Derby Notes: Hofburg Gets Feel For Churchill Surface; Mott Plans Sunday Breeze

Juddmonte Farms’ Hofburg, runner-up in the Florida Derby (Grade I) in his most recent start, made his first visit to the track at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning as he began his preparations for the 144^th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI).

Hofburg, who arrived here Tuesday following a van ride from Payson Park in South Florida, galloped 1 ¼ miles over a “good’ track under exercise rider Penny Gardiner during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.

“I got on him when he came to Gulfstream when he broke his maiden and for the Florida Derby, so I had some familiarity with him,” Gardiner said.

Trainer Bill Mott has planned Sunday as the day for Hofburg’s final pre-Derby work.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount on Hofburg, a son of leading sire Tapit.

No Kentucky Derby works are scheduled for Thursday. However, Courtlandt Farms’ My Miss Lilly is scheduled to breeze a half-mile in the morning in preparation for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).

Other Derby horses:

AUDIBLE/MAGNUM MOON/NOBLE INDY/VINO ROSSO – All four of trainer Todd Pletcher’s Derby hopefuls galloped 1 3/8 miles during the 7:30-7:45 a.m. training period reserved for Derby and Oaks horses.

Amelia Green was on Audible, who is owned by China Horse Club International, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing and WinStar Farm, Nick Bush was on Magnum Moon, who is owned by Lawana and Robert Low, Carlos Cano was on Noble Indy, who is owned by WinStar Farm and Repole Stable, and Adele Bellinger was on Vino Rosso, who is owned by Repole Stable and St. EliasStable.

The Pletcher contingent is scheduled to work Friday. No rider has been confirmed for Noble Indy. Pletcher’s other riders are John Velazquez on Vino Rosso, Luis Saez on Magnum Moon and Javier Castellano on Audible.

BRAVAZO – Calumet Farm’s Bravazo galloped 1 ½ miles Wednesday morning at 7:30 with exercise rider Danielle Rosier aboard for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Lukas has not confirmed a jockey for Bravazo.

COMBATANT/ DREAM BABY DREAM/RERIDE/ SNAPPER SINCLAIR – Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen reported Wednesday morning that Risen Star (GII) runner-up Snapper Sinclair would be given some time off and be removed from Derby contention. Also, UAE Derby (G2) third-place finisher Reride could be pointed to the Preakness (GI) and not the Derby.

Both horses were outside the Top 20 on the Leaderboard.

Arkansas Derby (GI) fourth-place finisher Combatant galloped 1 ½ miles Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m. while Sunland Derby second-place finisher Dream Baby Dream (No. 22) trained prior to the exclusive Derby/Oaks training session.

FLAMEAWAY – John Oxley‘s Flameaway galloped 1 ½ miles at 7:30 with exercise rider Chris Garraway aboard for trainer Mark Casse.

Casse is scheduled to be here Saturday when Flameaway is scheduled to have his final pre-Derby work. Jose Lezcano has the Derby mount.

FREE DROP BILLY/PROMISES FULFILLED – Albaugh Family Stables’ Free Drop Billy galloped 1 ½ miles under Juan Segundo with and Robert Baron’s Fountain of Youth (GII) winner Promises Fulfilled, with Faustino Herrarte aboard, following with his 1 ½-mile gallop.

“I think it’s been pretty clear how special it would be for me to win the Derby one day,” trainer Dale Romans said. “I feel like that would be my last tip of the cap and could ride away in the sunset if everyone wants me to. We’re excited with both of these horses, especially with how well they breezed last week. We’ll definitely be in front with Promises Fulfilled. We saw what happened in the Florida Derby when someone tried to go with him. So, if they want to try again, be my guest.”

Both horses are expected to breeze Saturday, according to Romans.

GOOD MAGIC – Eclipse Award winner Good Magic galloped 1 ½ miles under Walter Malasquez at 7:30.

Owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables, Good Magic is scheduled to work Saturday according to trainer Chad Brown. Jose Ortiz has the mount on Good Magic.

LONE SAILOR – G M B Racing’s Louisiana Derby (GII) runner-up Lone Sailor galloped 1 ¾ miles at 7:30 a.m. under exercise rider Maurice Sanchez for trainer Tom Amoss. The colt is scheduled to breeze this week, according to Amoss.

MY BOY JACK – Don’t Tell My Wife Stables, Monomoy Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds‘ My Boy Jack jogged two miles under exercise rider Peedy Landry at 7:30.

Trainer Keith Desormeaux is expected to arrive in Louisville from Ocala, Florida, sometime Thursday with a work scheduled for My Boy Jack on Saturday.

Kent Desormeaux has the Derby mount on My Boy Jack.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Likely starters in the 144^th running of the $2 million, Grade I Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve to be run for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, May 5: Audible (jockey Javier Castellano), Bolt d’Oro (Victor Espinoza), Bravazo (TBA), Enticed (Junior Alvarado), Firenze Fire (Paco Lopez), Flameaway (Jose Lezcano), Free Drop Billy (Robby Albarado), Good Magic (Jose Ortiz), Hofburg (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Instilled Regard (TBA),Justify (Mike Smith), Lone Sailor (James Graham), Magnum Moon (Luis Saez), Mendelssohn (Ryan Moore), My Boy Jack (Kent Desormeaux), Noble Indy (TBA), Promises Fulfilled (Corey Lanerie),Solomini (Flavien Prat), Vino Rosso (John Velazquez).

Possible starters within the Top 20 on the preference list: Combatant (TBA).

Next up in order of preference: Blended Citizen (Kyle Frey), Dream Baby Dream (TBA),Restoring Hope (TBA), Sporting Chance (TBA), Givemeaminit (TBA) and Pony Up (TBA).

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