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Derby clocker report - notes on all horses
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Thu., May 5: Kentucky Derby clocker report summary
By MIKE WELSCH
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A year ago, Smarty Jones looked and trained the best of all the Kentucky Derby contenders stabled at Churchill Downs coming into the race. He then validated that opinion by not only capturing the main event but nearly sweeping the Triple Crown.
This year's "looker" is Bellamy Road who gives every appearance of being a worthy favorite on Saturday. Although he was just one of several members of the field who left favorable impressions in the final, very chilly 10 mornings leading up to the 2005 Kentucky Derby.
AFLEET ALEX- This year's media darling has had a rigorous week but by and large has held up quite well under the strain. Training five miles a morning on more than one occasion, he has had some good days and not as good days during his routine jogs and gallops although both his works were rock solid. Hard to say exactly how he's holding up under all those two a days, he's certainly not the most robust looking member of the field, but he is extremely talented and among the logical contenders in this race.
ANDROMEDA'S HERO- Barely got a chance to see him since he's been stabled regularly at Keeneland until shipping here Thursday. Did finish well in his one work over the track and wouldn't be surprised to see him run late to grab one of the minor awards.
BANDINI- Arguably the second best looking member of the field along with Bellamy Road he missed a little training last week but bounced back with several strong gallops while at times acting up on the track just like his daddy Fusaichi Pegasus. Would preferred to seehim finish just a bit stronger in his final work on Sunday but hard not to respect off his sensational effort in the Blue Grass.
BELLAMY ROAD- A gorgeous individual who excudes class when galloping each morning his head tucked majestically between his legs as he tugs and pulls his exercise rider always trying to do a bit more. His final Derby work was nothing sort of sensational, not so much on the watch but the manner in which he was striding out as he completed the move and then galloped out so strong and so effortlessly around the turn. Gives every impression of being the most talented member of this field.
BUZZARDS BAY- Didn't get to to see much of the Santa Anita Derby winner who did not ship here until Wednesday.
CLOSING ARGUMENT- Has looked well since shipping over from Keeneland last weekend but seemed a bit distracted and even tried to drift out a bit during his lone local workout. Will have to be more focused if he's to outperform his long odds on Saturday.
COIN SILVER- The least regarded of the Pletcher trio has not been asked to do quite as much as stablemates Bandini or Flower Alley over the past 10 days since he's coming up to this race on only two weeks rest. Hard to find fault with his final work during which he pulled away late from Illinois Derby runnerup Monarch Lane under moderate pressure.
DON'T GET MAD- Has had an easy week since winning the Derby Trial last Saturday but hard to get excited about any horse coming into the Kentucky Derby on only one week's rest.
FLOWER ALLEY- Has trained with blinkers on during several of his morning gallops and in his final work during which he outfinished Eclipse Award winner Ashado although the latter was obviously not on top of her game that morning. Does appear to be more focused with the equipment change and is a 3-year-old on the improve at this time which is always dangerous.
GIACOMO- Another of the California contingent who did not arrive until Wednesday.
GOING WILD- Hard to get a very good look at this longshot since he does all his training in the dark. As expected, flashed a high turn of foot in his final workout and there's little doubt he'll be a major pace factor Saturday.
GREATER GOOD- Hits the ground hard and gives his all during morning gallops when occasionally a handful for his rider but was unimpressive in his final work, dropping far behind a workmate after being rank to the pole and not finishing with any interest despite some slow early splits. Looks like a horse heading in the wrong direction at this time.
GREELEY'S GALAXY- His daily gallops have been impressive but both workouts were disappointing. Was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt when his first, rather unorthodox mile work from the eighth pole to the eighth pole did not quite go according to plan and he shut down badly at the end. But he failed to redeem himself when given a second chance Wednesday, again failing to finish sharply or gallop out strong in his five furlong drill.
HIGH FLY- Doesn't have the prettiest way of going in the morning but he's trained with earnest, so much so he required two different ponies to get him around during one training session. His final work was excellent, a five furlong drill during which he easily put away a stablemate and then outfinished a second, unexpected bit of company he collared at midstretch while shading :24 for his final quarter. A real fighter whose biggest concern may be the distance.
