Nine 3-year-olds breezed April 27 at Churchill Downs in preparation for the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1), highlighted by a joint workout from Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Domestic Product and Risen Star Stakes (G2) and Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Sierra Leone.
The duo worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5, with both colts finishing under holds from their riders. They galloped out with energy, timed with six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 and seven furlongs in 1:26 1/5.
SIERRA LEONE (inside) worked 5 furlongs in company with DOMESTIC PRODUCT (outside) for trainer Chad Brown. #KyDerby150 🌹 @RosieNapravnik & @JoeyDaKRacing provide their insight on this duo's performance.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 27, 2024
⏱️ 1:00.20 pic.twitter.com/p8zI4As8a7
Other Derby prospects to breeze Saturday were Dornoch and Society Man (timed in :46 3/5 in a joint half-mile workout); Catching Freedom and Encino (both clocked in :59 1/5 for a five-furlong in-company drill); Just a Touch (five furlongs in 1:00 4/5); West Saratoga (three furlongs in :37 1/5); and Mystik Dan (five furlongs in 1:01 1/5).
An overflow field of 22 horses, a lineup that will include Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Endlessly and Lexington Stakes (G3) winner Encino, neither of whom were confirmed for the classic until recently, has been entered for the 150th Kentucky Derby. In addition to the entries of the top 20 horses on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, Blue Grass Stakes third, Epic Ride, and fifth, Mugatu, have been entered as also-eligibles 21 and 22, respectively. Post positions will be drawn Saturday evening.
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione was aboard Domestic Product for Saturday's breeze, though he will ride Sierra Leone in the Kentucky Derby, while Irad Ortiz Jr. pilots Domestic Product in the Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown. Trainer Chad Brown trains both horses.
"My rider, Kriss Bon, knows Sierra Leone so well and everything has been going so perfect with that relationship there," Brown said. "I was never thinking of him not working the horse. With Irad having to go to New York to ride today, he wasn't able to work Domestic Product. But Tyler was perfect because he's ridden him before."
Ridden and won on him—guiding him to victory in the Tampa Bay Derby.
Stepping up from a grade 3, Domestic Product is a longshot in this year's Kentucky Derby, while grade 1 winner Sierra Leone is expected to be the second favorite behind the Todd Pletcher-trained Fierceness.
Catching Freedom, Encino, and Just a Touch
On the fence about Lexington Stakes winner Encino's Derby status off of what would be just three-weeks rest come Derby day, Brad Cox decided to breeze the colt alongside Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Catching Freedom when the track opened at 5:15 a.m.
"Pleased with both," Cox said. "Encino traveled very well. Catching Freedom traveled well, maybe asked a little bit more, but that's just him."
Using Catching Freedom as a gauge, Cox was impressed enough with Encino's work to decide he will enter the son of Nyquist in the Derby. Axel Concepcion, who won the 2023 Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey, was declared the rider. He rode Encino in each of his first three starts.
Florent Geroux was aboard Encino in the Lexington, but will ride Just a Touch in the Derby. Geroux breezed both horses Saturday.
"Very good, steady work," Cox said of Just a Touch's final drill.
Mystik Dan
Mystik Dan, under Brian Hernandez Jr. and working alongside workmate Elephant's Ear, was timed with an opening three furlongs in :36 2/5 before finishing the next quarter down the stretch in :24 4/5. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 2/5.
Trainer Kenny McPeek said he told Hernandez he did not want the Goldencents colt to work as quickly as he did April 20 when he sped five furlongs in :59 2/5 at Churchill Downs.
"We just needed an even-keel breeze, something to keep him steady fitness-wise," McPeek said of the Southwest Stakes (G3) winner and Arkansas Derby (G1) third-place finisher.
Dornoch, Society Man
Also changing things up from April 20 breezes were the Danny Gargan-trained duo of 2023 Remsen Stakes (G2) and Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner Dornoch and Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) runner-up Society Man.
During their breeze April 20, a :48 1/5 half-mile, Society Man was placed to the inside of Dornoch. For the final breeze, Gargan swapped Dornoch to the inside.
With jockey Luis Saez aboard Dornoch and Gargan's exercise rider Priscilla Schaefer aboard Society Man, the pair worked the second-fastest half-mile of 130 horses breezing the distance Saturday.
Society Man and Dornoch finishing a half-mile in :46.3. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/YANzAYwfDv
— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 27, 2024
"They went a little faster than we wanted; the track is really fast," Gargan said. "But they looked really in hand doing it. I'm really pleased with how they looked doing it."
Gargan was especially high on Dornoch, full brother of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage , who is looking to bounce back off a fourth in the Blue Grass while experimenting with sitting behind horses.
"I thought Dornoch looked really good today," Gargan said. "He's getting over this track good. Both horses are doing good. I'm pleased with them, I think we have them where we want them. Hopefully we have a big week."
West Saratoga
Trainer Larry Demeritte was all smiles when West Saratoga returned to the barn after completing his three-furlong breeze, a move specifically designed to teach the colt what his goal is next Saturday.
does morning training at Churchill Downs
"He went from the three-eighths pole instead of working a half-mile," Demeritte said. "I want him to know he's got to come home from the three-eighths pole."
Demeritte, whose dream of winning the Kentucky Derby led him to move from the Bahamas to the United States in 1976, has a lot of faith that he has the right horse in his first Derby starter.
"This is the first horse I've trained in a long time that has gears," Demeritte said. "I feel like when the right day comes with the big boys, he'll be ready for it. He has the disposition of a champion."
West Saratoga, who arrived at Churchill Downs April 26, was ridden in his work by jockey Jesus Castanon. Castanon picks up the mount for his first Derby ride since Shackleford finished fourth in 2011.
"I was happy with the results," Castanon said of the work. "He was happy to do it. The good thing about this horse is wherever he goes, he handles it. He's been everywhere, a very professional horse."
Kentucky Oaks Workers
In addition to his two Derby contenders, Brown sent Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopeful Regulatory Risk out for a half-mile breeze in company that she completed in :49 3/5. D. Wayne Lukas' Lemon Muffin completed five furlongs in :58 1/5, the fasted breeze among 58 horses at the distance.
