Prospective Breezes Five Furlongs at Churchill Downs

Mar 27, 2012 Travers Manley

John Oxley’s Prospective, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (Grade II) on March 10 and a major contender for the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), breezed five furlongs on a “fast” main track at Churchill Downs on Tuesday morning in 1:03 for trainer Mark Casse.

Working shortly after the track opened at 6 a.m. (Eastern) under regular exercise rider Melanie Giddings, the dark bay or brown son of Malibu Moon recorded fractions of :14.20, :27, :39.20, :51.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.40 while working in company with a stablemate.

“The work went very well,” assistant trainer Norman Casse said. “We’re excited that he’s become much more professional in his works. He was on the bridle the whole way and galloped out very nicely. He seems to be maturing physically and mentally at the right time.”

Casse said Prospective would make his final prep for the Kentucky Derby in either the Wood Memorial (GI) at Aqueduct on April 7 or the Blue Grass (GI) at Keeneland on April 14. There is no timetable for when the final decision will be made.

Also working for the connections of Oxley and Casse early on Tuesday morning was Florida Oaks winner Dixie Strike, who recently finished third in the Herecomesthebride (GIII) on the turf at Gulfstream Park. The Canadian-bred daughter of Dixie Union breezed five furlongs under exercise rider Juan Bernardini in :59.60. It was the fastest of four works at the distance.

“She worked tremendous this morning,” Casse said.

Casse noted Dixie Strike would make her next start in the Ashland (GI) at Keeneland on April 7 with hopes of going on to run in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks (GI), America’s premiere race for 3-year-old fillies on May 4.

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.