Danzig Moon Fires Bullet

In his first published work since finishing second in Keeneland’s GI Blue Grass S. Apr. 4, John Oxley’s Danzig Moon (Malibu Moon) sizzled five furlongs in :58 flat (1/60) under the Twin Spires in preparation for the Kentucky Derby. The Mark Casse pupil was piloted by Julien Leparoux, and worked alongside graded stakes-winning stablemate Tepin (Bernstein), who is pointing for the GII Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile on the same day. He was clocked in splits of :11.40, :22.40, :34 and :45.60 with a six furlong gallop out in 1:12.20. 

“We usually reserve our two-weeks-out works to be our big works and, unfortunately, I think he got a little overzealous leaving the pony,” Norm Casse, son and assistant to trainer Mark, said of the fast time. “He’s a fast horse and he worked fast, and Julien recognized that and really didn’t ask him to do too much afterwards.” 

Casse continued, “We know he likes the racetrack and the horse he worked with is a very, very talented horse. The horse that worked is running on Derby Day as well. We purposely worked them together because they basically have the same target: different races, but on the same day. Had he not gotten away and ran off the first bit, the overall time wouldn’t have been nearly as fast. But it’s OK.” 

Danzig Moon was based at Churchill Downs in the fall, and finished second here in his second career start last October. He resurfaced to don cap and gown emphatically at Gulfstream Feb. 7, and was fourth in the GII Tampa Bay Derby one month later before his effort in the Blue Grass.