Kentucky Derby Update & Updated Leaderboards: Likely Longines Kentucky Oaks Favorite Good Cheer Works Five-Furlong Bullet in :59.40

Apr 17, 2025

Godolphin’s Good Cheer, the likely favorite for the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I), turned in her most serious work to date Thursday morning at Churchill Downs with a five-furlong breeze in a sharp :59.40, the fastest of 10 at the distance.

The undefeated daughter of Medaglia d’Oro hit the track at 7:15 a.m. (all times Eastern) wearing her usual set of blinkers and partnered with trainer Brad Cox’s longtime exercise rider Edvin Vargas. She began her workout at the 4 ½-furlong pole and broke off about two lengths behind stablemate Saucier. After an opening quarter-mile in :23.60, Good Cheer ranged up to the outside of her workmate and the duo completed the work together. Good Cheer began to edge clear on the gallop out and completed six furlongs in 1:13.

“The work was executed very well,” Cox said. “She was meant to sit a couple lengths off her workmate and ranged up alongside at the quarter pole. She eased away a little bit on the gallop out. Overall, I thought it was a really good move. She’s doing really well. I was really happy with her and Edvin was very happy with her. She’s just a solid filly.”

Good Cheer is perfect in six starts, with three consecutive Grade II victories in the Golden Rod, Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra and Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks.

“When horses are undefeated, you can feel a little bit of added pressure,” Cox said. “That’s all part of it. It’s a good position to be in. Hopefully we can pull through. She’s a straightforward horse. She’s perfect in six starts and has won all her races by daylight. We’re just trying to keep her happy and healthy.”

Cox is no stranger to success in the Kentucky Oaks, having won the race in 2018 with Monomoy Girl and again in 2020 with Shedaresthedevil.

“It’s really hard to compare these three horses,” Cox said. “Obviously, if Good Cheer can win this race, she puts her name right there with those fillies. I think we have some unfinished business with her. We need to win some Grade Is and the Oaks will be the biggest challenge she’s had to date – maybe the biggest she’ll ever have, given the caliber of this race.”

Cox is scheduled to travel to Payson Park on Thursday afternoon to watch Florida Derby (GI) winner Tappan Street work Friday. The colt is expected to van to Churchill Downs on Saturday, according to Cox.

KENTUCKY DERBY MORNING WORKS SHOW EXPANDS TO 14 DAYS OFFERING BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACCESS TO DERBY, OAKS TRAINING – The Kentucky Derby Morning Works Show presented by TwinSpires.com will return Friday with 14 consecutive days of live coverage, offering fans an exclusive look at the final preparations of Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders.

Airing daily from 6:45-7:45 a.m. (all times Eastern), the one-hour program will be streamed live on the Kentucky Derby Facebook Page and YouTube account. The show will highlight the 15-minute exclusive training window from 7:15-7:30 a.m. for horses preparing for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) and the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).

Hosted by Churchill Downs’ expert handicappers Joe Kristufek, Kaitlin Free, Tony Calo and Kevin Kilroy, the show will include insight, commentary and exclusive interviews from notable figures such as former leading rider Rosie Napravnik, Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone, TwinSpires.com handicapper James Scully and Churchill Downs racing analyst Megan Burgess.

All Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders are required to be on-site by Saturday, April 26. The show will continue through Thursday, May 1, showcasing every contender’s final training sessions leading into Kentucky Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks.

For more information, visit www.kentuckyderby.com

COADY PHOTOGRAPHY MEDIA PORTAL – Media members can access photos of Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders here: https://www.coadyplus.com/gallery/Churchill-Downs-Spring-2025-Media/G0000mObeZBZmx8U/C0000PLb2ljPK8UQ.

Please credit all photos to Coady Media/Churchill Downs.

KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS AND NOTES – Eleven Kentucky Derby contenders within the top 20 preference list are stabled at Churchill Downs: Admire Daytona (JPN), Burnham Square, Coal Battle, East Avenue, Final Gambit, Flying Mohawk, Owen Almighty, Publisher, Sandman, Sovereignty and Tiztastic. … Blue Grass Stakes (GI) winner Burnham Square is scheduled to return to the Churchill Downs work tab on Saturday, according to trainer Ian Wilkes and be ridden by Kentucky Derby 150 winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. … Trainer Brendan Walsh reported Blue Grass Stakes runner-up East Avenue is scheduled to have his next work on Friday. Walsh confirmed Manny Franco would ride in the Derby. … Trainer Whit Beckman said he’s scheduled to breeze Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) runner-up Flying Mohawk along with his Longines Kentucky Oaks contenders Drexel Hill and Simply Joking on Saturday. … Trainer Bill Mott arrived at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, shortly after his Kentucky Derby contender Sovereignty hit the grounds. Mott stated Sovereignty could work Saturday morning. … Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Journalism is scheduled to depart Santa Anita early Tuesday morning and fly via FedEx to Indianapolis, then van to Churchill Downs. Trainer Bob Baffert’s trio of Derby contenders Citizen Bull, Madaket Road and Rodriguez, along with several stablemates, are tentatively scheduled on two separate flights out of California. They would either be on the same flight with Journalism arriving on Tuesday or arrive next Thursday afternoon. … Santa Anita Derby (GI) runner-up Baeza is tentatively scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs next Thursday. Flavien Prat was named to ride in the event he draws into the Derby field. … Javier Castellano has been given the call to ride Owen Almighty in the Derby. … John Battaglia Memorial (Listed) winner California Burrito has re-entered the Kentucky Derby conversation, according to his trainer Tom Drury Jr., and will be No. 25 on the preference list.