Kentucky Derby: Honor Marie Team All Smiles After Thursday Breeze

Also working Thursday morning were three candidates for the Longines Kentucky Oaks: Willis Horton Racing’s Tapit Jenallie (four furlongs, :49.40), Whisper Hill Farm’s Leslie’s Rose (four furlongs, :49.40) and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Candied (four furlongs :47.60 in company).

Scheduled to work beneath the Twin Spires Friday morning for the Derby is champion Fierceness. Oaks workers scheduled are Tarifa, Thorpedo Anna, Gin Gin, Into Champagne, Ways and Means and Manama Gold.

CATALYTIC – Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George Isaacs’ Catalytic was back on the track Thursday with an energetic gallop going a mile-and-a-half under exercise rider Olaf Hernandez.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Catalytic arrived at Churchill Downs Monday morning after vanning from South Florida.

“He’s doing well,” said Tristan Ford, an assistant to Joseph, after the gallop. “Everyone is happy with the way he’s progressing.”

Catalytic, the Florida Derby (G1) runner-up behind probable Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness, is expected to work this weekend, possibly Sunday.

CATCHING FREEDOM/ENCINO/JUST A TOUCH – Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Catching Freedom, Encino and Just a Touch had their normal training sessions Thursday at 7:30 a.m., all galloping 1 ½ miles.

The trio will train between 5:30-6:30 a.m. Friday and work at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

DOMESTIC PRODUCT/SIERRA LEONE – Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook Smith’s Sierra Leone galloped a mile and a half under Kriss Bon and for the second consecutive morning visited the starting gate.

“He did great this morning (at the gate),” trainer Chad Brown said of Sierra Leone, who delayed the start of the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) by being reluctant to load in the gate in front of the Keeneland grandstand.

Domestic Product, owned by Klaravich Stables, galloped a mile and a half under Peter Roman.

“He’s feelin’ good this morning,” Roman said after the morning’s activity was completed.

DORNOCH/SOCIETY MAN – West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables’ Dornoch galloped a mile and a half at 7:30 with Pricilla Schaefer aboard for trainer Danny Gargan.

Schaefer returned to the track at 9 with Gargan’s other Kentucky Derby hopeful, Society Man.

Owned by the partnership of Reeves Thoroughbreds, West Paces, GMP Stables and Carl and Yurie Pascarella. Society Man also galloped a mile and a half.

“He’s strong,” Gargan said as Society Man jogged past a viewing stand heading back to the barn. “He’s a bulldog now.”

ENDLESSLY – Amerman Racing’s Endlessly had a normal training day Thursday, galloping 1 ½ miles around 5:45 a.m.

The winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) is scheduled to work Saturday.

FIERCENESS – Repole Stable’s homebred Fierceness, winner of the Florida Derby (GI) by 13 ½ lengths in his most recent start, galloped a mile and three-eighths under exercise rider Danny Wright for trainer Todd Pletcher.

The Eclipse Award winner as the champion 2-year-old of 2023, Fierceness is scheduled to work Friday morning at 7:30 with jockey John Velazquez aboard.

FOREVER YOUNG (JPN) – Susumu Fujita’s Forever Young (JPN) walked in the mile chute for about an hour under Yusaku Oka before returning the Quarantine Barn.

Forever Young worked six furlongs in 1:19.60 in company on Wednesday.

GRAND MO THE FIRST – Granpollo Stables’ Grand Mo the First was en route to Churchill Downs Thursday from Gulfstream Park. Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. said Grand Mo the First was scheduled to arrive here around 9 o’clock tonight.

Grand Mo the First is scheduled to walk Friday and then go to the track Saturday.

JUST STEEL – BC Stable’s Just Steel stayed with his traditional early training session and galloped 1 ½ miles Thursday morning for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

“We’re very fortunate to have some solid horses in the barn this year and in both the Kentucky Derby and Oaks (with Lemon Muffin) but I’ve got a great 2-year-old class getting ready to come in the barn,” Lukas said. “Derby 150 is special but we always have to keep thinking forward.”

