Juddmonte homebred Final Gambit has yet to race on a dirt track, debuting on the turf before a trio of starts on Turfway Park's Tapeta surface that culminated in a Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) victory March 22.
The Not This Time colt posted his second workout on the Churchill Downs dirt track since the Jeff Ruby April 9, breezing five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 with exercise rider Edvin Vargas aboard. So far, trainer Brad Cox is happy with how he's traveling.
"I really like what I see from him," Cox said. "(The dirt) doesn't seem to slow him down. His gallop outs are great. ... He's a good-going horse to begin with. He's light on his feet, he's athletic. Getting feedback from riders is very important, and they seem to really like what they feel from him on the dirt. Everything's been very positive so far."
WATCH: Final Gambit, Good Cheer Breeze for Derby, Oaks
Final Gambit breezed on Churchill Downs' dirt course four times last fall. Cox mentioned on the March 24 episode of the BloodHorse Monday podcast that debuting on turf was an indication of what he thought of the dirt works. With five more months of being a racehorse under his belt, Cox believes the turnaround is all thanks to the horse's improving maturity.
"Mentally, he's grown up a lot," Cox said. "In the post parade, he used to goof around a bit. He's a very playful horse, good-feeling, lots of energy. He's learning to listen to what the rider, or whoever is walking him, wants him to do. Responding to his commands. He's grown up mentally as well as physically over the winter. He's getting better all the time and I think that's a key thing moving forward trying to win the Derby."
About two hours later, Vargas guided Cox's Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender Good Cheer out to the track for a five-furlong workout. The undefeated Godolphin homebred daughter of Medaglia d'Oro was timed by Churchill Downs clockers in 1:00 2/5.
"It was awesome," Cox said. "She's very steady; she gets into that high cruising speed and continues on through the far turn after the work. (Vargas) was super happy with her, and his comment was, 'Man, I love her.'"
Cox originally planned to breeze both horses April 10, but pushed up their works a day with the potential for rain early Thursday morning. He had done the same one week prior to avoid a storm that caused Keeneland to reschedule their first two days of racing and even spawned an EF3 tornado in the Louisville, Ky., area April 2.
That weather has also kept Cox's Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street in Florida rather than shipping to Kentucky immediately following his victory. The son of Into Mischief is scheduled to breeze a half-mile April 11 at Payson Park Training Center.
"He's doing extremely well," Cox said. "We'll just try and keep him in the best climates we can."
Cox's third Derby qualifier, Flood Zone, was expected to return from Dubai to Churchill Downs Wednesday afternoon alongside Cox's Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Hit Show and the UAE Derby (G2) winner Admire Daytona.
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