Catalytic
Owned by Ocala residents Tami Bobo, George Isaacs and Julie Davies and a graduate of Davies early training, Catalytic had has final workout Sunday with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, clocking a half-mile in :47.80, the thirteenth fastest time of 60 at the distance.
“He looked great, felt great,” Ortiz said. “It was just a maintenance work and exactly what we were looking for. The horse is happy. Keeping him happy is all we have to do until Saturday.”
“It was a good time, a good work,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said.
Joseph also mentioned he was pleased in drawing the post five for the Run for the Roses. “I thought it went as good as we could have asked, and Jose is happy with him. Hopefully we have a good week and go on from here.
“He’s showing a lot more energy here than he does at Gulfstream. And there, he doesn’t seem to pay attention, here he seems very focused.”
Catching Freedom – ©Coady Media
Catching Freedom
A graduate of Barry Berkelhammer’s early training program at Abracadabra Farm in Ocala, Fla., Catching Freedom had a scheduled walk day following his work Saturday. He is expected to return to the track Monday with Just a Touch and Encino, the two Brad Cox-trainer Derby contenders.
Dornoch
A graduate of Raul Reyes’s Kings Equine in Ocala, Fla., Dornoch had a walk day for trainer Danny Gargan after working four furlongs Saturday with stablemate Society Man.
“They’re good. Dornoch is strong and happy, he’s acting like a wild man,” Gargan said.
Endlessly
A graduate of Barry Berkelhammer’s early training program at Abracadabra Farm in Ocala, Fla. Endlessly went to the track at 6 a.m. for a one-mile gallop with exercise rider Walter Davila.
“He’ll gallop a mile again tomorrow,” trainer Mike McCarthy said. “Then we might stretch him out some later in the week.”
Fierceness – ©Renee Torbit/Coady Media
Fierceness
A graduate of Ocala Stud early training program, Fierceness galloped a mile-and-a-quarter Sunday with British exercise ride Danny Wright aboard. Wright is a former jockey in Great Britian who once rode for the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Fierceness is expected for follow the galloping routine for the balance of the week according to Churchill Downs press box notes.
Grand Mo the First
Grand Mo the First received his early education and was consigned to the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale by Keiber Rengifo’s Golden Rock Thoroughbreds, located in Ocala, Fla. Trained by South Florida-based Victor Barboza Jr., Grand Mo the First jogged a mile and galloped a mile under exercise rider Amel Macias Sunday.
Just a Touch
A graduate of David Scanlon’s Scanlon Training & Sales at Oak Ridge Training Center in Morriston, Fla., Just a Touch had a scheduled walk day following his work Saturday. He is expected to return to the track with Catching Freedom and Encino, the other two Derby entrants trained by Brad Cox.
Track Phantom
Co-owned by FTBOA board member Mike Hall’s Breeze Easy LLC, Track Phantom had his final work Sunday at Churchill Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen. The Lecomte (G3)-winner went a solid opening quarter mile in :24.20, finished five furlongs in 1:00 flat and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.60, the fifth fastest of 16 works at five panels.
“I think Track Phantom has a beautiful rhythm to him with a nice, beautiful stride,” Asmussen said. “I don’t think he’s a horse that has to be on the lead. In his last two starts, there were very tepid paces. I think for him to be wrangled back in either of those two races wouldn’t have been to his style. I obviously expect there to be more pace in the Derby, everybody does with the quarter-mile run into the first turn. I think in a full field, I still want him to jump away from there well but I’d be very surprised to see him on the lead in this year’s Derby.”
Sierra Leone – @Renee Torbit/Coady Media
Sierra Leone
A graduate of David Scanlon’s Scanlon Training & Sales at Oak Ridge Training Center in Morriston, Fla., Sierra Leone walked the shedrow of trainer Chad Brown after working Saturday.
Society Man
A graduate of the early training program at Chetley and Nellie Breedon’s Grade One Investments located at Two Springs Farm in Micanopy, Fla., Society Man had a walk day Sunday after working four furlongs with stablemate Dornoch Saturday. Both are trained by Danny Gargan.
