruising speed which will be hard to keep pace with.” He appears the type who will need to break cleanly to afford him a chance to set the pace. I fear any early traffic will be detrimental to this very big, fleshy colt. Being that he is fresh, with six weeks between races, this five-furlong work, five days out, should help keep his feet on the ground until raceday!
KNOWN AGENDA
As I predicted, Known Agenda’s final work came 8 days prior to the race on April 23, Todd Pletcher sticking with the exact same schedule as Always Dreaming from his 2017 victory. It was no more flashy than any one of his others since the Florida Derby win, but this colt strikes me as having a huge advantage over his Derby rivals. NOTHING is going to rattle this son of Curlin. When paired up, on the inside or outside, he will do only as much as is asked of him, and appears honest enough to keep producing more whenever given the cue to do so, in this case a couple of taps during the work and on the gallop-out by his pilot, Irad Ortiz Jr. His efficiency over this track will only help his cause.
Michelle Yu’s Updated Workout Notes
ROCK YOUR WORLD
Very good energy from Rock Your World this week (April 24 at Santa Anita) as he dragged his rider to be in front of his company by the top of the turn. Extending pretty much on his own, he powered away from a much overmatched mate, which seemed to give him a boost of energy. Moving fluidly in the lane and he continued a healthy gallop-out. Happy horse.
HIGHLY MOTIVATED
Final prep was at CD April 24 in company after working at Keeneland prior. Picking it up, he showed an instant acceleration when the rider let his hands down an inch. Mate under a drive before the top of the stretch and Highly Motivated maintained his advantage with the rider statuesque in the irons. Excellent work, though he did need a tap to finish the gallop-out.
Jeff Siegel's Exclusive Workout Grades
(Listed in order based on the grades assigned to each workout)
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ROCK YOUR WORLD - April 24, 2021, Santa Anita, 5f, :59.1h
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Broke off about a half-length outside behind Best Chance (5f, 1:00h) and was cruising to the top before being given his cue and leaving his workmate easily with powerful long strides under light hand coaxing, then continued out to the 7/8 pole while full of run, splits on our watches of :24 flat, :35.2 and :59.2 to the wire and then out a full six furlongs in 1:11.3 without really taking a deep breath. This is the best we have seen him work; prior to his Santa Anita Derby win the son of Candy Ride needed to be pushed and shoved on to earn fast clocking but now he is doing it on his own. Galloped out like he will relish 10 furlongs and farther. GRADE: A
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DYNAMIC ONE – April 23, 2021, Churchill Downs, 4f, :47.4b
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In blinkers, in company breaking off a length behind outside Prime Factor (same time) for T. Pletcher, engaged that one entering the lane and was breezing through the lane to finish stride-for-stride before being asked to gallop out stronger than ‘Factor to the six furlong pole and did so in good style while appearing sharp and on edge. Improving with experience and maturity and appears set to produce another forward move. GRADE: B+
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HELIUM – April 23, 2011, Churchill Downs, 4f, :49.4b
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Broke off a length behind workmate, was breezing in effortless fashion while taking control into the lane and was just cruising to the wire before galloping out without taking a deep breath and appearing sharp and content. Undefeated in three career starts and was pounds best (very wide throughout) in the Tampa Bay Derby-G2 in his only 2021 outing six weeks ago. GRADE: B+
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SAINTHOOD – April 23, 2021, Churchill Downs, 5f, 1:01b
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In company outside Known Agenda (same time) for T. Pletcher and may have been a tad the best while appearing to be going the easier of the two most of the way without ever being turned loose (workmate under mild coaxing at the head of the lane to remain even), with the pair galloping out stride-for-stride to the six furlong pole. Had plenty throughout, certainly handled the dirt track just fine and appears to have come on nicely since his last race in mid-March. GRADE: B+
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HOT ROD CHARLIE – April 24, 2021, Santa Anita, 6f, 1:13.3h
