Pletcher duo lead baker's dozen of Derby workers at Churchill

Edited press release

For those wanting to get a line on contenders for this year's Kentucky Derby (G1) plus enjoy a mild, sun-splashed Kentucky morning, Churchill Downs was the place Friday as 13 horses under consideration for the $2 million Kentucky Derby worked over a fast track

Todd Pletcher's duo of Destin and Outwork put in their final preparations for the Kentucky Derby during Churchill Downs' special 8:30-8:45 a.m. (EDT) training window, which is exclusive to possible starters in the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Working in company with Stradivari, Destin went five furlongs in 1:01.20 producing eighth-mile fractions of :12.60, :24.80, :37.40, :49.60, galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.20 and seven furlongs in 1:27.

"Destin worked very well," Pletcher said. "I had him in company. I thought it was very good. He seemed enthusiastic for him. I particularly liked the way he finished up and galloped out. I was very happy. We wanted to make sure we got a good solid work today. He's had a good series of solid works, but we wanted to make sure he worked solid today and had a good gallop out."

The son of Giant's Causeway will enter the Kentucky Derby off an eight-week layoff, having last raced in the March 12 Tampa Bay Derby (G2). Should he win, it would be the longest documented layoff since complete records were kept starting in 1929. Regret won the 1915 Derby off a 259-day layoff and Sir Barton won the 1919 Derby off a 238-day layoff.

"It was a tough decision," Pletcher said of the choice to train up to the Kentucky Derby. "Part of it was we were passing up a good opportunity. The Wood Memorial, the Blue Grass and the Arkansas Derby are all in between and Grade 1s and significant races in their own. We just felt like, for us, we have had success in the past with giving horses a little extra time.

"Looking back to last year's Breeders' Cup with Liam's Map, we didn't race him in between Saratoga and the Breeders' Cup and the same thing with Stopchargingmaria and even Rachel's Valentina who didn't win but ran a good second to Songbird. We just felt like sometimes our horses run well fresh and that should apply to the Kentucky Derby just as much as any other race."

In five career starts, Destin's lone off-the-board effort came in the Jan. 16 Lecomte (G3) at the Fair Grounds where he was fourth beaten five lengths.

"A part of that race was simply him not focusing," Pletcher said. “We made a blinker adjustment for the Sam Davis (G3) and tried to close him up a little bit, trying to get him to focus. The thing we did like about the Lecomte was that it was a sneaky good race. He really never leveled off and ran until the last sixteenth of a mile and when he did he finished up with enthusiasm so it was a much more professional race in the Sam Davis and more so in the Tampa [Bay] Derby. If we can keep him focused, I think he'll get the distance."

Also breezing following the renovation break for Pletcher was Wood Memorial (G1) victor Outwork, who worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 in company with Azar, who is probable for the $300,000 American Turf (G2) on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Churchill Downs clockers caught the son of Uncle Mo in fractions of :13.20, :37.40, galloping out three-quarters of a mile in 1:14.