The road to the Kentucky Derby is heating up, and this weekend brought plenty of exciting updates. Across the country, trainers prepared their best 3-year-olds with key workouts, including some top names making headlines. Let’s dive into the standout performances from Saturday and what they mean for Derby contenders.
Baffert’s Dynamic Duo Leads the Way
Legendary trainer Bob Baffert had a busy morning at Santa Anita with two of his top Kentucky Derby prospects.
- Gaming: A Grade 1 winner, Gaming completed a blazing five-furlong workout in 58.6 seconds, the fastest time of the morning. Gaming recently finished third in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity, but his performance on Saturday suggests he’s in prime condition.
- Citizen Bull: The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner clocked five furlongs in 1:00.6. Citizen Bull has consistently impressed, and his odds in Kentucky Derby futures betting reflect high expectations. As of Sunday, he stood at 28-1 in Las Vegas after closing at 16-1 in the second Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) pool.
12 Notable Derby Hopefuls Work Nationwide
Here’s a closer look at other key workouts and updates on Derby-bound horses from Saturday:
Dominant Spirit (Trainer: Bret Calhoun)
- Workout: Four furlongs in 51.0 seconds at Sam Houston, ranking 40th out of 59 works.
- Recent Start: Third place in the Remington Springboard Mile.
Giocoso (Trainer: Keith Desormeaux)
- Workout: Four furlongs in 50.6 seconds at Fair Grounds.
- Recent Start: Won an allowance race at Churchill Downs, excelling on turf.
Jolly Samurai (Trainer: Danny Pish)
- Workout: Five furlongs in 1:02.6 at Sam Houston.
- Recent Start: Fifth place in the Remington Springboard Mile.
Keep It Easy (Trainer: Dale Romans)
- Workout: Four furlongs in 48.2 seconds at Gulfstream Park, placing 15th out of 97 works.
- Recent Start: Winner of the Ed Brown Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Optical (Trainer: Keith Desormeaux)
- Workout: Five furlongs in 59.6 seconds at Fair Grounds, the fastest time at the distance.
- Recent Start: A starter allowance victory at Churchill Downs.
Spotlight on Rising Contenders
Some lesser-known but promising horses also showed their potential in workouts:
- San Saba (Trainer: Bob Baffert): Five furlongs in 58.8 seconds at Santa Anita, coming off a third-place finish in a maiden race.
- Tux (Trainer: Bill Mott): Four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Payson Park, continuing strong efforts after placing in the Remsen (G2).
- Vassimo (Trainer: Todd Pletcher): Worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds on Friday at Palm Beach Downs. This colt is building momentum after winning a maiden race at Gulfstream Park.
What’s Next on the Derby Trail?
The performances over the weekend provide a glimpse into which horses are shaping up as serious Derby contenders. Trainers are fine-tuning strategies, balancing intense workouts with careful preparation to peak at the right time. Key graded stakes in the coming weeks will help determine who earns a coveted spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
The Kentucky Derby trail is full of excitement, with top contenders showing their potential during weekend workouts. Bob Baffert’s horses, Gaming and Citizen Bull, lead a competitive group of 3-year-olds aiming for Derby glory. As these young stars continue to develop, the road to Churchill Downs will only become more thrilling.
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