April 15 Kentucky Derby Update

Apr 15, 2017 Kevin Kerstein

LOUISIANA DERBY WINNER GIRVIN BREEZES AT CHURCHILL DOWNS' TRACKSIDE -- Kentucky Derby contender Girvin recorded his first breeze since winning the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (Grade II) with a half-mile move in :47.80 on Saturday morning at Trackside Louisville, Churchill Downs’ satellite training center located five miles from the home of the Derby.

Girvin, with regular exercise rider and former jockey Rosie Napravnik aboard, breezed in company with stablemate Cool Arrow . The official clocker caught the 3-year-old son of Tale of Ekati in splits of :11.60, :23 and :35.20 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.80 over a fast surface.

“It was a little quicker than I would have liked for his first work back,” said 32-year-old trainer Joe Sharp. “Both he and Cool Arrow were on the bridle which is good. Rosie was happy with it and he seems to be cooling out well which will set him up for his work next week.”

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who has signed on to ride the colt on the first Saturday in May, will fly to Louisville, Ky. for next week’s workout. Sharp was unsure if Girvin would breeze at Trackside Louisville or van to Churchill Downs.

Girvin has a career record of 4-3-1-0 with all three wins coming at Fair Grounds. Prior to his 1 ¼-length triumph in the Louisiana Derby, the colt was the two-length conqueror of the Feb. 25 Risen Star (GII).

Girvin will be owner Brad Grady and Sharp’s first Kentucky Derby entrant.

SPIRAL WINNER FAST AND ACCURATE RECORDS BULLET WORK AT TRACKSIDE – Spiral Stakes (Grade III) upset-winner Fast and Accurate recorded a five-furlong breeze in :59.60 on Saturday morning at the Trackside Louisville training center in preparation for a start in the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) on Saturday, May 6.

The 3-year-old Hansen colt trained by Mike Maker worked in company with stablemate On John and was credited with fractional splits of :12, :24, :35.80 and :47.60. Fast and Accurate galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.80.

Fast and Accurate is not nominated to the Triple Crown but owners Kendal Hansen and Skychai Racing have said they will pay the $200,000 supplemental nomination to become eligible for the Kentucky Derby.

With a career record of 6-3-1-0, Fast and Accurate has recorded all three of his victories on a turf or a synthetic surface.

Fast and Accurate is stabled in Maker’s Barn K at Trackside Louisville and is expected to breeze there next Saturday.

FAIR GROUNDS OAKS WINNER FARRELL BREEZES AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Farrell, a top contender for the 1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) after winning the TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (GII), breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Friday, May 5 race.

The 3-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon went to the “fast” track at 6 a.m. and clipped through fractions of :13, :25, :36 and  :48.40, before galloping out three quarters of a mile in 1:14.40.

“She worked great,” said Fernando Canteria, assistant to trainer Wayne Catalano. “It was a very solid work.”

Farrell has a career record of 7-5-0-1 and has banked earnings of $601,357. She is stabled in Barn 30. 

DOWN THE STRETCH – Peacock Racing Stables’ Gunnevera breezed five furlongs in 1:00.60 Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park West in South Florida. The 3-year-old son of Dialed In is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Saturday, April 22. … The Mark Casse-trained duo of State of Honor and Salty are expected to record breezes Sunday at Churchill Downs when the racetrack opens at 6 a.m. Florida Derby (GI) runner-up State of Honor is targeting the Kentucky Derby, while Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII) winner Salty is one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Oaks. … Reminder: Late nominations for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI) and nominations to other Derby Week stakes races at Churchill Downs close on Saturday, April 15. The stakes races are the April 29: $100,000 William Walker; May 4: $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile; May 5: $150,000 Edgewood (GIII), $200,000 Eight Belles (GII), $400,000 Alysheba (GII), $300,000 La Troienne (GI) and $150,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GIII); May 6: $250,000 Pat Day Mile (GIII), $300,000 American Turf (GII), $500,000 Churchill Downs (GII), $300,000 Distaff Turf Mile (GII) and $300,000 Humana Distaff (GI).