Take Charge Indy Works at Palm Meadows; Union Rags Arrives for Derby Bid

Apr 26, 2012 Gary Yunt

Godolphin Racing’s Alpha, second in his most recent start in the Wood Memorial (Grade I), is scheduled to work Saturday at Belmont Park according to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

Alpha is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Monday.

BODEMEISTER / LIAISON – The dominating winner of the Arkansas Derby (GI), Bodemeister, returned to the track Thursday morning and inspired trainer Bob Baffert, standing trackside at Churchill Downs, to say wistfully, “He looks great.”

The son of Empire Maker sparkled in the morning sun as he jogged once around with exercise rider George Alvarez while alongside the stable pony who was ridden by assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes. Bodemeister had worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 in company with one of Baffert’s three Kentucky Oaks prospects, Jemima’s Pearl.

Baffert’s other intended Derby contender, Liaison, walked the shedrow Thursday morning following a six-furlong work over the Churchill Downs track on Wednesday.

Mike Smith has the Derby assignment on Bodemeister and Martin Garcia will pilot Liaison.

CREATIVE CAUSE – Heinz Steinmann’s Creative Cause, second by a nose in the Santa Anita Derby (GI) in his most recent start, is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Saturday for his anticipated start in Kentucky Derby 138.

Trained by Mike Harrington, Creative Cause worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 at Hollywood Park on Tuesday. Joel Rosario has the riding assignment in the Derby.

DADDY NOSE BEST / SABERCAT – Both of trainer Steve Asmussen’s Kentucky Derby 138 hopefuls galloped early Thursday morning over a track labeled as “good” following overnight showers.

First out was Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Sabercat, daylight winner of the Delta Jackpot (GIII) last fall. Corey Nakatani has the riding assignment in the Derby.

Next out was Bob and Cathy Zollars’ Daddy Nose Best, winner of his two 2012 starts in the El Camino Real Derby (GIII) and Sunland Derby (GIII). Garrett Gomez has the Derby mount.

Both colts are scheduled to work Monday.

DULLAHAN – Donegal Racing’s Dullahan, smashing winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) in his most recent start, galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Faustino Aguilar after the morning renovation break during the training period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders.

Trained by Dale Romans, Dullahan is scheduled to work Saturday morning. Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning rider Kent Desormeaux has the mount on Dullahan.

EL PADRINO/GEMOLOGIST – Let’s Go Stable’s El Padrino and WinStar Farm’s Gemologist are scheduled to work Sunday at Palm Meadows trainer Todd Pletcher told Daily Racing Form.

The two colts are scheduled to ship to Louisville on Tuesday.

HANSEN – Eclipse Award winner Hansen walked the shedrow at trainer Mike Maker’s barn at the Trackside Training Center.

Owned by Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing, Hansen is scheduled to work Saturday or Sunday morning at Trackside. Ramon Dominguez has the Derby mount.

I’LL HAVE ANOTHER – Trainer Doug O’Neill said Thursday morning from his Hollywood Park base that he expects a sharp six-furlong workout Friday morning from I’ll Have Another. The Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner, owned by J. Paul Reddam will ship to Churchill Downs on Saturday where he’ll join two stablemates and multi-millionaire Lava Man, now serving as a stable pony for Team O’Neill.

O’Neill will arrive late Friday and will be at the barn Saturday morning to check in on those horses already are on the grounds. That includes The Black, who is scheduled to run in Saturday’s The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII).

MARK VALESKI – Trainer Larry Jones was in the saddle as Mark Valeski galloped 1 ½ miles after the morning renovation break between 8:30-8:45 when the track is reserved for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders.

Owned by breeder Brereton Jones, Mark Valeski is scheduled to work Monday. Rosie Napravnik has the Derby mount.

OPTIMIZER – Bluegrass Hall’s Optimizer galloped under Joel Cano after the morning renovation break during the training period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said the English Channel colt would work Sunday or Monday depending on weather. Jon Court, who has ridden Optimizer in his past two starts, has the Kentucky Derby mount should Optimizer make the field.   

PROSPECTIVE – John Oxley’s Prospective galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Juan Bernardini during the training period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders between 8:30-8:45 a.m.

Trained by Mark Casse, Prospective is scheduled to work Saturday morning. Luis Contreras has the Derby mount.

ROUSING SERMON – Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer remains undecided just when Tree Top Ranches’ Rousing Sermon will put in his final work for the Kentucky Derby, but it will be at Churchill Downs.

The son of Lucky Pulpit is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Saturday, the Hall of Fame trainer said Thursday morning from California.

TAKE CHARGE INDY – Chuck and Maribeth Sandford’s Take Charge Indy completed his major South Florida preparation for Derby 138 by working five furlongs in 1:00.40 in company under exercise rider Susie Bricker at Palm Meadows Training Center.

Working in company with Zimmer, a 6-year-old allowance winner, Take Charge Indy posted fractions of :11.60, :23.60, :35.60, :47.60 and galloped out in 1:14.60.

“He has never been better,” trainer Pat Byrne said by phone after the work. “He worked absolutely fantastic. It was visually impressive and he outworked his company.”       

Winner of the Florida Derby (GI) in his most recent start, Take Charge Indy will have the saddle services of three-time Kentucky Derby-winning rider Calvin Borel in this year’s Run for the Roses.

“We are in really good shape going into the Derby,” Byrne said. “All we need now is a little luck.”

Byrne said Take Charge Indy is scheduled to leave Palm Meadows early Tuesday with a mid-morning arrival scheduled in Louisville.

UNION RAGS – Chadds Ford Stable’s Union Rags, runner-up in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) here last fall, arrived at Churchill Downs and Barn 42 from Keeneland at 1:45 p.m. Thursday.

Trained by Michael Matz, who trained Barbaro to win the 2006 Kentucky Derby, Union Rags will be ridden in Derby 138 by Julien Leparoux.

“I am not sure what time we are going to go out tomorrow, whether it will be early or late,” Matz said. “We have one more work and we are going to watch the weather. We hope to get a good track and work this weekend.”

WENT THE DAY WELL – Team Valor International and Mark Ford’s Went the Day Well, winner of the Vinery Racing Spiral (GIII) in his most recent start, arrived at Churchill Downs from Keeneland at 12:35 p.m.

Trained by Graham Motion, Went the Day Well is stabled in Barn 22 which is where Motion was stabled last spring when Animal Kingdom won Kentucky Derby 137. Went the Day Well, who was accompanied by Crimson China, is in Stall 38, the same one occupied last year by Animal Kingdom.

Went the Day Well, who will be ridden in the Derby by John Velazquez, is scheduled to work Saturday, weather permitting.

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 138^th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 5, 2012, and its Spring Meet is scheduled for April 28-July 1. The track has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record eight times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.

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