Harry Rosenblum and Robert LaPenta's GI Arkansas Derby runner-up Far Right (Notional) and John Oxley's Danzig Moon (Malibu Moon), second last time out in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 4, took to the Churchill main track for their final serious piece of work ahead of the Derby.
Trainer Ron Moquett was looking for something easy from Far Right, and the colt obliged, working a half-mile in :49 beneath Greta Kuntzweiler. After breaking off in :12.40 for the opening furlong, Far Right went past the quarter in :24.20 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.
“I was worried it would be too quick,” Moquett said of the work that came after the morning renovation break. “I wanted a Far Right work, not a :47, just a steady, grinding work.”
Moquett also planned to work his charge Saturday, but moved the drill up because of the rainy forecast.
“I'm glad that we can put that behind us and now we can go on and worry about something else,” Moquett said.
Danzig Moon, who was beaten 12 1/2 lengths when fourth to Carpe Diem in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 7, trimmed that margin down to just three lengths in the Blue Grass. The Ontario-bred worked a half-mile in company in :48.80 accomplishing the move in fractions of :12.80, :25 and :37 with a gallop-out time of 1:01.80 for five furlongs.
“We just decided to get the work done and not worry about it,” assistant trainer Norman Casse said of moving the work up a day for Danzig Moon. “He always works in company and we just wanted a good, even work.”
He added, “His preparation could not be any better and I feel he has moved up since the Blue Grass. Other than the Tampa Bay Derby, he has run well every time. There were two reasons for the Tampa Bay results; one, he didn't handle the track at all and came back with cuts on his hind legs and two or three days after that he came down with a virus that may have affected the performance.”
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