OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, and High Step Racing’s Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner and Florida Derby (G1) runner-up The Puma put in his final local breeze April 18 at Gulfstream Park ahead of the May 2 $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1).
With Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano aboard, The Puma went 5 furlongs in 1:00.77 over a fast main track in his second work since being beaten a desperate nose by Commandment in the Florida Derby. It was the fifth-fastest time of 15 horses at the distance.
Track clockers caught The Puma galloping out 6 furlongs in 1:12.85 and a mile in 1:37.88.
THE PUMA (3yoC Essential Quality), @jjcjockey up, showed a powerful stride is his breeze this morning at Gulfstream Park 5F 1:00.77 out 1:12.85 up a mile 1:37.88 for trainer @GDS_Racing ahead of his travel next week to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby 2026
— Agentes305 (@agentes305) April 18, 2026
THE PUMA lució… pic.twitter.com/Tt5omVtqPV
“(The work) went really well. I’m very satisfied,” Castellano said. “He’s a cool horse to ride. He’s classy, laid back. It was a solid work, just what we were looking for. I’m happy the way he did it. Always in hand. Good level.”
Castellano has ridden The Puma in three of four starts, including his only win, a maiden-breaking, three-quarter-length upset in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby.
“He’s a young horse. He’s getting better and better and he’ll do whatever you want,” Castellano said. “It was a tough beat last time, but it was just his fourth start, and it could have gone either way. I’m very happy where we are.”
Trained by Gustavo Delgado and assisted by his son, Gustavo Jr., The Puma is expected to leave early next week for Kentucky where the Essential Quality colt will have a final tuneup at Churchill Downs ahead of the 1 1/4-mile Derby.
“By the times and the video of the work, he’s certainly doing it the right way,” said Miami native Ramiro Restrepo, bloodstock and racing manager for JR Ranch and racing manager for High Step Racing. “This was his big work. He’ll be leaving Monday or Tuesday I believe headed for Churchill, do some galloping and probably have a little maintenance spin, but the heavy lifting was done today. For all intents and purposes, everybody was very happy with how it went.”
The Puma is following a blueprint that similar connections used three years ago with Mage , who ran second in the Florida Derby in just his third start before registering a 15-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby and going on to be third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and second in the Haskell Stakes (G1).
At Payson Park Training Center, trainer Chad Brown's Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Emerging Market completed his penultimate breeze for the Run for the Roses. The son of Candy Ride completed a half-mile in :48 2/5, earning the bullet for the 47 works at the distance on the day. The colt is expected to ship to Churchill April 20, according to Brown.
Brown's other potential Derby contender, Iron Honor, breezed in New York at Belmont Park, completing 4 furlongs in :49. With 50 qualifying points, Iron Honor is ranked 16th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, but his status for the Derby is still in question after a seventh-place finish in the April 4 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Albus and Right to Party work at Churchill Downs
Pin Oak Stud's Albus and Chester Broman Sr.'s Right to Party, the top two finishers from the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack, recorded their penultimate workouts Saturday at Churchill Downs in advance of the Derby.
Albus, who defeated Right to Party by 1 1/4 lengths in the Wood Memorial for trainer Riley Mott, breezed 4 furlongs in :49 Saturday at 5:15 a.m. (all times Eastern) alongside stablemate Theoretical. The duo completed an opening quarter-mile in :24 2/5 and galloped out 5 furlongs in 1:02 1/5, according to Churchill Downs clocker Adam Wallace.
Albus completing a half-mile in :49.
— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 18, 2026
Splits: 12, 24.40, 49/1:02.20, 1:15.60. pic.twitter.com/fnofihPRjL
"He worked in :49 for a half-mile and did it really easily on his own," Mott said. "That's the move you're looking for in the first work back from a race."
Mott added that Pin Oak Stud's Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt completed his major Kentucky Derby preparation in South Florida at Palm Meadows Training Center, breezing a half-mile in :49.95 over a fast main track, prior to his arrival early April 20 at Churchill Downs.
"From what I saw on video, he worked :49 and change and did it very well on his own," Mott said. "He's a good workhorse and pretty straightforward. We're looking forward to getting him up here to our division at Churchill Downs."
The colt will have his final work for the Derby next weekend at Churchill Downs.
Nearly two hours later, during Churchill Downs' exclusive 15-minute training session for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders at 7:15 a.m., Right to Party worked 5 furlongs in 1:00 4/5 outside Very Connected under retired jockey Robby Albarado. The colt posted eighth-mile fractions of :12 2/5, :24, :36, and :48 2/5 before galloping out 6 furlongs in 1:14 1/5, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.
Right to Party finishing five furlongs in 1:00.80 outside Very Connected.
— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 18, 2026
Splits: 12.40, 24, 36, 48.40, 1:00.80/1:14.20 pic.twitter.com/D5vvTjZcAG
"He was clipping along in :12s," trainer Kenny McPeek said. "I didn't want to do anything too crazy with him, but if you can clip along in :12s in the Derby, you can win the race."
Also on the work tab was Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe, and John Cilia's Chip Honcho, who would need one defection to draw into the Kentucky Derby field. The son of Connect worked 5 furlongs in :59 4/5 outside stablemate Corporate Power through eighth-mile fractions of :12 1/5, :23 4/5, :35 1/5 and :47 1/5 before galloping out 6 furlongs in 1:12 2/5, according to Nichols.
Aside from the trio of Derby workers Saturday morning, UAE Derby (G2) winner Wonder Dean schooled in the starting gate, while Florida Derby third-place finisher Chief Wallabee visited the Churchill Downs paddock and had a routine gallop. Chief Wallabee is now in the Kentucky Derby field after the defection of Ottinho, who will be pointed to either the Preakness May 16 at Laurel Park or the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) May 9 at Aqueduct.
Bella Ballerina Breezes at Keeneland
Godolphin's homebred Bella Ballerina, who figures to be one of the leading players for the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks May 1, worked 5 furlongs in company on a fast track in 1:00 1/5 Saturday at Keeneland.
With jockey Tyler Gaffalione up, Bella Ballerina started a couple lengths behind workmates Diamond Eyed Jack and Get Them Roses, cut the corner at the top of the stretch, and finished a couple lengths clear of Diamond Eyed Jack. She galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:13 2/5.
Video
"She will go to Churchill tomorrow," trainer Brendan Walsh said of the half sister to his 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous. "The plan is to do something with her (next) Friday or Saturday or maybe even Sunday depending on weather."
A winner of three of four starts including the 2025 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill, Bella Ballerina rated behind her same two workmates April 11 in a 5-furlong work. Today, she cruised on past on the inside.
"It was designed that way," Gaffalione said. "We've been trying to teach her to relax. She's been doing great. She's listening to all my cues, responding well. She's a very talented filly, everything comes to her easily. You can probably see that in the replay of the workout, but I'm very happy with her. It was a nice routine maintenance work. Just let her come up the inside and she finished well. We're very happy, and we'll see how it goes into next week."
Gaffalione was aboard for the work last week.
"She felt great. Her spirits were up," Gaffalione said. "She's got a ton of confidence within herself, and she's happy. That's the main thing coming into these races: just make sure their attitude and everything is clicking."
Walsh is receiving all the right signals from Bella Ballerina.
"She relaxed well behind horses and coming inside rather than outside gave her something else to think about," Walsh said. "She does things almost too easy. She looks great. We get another good week and a good work, then it is up to her."
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
