Churchill Downs saw two Kentucky Derby 151 contenders complete published workouts Tuesday morning as Coal Battle (Coal Front) and Sandman (Tapit) turned in their respective breezes.
Sandman, winner of the GI Arkansas Derby for D.J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables, worked at 7:15 a.m. (Eastern) with trainer Mark Casse’s longtime exercise rider Froylan Garcia aboard. The grey colt recorded eighth-mile splits of :13.60 and :26.40 before completing four furlongs in an official time of :49.60. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.80 and six furlongs in 1:15, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.
“It looked perfect,” Casse said from his Ocala, Fla. base. “I asked the rider to go between :49 and :50 [seconds] and he did just that.”
Casse’s local assistant, Allen Hardy, supervised the workout on-site.
“That’s Froy for you—always doing exactly what you ask,” Hardy said. “He’s a great horseman and rider.”
Hardy noted that distance has been key to the colt’s development. “I think we saw in the Arkansas Derby that when Sandman got to stretch his legs going further in distance, it was much better. We’re going to do our best to keep him happy and healthy while enjoying the ride he’s taking us on.”
Norman Stables’ Coal Battle completed his workout shortly after Sandman, breezing under assistant trainer Bethany Taylor. The pair recorded eighth-mile splits of :12.20, :23.80 and :36.40, according to Churchill Downs clocker Adam Wallace.
In other Derby preparations, trainer Brad Cox reported that GI Florida Derby winner Tappan Street (Into Mischief) will complete one more workout at Payson Park in South Florida before vanning to Churchill Downs for his final breeze beneath the Twin Spires.
Training hours at Churchill Downs currently run from 5:30-10 a.m. with renovation breaks scheduled from 6:45-7:15 a.m. and 8:30-9 a.m. Beginning Friday, the training schedule will shift to 5:15-10 a.m., with a special 7:15-7:30 a.m. window designated exclusively for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders.
