• Peacock Racing Stables' GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. winner Gunnevera (Dialed In) made his first visit to the Churchill Downs main track Tuesday morning. With exercise rider Victor Farrel aboard and trainer Antonio Sano looking on, the chestnut galloped an easy mile over a fast track after the morning renovation break.
“I liked what a I saw this morning,” Sano told the Churchill notes team. “Tomorrow, he will go a mile-and-a-half and I plan to work [him] Saturday morning.”
Gunnevera, who also captured the GII Saratoga Special S. and GIII Delta Downs Jackpot S. as a 2-year-old, comes into the Derby off a third-place effort in the GI Xpressbet Florida Derby.
• Kentucky Oaks contender Lockdown (First Defence) worked a sharp five furlongs Tuesday in :59.40 (3/25) at Churchill for trainer Bill Mott. A full-sister to champion Close Hatches, the Juddmonte Farms homebred clicked off splits of :12.40, :24.40, :36.40 and :47.80 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.80.
“It was a pretty solid work; steady,” Mott said. “I wanted to see if she liked the track.
Mott said that Lockdown, most recently second in the GII Gazelle S., would work once more before the Oaks.
• Coffepot Stables' three-time graded stakes winner Farrell (Malibu Moon) was one of the first horses on the track Tuesday morning, galloping under exercise rider Antonio Ramos. The homebred is scheduled to breeze with regular pilot Channing Hill in the irons Wednesday morning to avoid potential thunderstorms in the area Thursday through Saturday.
“I'm not taking any chances with the weather,” trainer Wayne Catalano said.
• Dual Grade I winner Practical Joke (Into Mischief) also made his first appearance on the Churchill oval Tuesday, galloping under exercise rider Fernando Rivera. Trainer Chad Brown said that weather permitting, the colt is scheduled to work Friday morning.
• 'TDN Rising Star' McCraken (Ghostzapper) jogged a mile under exercise rider Yoni Orantes after breezing five panels in 1:00.60 Monday at Churchill.
• The Mark Casse-trained duo of champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) and State of Honor (To Honor and Serve) each galloped 1 1/2 miles. The latter runner is expected to breeze Friday.
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