On a cloudy Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, six entrants put in their final breezes over a fast track, led by Chief Wallabee (Constitution).
Mike and Kay Ball's Chief Wallabee worked a half-mile in :49.20 in company with the 3-year-old maiden winner Steel (Tapit). Junior Alvarado was aboard for trainer Bill Mott.
The TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard produced splits of :13.20, :25.40, :49.20 and out five-eighths in 1:01.80 and six furlongs in 1:15.20.
“We did what we wanted to do and if it doesn't work out, then that's on me,” said trainer Bill Mott, who will be trying for a consecutive Derby victory to bookend with Sovereignty from last year. “Last year, I felt good about Sovereignty. Chief Wallabee has lots of class and ability and he is good and smooth. I'm not making any predictions. We'll have to wait and see.”
First up during the 7:15-7:30 (all times Eastern) training period for Derby, Kentucky Oaks and prior Kentucky Derby winners, was Speedway Stables' Potente (Into Mischief) for trainer Bob Baffert.
Working with the 3-year-old maiden Embry Show (Modernist) and with Martin Garcia aboard, the GII San Felipe victor worked five furlongs in :57.80, the fastest of 23 at the distance for the morning.
Next up was Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures Intrepido (Maximus Mischief) for trainer Jeff Mullins. With Hector I. Berrios aboard and working on his own, Intrepido covered a half-mile in :45 for the fastest work of 71 at the distance.
Last season's GI American Pharoah scorer recorded a brisk half-mile in :45, fastest of 71 at the distance on the clockers' tab. His splits included :11.60 and :22.60, with “out” times of :57 and 1:10.20.
Pin Oak Stud's Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) also worked for trainer Riley Mott. With jockey Jaime Torres up, he worked outside of Wan Dale. The Virginia Derby winner covered a half-mile in :47 for the second fastest time of the morning at the distance.
Incredibolt | Coady Media
The other half of the Pin Oak Stud-Riley Mott duo to work Sunday was GII Wood Memorial winner Albus (Yaupon). With Antonio Garcia up and working with Theoretical (Nyquist), a 3-year-old maiden filly, Albus worked a half-mile in :49.
“They both looked happy and had their ears pricked,” trainer Riley Mott said. “They traveled well. Finished strong and galloped out well. They are two different horses and this was a typical work for them. Incredibolt is like a race car; he has a lot of gears. Albus is more of a grinder type and not that flashy.”
Reddam Racing's Pavlovian (Pavel) also posted a 1:03.40 five-furlong move out of the gate in company with the 3-year-old maiden Mr American Pie (Maclean's Music) for trainer Doug O'Neill. Jockey Edwin Maldonado was aboard.
The Sunland Derby winner broke from the gate in the chute, throwing down splits of :25.80, :38 and :50.80 on the way to a final clocking of 1:03.40. Clockers caught him going “out” in 1:16.80.
“I thought he worked great,” said Maldonado. “He was perfect out of the gate. That's a good work for him.”
Also working for O'Neill was Reddam Racing's Robusta (Accelerate), who is the third Derby also-eligible. Robusta worked five furlongs out of the gate in 1:03.60.
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