The intensity with John Velazquez on board
Ryan Thompson
GI Florida Derby Champion severity (City of light) took place at Palm Beach Downs on Friday morning in preparation for the GI Kentucky Derby.
The Eclipse Award winner rode five furlongs in 1:00.35 under the direction of Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. The purebred Repole Stable works alongside colleagues Agate Sugar 'TDN Rising Star' (Quality roads).
“I thought he worked super – solid five-eighths with a good gallop, exactly what we were aiming for,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I think he's doing just as well, if not better, than he did in the Florida Derby.”
Pletcher, who will continue to monitor weather conditions in Kentucky, said plans for severity beyond Friday's breeze remain undetermined.
Catalysis (Cruiser Catalina), who finished second to Fierceness in the Florida Derby, edged trainer Saffie Joseph in 1:00.72 at Gulfstream Park on Friday morning.
“Everything is fine,” Joseph said. “I caught him in a minute four-fifths and [six-furlong] gallop in 1:14 and change.”
West Saratoga practices 6 games at Keeneland
by Harry Veruchi West Saratoga (Exaggerator), who was last seen finishing as runner-up in the GIII Jeff Ruby S. at Turfway Park on March 23, continues to prepare for the Derby scheduled to begin with took 6 furlongs in 1:16.20 on a wet track at Keeneland on Friday morning.
With jockey Jesus Castanon on board, West Saratoga produced eighth-mile splits of :13.60, :26.40, :39.80, :51.20, 1:04.20, 1:16 .20 and galloped 7 furlongs in 1:30.20 while executing his jumps. own.
Trainer Larry Demeritte said West Saratoga will return to his base at the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington and stay there until hauled to Churchill Downs on Friday, April 26 in a 3-furlong wind. scheduled below Twin Spiers the next day.
“I'm happy with the work and now things are looking good going forward,” Demeritte said of West Saratoga, who went three furlongs at The Thoroughbred Center at :36:40 on April 6. “ That job was for speed and this job for endurance. You cannot do both at the same time. He will have to gallop a lot (leading up to the Derby).”
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This story was posted in Top news and tagged Catalysis, Derby works, severity, GI Florida Derby, GI Kentucky Derby, GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks, Gulfstream Park, Race, Jesus Castanon, Keeneland, Larry Demeritte, Palm Downs Beach, Repole is stable, Saffie Joseph, Rising star TDN, thoroughbred, Todd Pletcher, West Saratoga, practice.
