As the 2025 Kentucky Derby draws closer, two standout horses, Poster and Cyclone State, are leading the pack in their workouts. Both horses have made impressive progress in their training and are showing great potential for the big race. Along with these two, six other Derby hopefuls have been putting in hard work to prepare for the prestigious event. Here’s a closer look at their workouts and progress.
Poster’s Strong Performance
Poster, who is undefeated in his career, has been making waves since his victory in the Grade 2 Remsen on December 7. This win added to his perfect record, which now stands at three wins. On Friday, Poster worked for the second time since his last victory, completing four furlongs in 50.2 seconds over the Tapeta at Turfway Park. While he is not yet a major favorite in the Kentucky Derby futures, he continues to show promise. The horse is trained by Eoin Harty and is currently listed at 45-1 in Las Vegas Derby futures.
Cyclone State Makes Headlines with Fast Workout
Cyclone State, a recent winner of an allowance race at Aqueduct, turned heads with the fastest workout of the day. The Iowa-bred horse covered five furlongs in 1:01.21 at Belmont Park, which was the fastest time out of six horses working over that distance. Trained by Chad Summers, Cyclone State showed he has what it takes to compete at a high level. His recent performances, including a gate-to-wire win as a favorite, have him at 100-1 in Kentucky Derby futures.
Other Notable Workers in the Kentucky Derby Trail
Along with Poster and Cyclone State, several other horses are also preparing for the Kentucky Derby with strong workouts. These include:
- Dominant Spirit (Mohaymen), who worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Sam Houston. He placed third in the Remington Springboard Mile in his last start.
- First Resort (Uncle Mo), a Grade 2 winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club, worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Turfway Park. He won the Kentucky Jockey Club in his most recent race.
- Vassimo (Nyquist) worked four furlongs in 49.7 seconds at Palm Beach Downs. He won a maiden race at Gulfstream Park recently.
Clock Tower and Handsome Pants Also Show Strong Form
On Thursday, Clock Tower, a Grade 3 winner, completed five furlongs in 59.2 seconds at Santa Anita, marking the fastest time of the day. Handsome Pants worked three furlongs in 35.8 seconds at Fair Grounds, showing his speed after a break since his last race.
Looking Ahead to the Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby trail is getting exciting as more horses show their potential through impressive workouts. Poster and Cyclone State are definitely names to watch, but with so many talented horses working hard, the competition for a spot in the Derby will be fierce. As we move closer to the race, these workouts will be crucial in determining who is truly ready for the big day.
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