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In blinkers, in company outside Chasing Fame (5f, 1:01.3h), breaking off a couple of lengths behind workmate at the five furlong pole and stalking that one in hand to the head of the lane before responding without being asked to roll on by in a visually pleasing manner, splits of :24.3, :36.2 and 1:00.4 (to the wire) and then out to 7/8 pole in 1:13.2 on our watches (eased up to the six furlong pole in 1:27.2). Not scintillating from a time standpoint but did just what was asked of him and was nice and relaxed and happy throughout. GRADE: B
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MANDOLOUN – April 17, 2021, Churchill Downs, 6f, 1:11.2b
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In blinkers, team drill outside Colonel Bowman (6f, 1:11.4b) for B. Cox, breaking off a length behind while being hard held, joining his company midway on the turn, hitting the wire almost a length in front without being asked (workmate under urging) and then being put to some pressure to finish out the drill to 7/8 pole and then gallop out an extra furlong. Did well enough, strikes us as a one-paced grinding type without a true turn of foot. GRADE: B
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BOURBONIC – April 23, 2021, Churchill Downs, 4f, :49.4b
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In blinkers, worked alone and looked fine without being asked, steady splits before galloping out with some energy all the way around to the half mile pole, doing what was asked of him. Plenty fit, maintains his form, the farther the better for this long-winded son of Bernardini. GRADE: B
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ESSENTIAL QUALITY - April 17, 2021, Churchill Downs, 5f, :59.3b
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In blinkers, in company outside Spa City (5f, :59.4b) while in hand to the top of the lane and then was under mild coaxing to finish head-and-head at the wire (workmate lightly ridden as well) but never could get by ‘City galloping out despite being ridden as bit with workmate slightly best by almost one length galloping out to the six furlong pole. We cannot knock the drill – the clocking was good, and the B. Cox-trained colt was moving well - but we were hoping to see a bit more from the Kentucky Derby favorite. GRADE: B
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KNOWN AGENDA – April 23, 2021, Churchill Downs, 5f, 1:01b
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In blinkers, in company inside Sainthood (same time), went off in hand but was about a half-length back at the top before being asked a bit through the lane (workmate breezing) and “re-rallied” to wind up head-and-head at the wire, then galloped out stride-for-stride, decent drill though it appeared workmate could have opened up a bit through the lane if allowed to. Curlin colt is not a speed type, and this type of drill probably does not cast him in his best light; we will classify it as a decent drill but not much better than that. GRADE: B
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MEDINA SPIRT – April 22, 2021, Santa Anita, 6f, 1:12.1h
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In company outside Azul Coast (6f, 1:12.1h) for B. Baffert and went stride-for-stride with ‘Coast to the head of the lane (neither being asked) before drawing clear approaching the wire to be a little more than a length in front that point (mostly on his own), then drew clear while being ridden out to 7/8 pole while appearing to be leaning in just a tad, splits of :23.3, :35.3, 1:00 flat and 1:12.2 on our watches, galloping out six furlong pole in 1:26.3 well clear of workmate while perhaps losing his focus just a bit. Solid final time but not particularly noteworthy from a visual standpoint. Looks about the same, no better, no worse. GRADE: B
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SOUP AND SANDWICH – April 23, 2021, Churchill Downs, 4f, :50b
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In company outside Peace Achieved (4f, :50.3b) for M. Casse, was extremely rank approaching the pole while attempting to break off a couple of lengths behind workmate, dropped his head and relaxed a bit once in motion but remained under a tight hold to the top of the lane and then was pulling hard while taking control through the stretch before drawing clear under wraps and remaining somewhat unsettled on the gallop out. Was too keen for our liking early on and may be the type that will resent rating tactics; probably be happiest if simply allowed to bowl along. Previous drill (April 17) was much smoother and more relaxed. GRADE: B-
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O BESOS – April 22, 201, Churchill Downs, 4f, :48b
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In blinkers in solo drill, under a hold from the three furlong pole while wanting to get out a bit entering the lane, then was put to pressure while passing the wire and then continuing out to the six furlong pole, never really leveling and not producing the desired response. Perhaps needs company; hard to endorse enthusiastically based on this move. GRADE: C
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