Just Steel is scheduled to have one more work prior to the Kentucky Derby.

MYSTIK DAN – Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing and Daniel Hamby III’s Mystik Dan galloped the usual mile-and-a-half for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Mystik Dan, the winner of the Southwest (G3) and most recently finished third in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park, is scheduled to work Saturday. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the Derby riding assignment.

RESILIENCE – Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman’s Resilience had an easy gallop at 7:30 Thursday morning.

Jockey Junior Alvarado has the mount in the Kentucky Derby and is scheduled to ride at Churchill Downs throughout Derby Week.

“It’s great to be here in Kentucky right now,” Alvarado said. “The (Bill Mott) barn has meant a lot for my career.”

STRONGHOLD – Eric and Sharon Waller’s Stronghold, trained by Phil D’Amato, galloped a mile and a half Thursday morning with the trainer’s wife, Sherri, aboard.

Winner of the Sunland Derby (G3) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his two starts of 2024, Stronghold is scheduled work Sunday morning with Joe Talamo up.

“Sunday is looking like the best day,” D’Amato said of the schedule that is weather dependent.

T O PASSWORD (JPN) – Tomoya Ozasa’s Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby invitee T O Password is in quarantine in Chicago and scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs early Friday morning.

TRACK PHANTOM – Lecomte Stakes (G3) winner Track Phantom returned to his early schedule Thursday for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, galloping about 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Roberto Howell at 5:45 a.m.

The son of Quality Road changed training schedules Wednesday when he visited the starting gate at 7:30 a.m. during the special Derby/Oaks training session.

WEST SARATOGA – Harry Veruchi’s West Saratoga galloped Thursday morning at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

Trainer Larry Demeritte said West Saratoga would train Friday morning in Lexington and then ship to Churchill Downs with a 2 p.m. arrival anticipated.

Jesus Castanon is scheduled to be aboard for a three-furlong work here Saturday.

ALSO ELIGIBLES – Welch Racing’s Epic Ride, third in the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) in his most recent start, galloped this morning at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

Trainer John Ennis said Epic Ride would train in the morning then ship to Churchill Downs Friday evening.

Adam Beschizza would have the Derby mount.

Trainer Jeff Engler reported Mugatu, fifth-place finisher of the Blue Grass, would arrive Friday and two-minute lick Saturday morning with jockey Joe Talamo in the irons.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Here are the horses (with jockeys and trainers) that are qualified for the Kentucky Derby and those on the also-eligible list (in alphabetical order with AEs listed last in preference order):

Catalytic (Jose Ortiz, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Catching Freedom (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox); Domestic Product (Irad Ortiz Jr., Chad Brown); Dornoch (Luis Saez, Danny Gargan); Encino (TBA, Brad Cox); Endlessly (Umberto Rispoli, Michael McCarthy); Fierceness (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher); Forever Young (JPN) (Ryusei Sakai, Yoshito Yahagi); Grand Mo the First (Emisael Jaramillo, Victor Barboza Jr.); Honor Marie (Ben Curtis, Whit Beckman); Just a Touch (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Just Steel (Keith Asmussen, Wayne Lukas); Mystik Dan (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Resilience (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott); Sierra Leone (Tyler Gaffalione, Chad Brown); Society Man (Frankie Dettori, Danny Gargan); Stronghold (Antonio Fresu, Phil D’Amato); T O Password (JPN) (Kazushi Kimura, Daisuke Takayanagi); Track Phantom (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen); West Saratoga (Jesus Castanon, Larry Demerritte).

Also Eligibles: Epic Ride (Adam Beschizza, John Ennis); Uncle Heavy (TBA, Butch Reid); Seize the Grey (TBA, Wayne Lukas); Mugatu (Joe Talamo, Jeff Engler).