Derby Trial Winner Hurricane Ike Works Five Furlongs

May 04, 2010 Gary Yunt

HURRICANE IKE WORKS FIVE FURLONGS IN 1:00.40 — Ike and Dawn Thrash’s The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (Grade III) winner Hurricane Ike tuned up for a planned run in the Preakness (GI) with a five-furlong work in 1:00.40 under Calvin Borel after the renovation break Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

 Working in blinkers as is his norm, Hurricane Ike broke off at the half-mile pole and recorded fractions of :12.20, :24.40, :36.40, :48 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15. The work, accomplished over a “fast” track, was the fourth fastest of 39 at the distance.

Borel, who rode Hurricane Ike to his victory in the one-mile Derby Trial as well as a runner-up finish in the Bay Shore (GIII) at Aqueduct, liked the work.

“It was very good and he galloped out well,” Borel said. “He was a very happy horse the last time I rode him and I thought he was about the same today.”

Lupillo Alferez, who was on another horse for trainer John Sadler at the time, saw the last part of the work.

“I was on the frontside and he ran by me and really looked good,” Alferez said. “He can run long – the longer the better for him.”

Robby Albarado, who rode two-time Horse of the Year Curlin to victory in the 2007 Preakness, will have the mount on Hurricane Ike in Baltimore.

Alferez and six of the nine horses Sadler had at Churchill Downs for nearly three weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby were scheduled to fly home to Southern California on Tuesday afternoon. Among the horses were Sidney’s Candy, 17th in the Derby, and Line of David, who finished 18th.

“We are leaving three horses here,” Alferez said, “Hurricane Ike, who will go on to the Preakness; Privilaged and Emmy Darling, who won here on the second day of the meet.”

Privilaged is being pointed to Churchill Downs’ $100,000 Matt Winn, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds on the main track on May 15.

DERBY WINNER SUPER SAVER TO RETURN TO TRACK WEDNESDAY – WinStar Farm’s Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver walked the shedrow Tuesday morning at trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn.

Super Saver is scheduled to return to the track Wednesday morning to jog, most likely before 7 o’clock. Pletcher is expected to return to Louisville before the end of the week and decide whether Super Saver will work or gallop up to the Preakness.

Coming by to check on the Derby winner Tuesday morning was jockey Calvin Borel, who won his third Kentucky Derby in four years on Saturday aboard Super Saver.

“He looks awesome,” Borel said. “I saw him this morning and he was on his toes. He is peaking at the right time.”

Borel said one of the keys to the Derby victory was getting Super Saver to rate off the pace.

“I got him to relax in a 20-horse field,” Borel said. “It should get easier with fewer horses in the next race. He’s calm, cool and collected.”

Super Saver is scheduled to leave for Pimlico next Wednesday along with Dogwood Stable’s Aikenite, runner-up in the April 24 Derby Trial (GIII), who also is targeting the Preakness.

Aikenite galloped a mile and a quarter under Kevin Willey after the renovation break and is scheduled to work Sunday.

PADDY O’PRADO JOGS TWO MILES FOR ROMANS – Donegal Racing’s third-place Kentucky Derby finisher Paddy O’Prado returned to the track Tuesday morning, jogging two miles toward the 10 o’clock end of training hours.

Paddy O’Prado is the first of the Kentucky Derby runners stabled at Churchill Downs to return to the track since Saturday’s “Run for the Roses.”

Trainer Dale Romans said no decision has been made on the son of El Prado’s participation in the Preakness.

BARN TALK – When racing resumes Thursday with a nine-race program beginning at 12:45 p.m. (EDT), there will be a couple of enticing propositions at the mutual windows.

There is a $947,641 Pick-Six carryover that will cover races four through nine. Also, in the ninth race, there is a $147,055 Super Hi-5 carryover in which patrons must select the first five finishers in the race in order.

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – Aspire breezed four fulongs in :47.80, the second fastest of 61 at the distance … This Ones for Phil breezed four furlongs in :53.80 …Acoma breezed five furlongs in 1:02.40 for trainer David Carroll … Florida Oaks (GIII) winner Diva Delite breezed five furlongs in 1:01 … Hightap brezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 …Thiskyhasnolimit, winner of the 2009 Iroquois (GIII), breezed six furlongs in 1:11.20 – easily the fastest of five moves at the distance.