HIGH LIMIT- Nobody perhaps Bellamy Road is training any better coming into the race with a series of strong gallops to go along with two sharp workouts, the first during which he held his own against no less a workmate than Horse of the Year Ghostzapper. Appears to be coming up to his best race yet but like High Fly just not sure he can go 10 furlongs.
NOBLE CAUSEWAY- Like the other Zito's he's had a great week, with a series of sharp gallops sandwiched around an excellent work in which he shaded 1:00 but still has enough left to gallop out willingly around the turn. Another dangerous 3-year-old because of the steady progress he's made of late although one of the few in the field entering the race without a stakes win on his resume'.
SORT IT OUT- Was a bit rank breaking off in his local Derby prep and then breezed a lot quicker than expected although that type of speed might come in handy after he drew the inside post. Does not appear in the same class with some of the others.
SPANISH CHESTNUT- Had an opportunity to see the likely pacesetter just once when the Keeneland based speedster shipped in to work Sunday. Has the quick stride and action of a typical sprinter, scampering through some swift early fractions before tiring late in his final pre-Derby trial. Should take 'em to the far turn.
SUN KING- Came here willing to excuse his poor effort in the Blue Grass and left thinking he can bounce back with a big performance Saturday. Liked his well orchestrated final work during which he dropped well off a couple of targets and finished relatively well despite angling about six wide into the stretch and zipping through some solid early fractions over an extremely cuppy track. Looked a little lackluster coming out of the work but really picked up the bit at mid-week.
WILKO- Arrived late and really didn't stretch his legs here until Tuesday so it was hard to get a meaningful first hand look at the reigning Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion. But after viewing a videotape and putting a watch to his workout last weekend in California, during which he outfinished 2004 Breeders' Cup Sprint contender P T's Grey Eagle and galloped out six furlongs in the vicinity of 1:11, one was left with the impression that he's rounding back to peak form at the right time.
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Thu., May 5: Kentucky Derby clocker report summary
By MIKE WELSCH
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A year ago, Smarty Jones looked and trained the best of all the Kentucky Derby contenders stabled at Churchill Downs coming into the race. He then validated that opinion by not only capturing the main event but nearly sweeping the Triple Crown.
This year's "looker" is Bellamy Road who gives every appearance of being a worthy favorite on Saturday. Although he was just one of several members of the field who left favorable impressions in the final, very chilly 10 mornings leading up to the 2005 Kentucky Derby.
AFLEET ALEX- This year's media darling has had a rigorous week but by and large has held up quite well under the strain. Training five miles a morning on more than one occasion, he has had some good days and not as good days during his routine jogs and gallops although both his works were rock solid. Hard to say exactly how he's holding up under all those two a days, he's certainly not the most robust looking member of the field, but he is extremely talented and among the logical contenders in this race.
ANDROMEDA'S HERO- Barely got a chance to see him since he's been stabled regularly at Keeneland until shipping here Thursday. Did finish well in his one work over the track and wouldn't be surprised to see him run late to grab one of the minor awards.
BANDINI- Arguably the second best looking member of the field along with Bellamy Road he missed a little training last week but bounced back with several strong gallops while at times acting up on the track just like his daddy Fusaichi Pegasus. Would preferred to seehim finish just a bit stronger in his final work on Sunday but hard not to respect off his sensational effort in the Blue Grass.
BELLAMY ROAD- A gorgeous individual who excudes class when galloping each morning his head tucked majestically between his legs as he tugs and pulls his exercise rider always trying to do a bit more. His final Derby work was nothing sort of sensational, not so much on the watch but the manner in which he was striding out as he completed the move and then galloped out so strong and so effortlessly around the turn. Gives every impression of being the most talented member of this field.
BUZZARDS BAY- Didn't get to to see much of the Santa Anita Derby winner who did not ship here until Wednesday.
