(Trainer D. Wayne Lukas / Photos by Holly M. Smith)
From the KY HBPA Media Team / Jennie Rees:
Steve Asmussen after G3 Lecomte winner & Louisiana Derby 4th Track Phantom works outside of stablemate Mugen, the five-eighth eighths in 1:00 with fractions of 12.2, 24.1 and 47.3 and out six furlongs in 1:13.3 Video starts with b-roll of the Asmussen-trained Our Pretty Woman, who needs a scratch in order to run in the Kentucky Oaks, and her work, followed by b-roll and work video of Track Phantom. (Video shot from grandstand courtesy Churchill Downs’ Kevin Kerstein).
Phil D’Amato, before Stronghold went out to work (five-eighths in 59.80) under jockey Joe Talamo Sunday at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby. Stronghold’s first win came at Churchill Downs – an inordinately tough maiden race in which he beat fellow Derby contenders Resilience and Track Phantom – before he shipped out to D’Amato’s California base. The trainer talks about Stronghold, having to beat Bob Baffert to get enough points in the Santa Anita Derby to earn a Derby trip and notes that his first job at the racetrack was at Churchill Downs working for Chuck Simon.
D. Wayne Lukas after Arkansas Derby runner-up Just Steel works an easy half in 50.40 at Churchill Downs for Saturday’s 150th Kentucky Derby. “The Coach” also talks about his jockey, University of Texas McCombs School of Business grad Keith Asmussen. Video starts with b-roll (grandstand video courtesy Churchill Downs’ Kevin Kerstein).
Just Steel co-owner Brian Coelho of Central California, who got into horse racing three years ago, was on hand at Churchill Downs to enjoy his first Kentucky Derby horse in the Arkansas Derby runner-up. “It’s a dream come true,” he says. Coelho now has part of more than 20 horses, saying that his wife “wanted a racehorse. When I do things, it’s usually jump with both feet in.”
Bill Mott on works by Wood Memorial winner Resilience and champion filly Just F Y I. (He also talks about the disappointment that his 2019 Kentucky Derby winner Country House, who was moved up to victory upon the interference disqualification of Maximum Security, was not able to race again and prove himself as a top horse. From today’s Churchill Downs’ Derby barn notes:
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is bringing Wood Memorial (GII) winner Resilience up to the Kentucky Derby (GI) in old school fashion. On Sunday, Mott sent Resilience out for his third work in 10 days as the colt covered four furlongs in :49.20 during the 7:30 a.m. training session.
Shortly after stablemate and champion Just F Y I completed her half-mile breeze in advance of the Kentucky Oaks (GI), Resilience got down to his own bit of serious business in a solo move with blinkers on. The son of Into Mischief was well in hand through fractions of :12.60 and :24.80 before galloping out in 1:01.40.
And on Just F Y I’s work: In registering her third workout in 10 days, George Krikorian’s homebred filly continued to flaunt good energy as she broke off solo during the 7:30 a.m. training period with trainer Bill Mott looking on from his pony. Alvarado was a passenger through splits of :24.80 with a gallop out in 1:02.40.
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