Catalytic
Owned by Ocala residents Tami Bobo, FTBOA President George Isaacs and Julie Davies and a graduate of Davies early training, Catalytic walked the shedrow following a Sunday workout.
“That’s the routine we follow after a breeze,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He’ll be back out tomorrow.”
Catching Freedom
A graduate of Barry Berkelhammer’s early training program at Abracadabra Farm in Ocala, Fla., Catching Freedom returned to the track at 6:45 a.m. for an easy one-mile jog with stablemates Encino and Just a Tab following their respective breezes Sunday.
“All three horses exited their works in good shape,” Cox said. “They’ll gallop the rest of the week and be ready for Saturday.”
Dornoch
A graduate of Raul Reyes’ Kings Equine in Ocala, Fla., Dornoch returned to the track during the 7:30 a.m. training period for trainer Danny Gargan. Dornoch took the track during the 7:30 a.m. training period, coming out for a jog the wrong way while also having a session of gate schooling that Gargan deemed “perfect.”
“Dornoch struggles a little bit sometimes, but he’s come out of the Blue Grass better than he’s come out of any race, I think. We didn’t really have to ship this time or go anywhere, so I’m real pleased with him.”
Endlessly
A graduate of Barry Berkelhammer’s early training program at Abracadabra Farm in Ocala, Fla. Endlessly went to the track shortly after 6 a.m. with exercise rider Walter Davila for a mile-and-a-quarter jog.
“He’s happy,” Davila said after returning from the exercise.
“I’m happy, too,” trainer Michael McCarthy added.
Fierceness
A graduate of Ocala Stud’s early training program in Ocala, Fla., Fierceness looked a picture Monday morning moving smoothly through a gallop of a mile-and-three-eighths during the special 7:30-7:45 a.m. training session for Derby and Oaks runners. Former British jockey Danny Wright was in the saddle.
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 galloped two miles at 6:30 a.m. under Amel Macias.
Barboza commented that he expects the Derby pace will help Grand Mo the First improve on his third-place finish behind Fierceness in the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) last out.
“This time it will be different, a different race,” Barboza said. “The pace will be quicker this time. The last time, nobody fought [Fierceness]. He got away with :24 and :49 and nobody fought him. This will be different.”
Just a Touch
A graduate of David Scanlon’s Scanlon Training & Sales at Oak Ridge Training Center in Morriston, Fla., Just a Touch returned to the track at 6:45 a.m. for an easy one-mile jog with stablemates Encino and Catching Freedom following their respective breezes Sunday.
Jockey Florent Geroux was on hand Monday to watch his mount in the Derby, Just a Touch, train.
“I’m really excited about his chances,” Geroux said. “He’s light on experience but he’s a very talented colt. I think he’s ready to run a big race.”
Sierra Leone
A graduate of David Scanlon’s Scanlon Training & Sales at Oak Ridge Training Center in Morriston, Fla., Sierra Leone returned to the track Monday for the first time since working five furlongs in company with stablemate Domestic Product on April 17. The Chad Brown-trained Kentucky Derby contenders each jogged the wrong way once around the Churchill Downs oval during the 7:30 a.m. training period.
“Everyone’s good,” Brown said. “I couldn’t be more pleased with both of the Derby colts. Knock on wood they just go into the race this way.”
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 headed out just after 6 a.m. for a light jog. The chestnut son of Good Magic was especially easy to spot as he wore what Gargan calls a unicorn light between his ears.
“Churchill has really bright lights but most of the tracks—Palm Meadows, Saratoga—there’s not a bunch of lights. So we put that on all the horses so we know where they are,” Gargan said.
“Society Man always bounces right back out of his race. He never has a bad day. He’s one of those horses where day in and day out, he’s a happy kind of guy. Just always the same, real level.”
Track Phantom
Co-owned by FTBOA board member Mike Hall’s Breeze Easy LLC, Track Phantom had a scheduled walk day in trainer Steve Asmussen’s Barn 38 following his five-eighths work in 1:00 Sunday morning.