CLOSING ARGUMENT- Has looked well since shipping over from Keeneland last weekend but seemed a bit distracted and even tried to drift out a bit during his lone local workout. Will have to be more focused if he's to outperform his long odds on Saturday.
COIN SILVER- The least regarded of the Pletcher trio has not been asked to do quite as much as stablemates Bandini or Flower Alley over the past 10 days since he's coming up to this race on only two weeks rest. Hard to find fault with his final work during which he pulled away late from Illinois Derby runnerup Monarch Lane under moderate pressure.
DON'T GET MAD- Has had an easy week since winning the Derby Trial last Saturday but hard to get excited about any horse coming into the Kentucky Derby on only one week's rest.
FLOWER ALLEY- Has trained with blinkers on during several of his morning gallops and in his final work during which he outfinished Eclipse Award winner Ashado although the latter was obviously not on top of her game that morning. Does appear to be more focused with the equipment change and is a 3-year-old on the improve at this time which is always dangerous.
GIACOMO- Another of the California contingent who did not arrive until Wednesday.
GOING WILD- Hard to get a very good look at this longshot since he does all his training in the dark. As expected, flashed a high turn of foot in his final workout and there's little doubt he'll be a major pace factor Saturday.
GREATER GOOD- Hits the ground hard and gives his all during morning gallops when occasionally a handful for his rider but was unimpressive in his final work, dropping far behind a workmate after being rank to the pole and not finishing with any interest despite some slow early splits. Looks like a horse heading in the wrong direction at this time.
GREELEY'S GALAXY- His daily gallops have been impressive but both workouts were disappointing. Was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt when his first, rather unorthodox mile work from the eighth pole to the eighth pole did not quite go according to plan and he shut down badly at the end. But he failed to redeem himself when given a second chance Wednesday, again failing to finish sharply or gallop out strong in his five furlong drill.
HIGH FLY- Doesn't have the prettiest way of going in the morning but he's trained with earnest, so much so he required two different ponies to get him around during one training session. His final work was excellent, a five furlong drill during which he easily put away a stablemate and then outfinished a second, unexpected bit of company he collared at midstretch while shading :24 for his final quarter. A real fighter whose biggest concern may be the distance.
HIGH LIMIT- Nobody perhaps Bellamy Road is training any better coming into the race with a series of strong gallops to go along with two sharp workouts, the first during which he held his own against no less a workmate than Horse of the Year Ghostzapper. Appears to be coming up to his best race yet but like High Fly just not sure he can go 10 furlongs.
NOBLE CAUSEWAY- Like the other Zito's he's had a great week, with a series of sharp gallops sandwiched around an excellent work in which he shaded 1:00 but still has enough left to gallop out willingly around the turn. Another dangerous 3-year-old because of the steady progress he's made of late although one of the few in the field entering the race without a stakes win on his resume'.
SORT IT OUT- Was a bit rank breaking off in his local Derby prep and then breezed a lot quicker than expected although that type of speed might come in handy after he drew the inside post. Does not appear in the same class with some of the others.
SPANISH CHESTNUT- Had an opportunity to see the likely pacesetter just once when the Keeneland based speedster shipped in to work Sunday. Has the quick stride and action of a typical sprinter, scampering through some swift early fractions before tiring late in his final pre-Derby trial. Should take 'em to the far turn.
SUN KING- Came here willing to excuse his poor effort in the Blue Grass and left thinking he can bounce back with a big performance Saturday. Liked his well orchestrated final work during which he dropped well off a couple of targets and finished relatively well despite angling about six wide into the stretch and zipping through some solid early fractions over an extremely cuppy track. Looked a little lackluster coming out of the work but really picked up the bit at mid-week.
WILKO- Arrived late and really didn't stretch his legs here until Tuesday so it was hard to get a meaningful first hand look at the reigning Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion. But after viewing a videotape and putting a watch to his workout last weekend in California, during which he outfinished 2004 Breeders' Cup Sprint contender P T's Grey Eagle and galloped out six furlongs in the vicinity of 1:11, one was left with the impression that he's rounding back to peak form at the right time.
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