Working before the crack of dawn over a wet, sealed track, trainer D. Wayne Lukas' Dublin breezed five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, in company, galloping out six furlongs in 1:17 4/5 under Kentucky Derby jockey Terry Thompson, the New York Post reported Monday.
Lukas caught the son of Afleet Alex coming home his final quarter-mile in 0:24 flat.
"It was a good maintenance work," Thompson said. "He could easily have gone 0:59, but we didn't want to do that."
Four horses were scheduled to work Monday: American Lion, Noble's Promise, Interactif, who is on the bubble for the Derby, and the new favorite, Lookin At Lucky.
With Eskendereya out with an injury to his left front leg, and with Interactif a doubtful starter, it appeared that Jackson Bend will draw into the Derby field.
Jackson Bend was second to Eskendereya in his last two starts, the Fountain of Youth and Wood Memorial.
"That's why I always use the phrase, 'You've got to be lucky and blessed,'" said Jackson Bend's trainer, Nick Zito. "This game will humble kings."
The field for the Derby is limited to 20 horses -- based on graded stakes earnings.
Trainer Todd Pletcher explained it was in consideration of Eskendereya's owner, Ahmed Zayat, that he did not alert the media to the horse's injury Saturday.
"It was the Sabbath for Mr Zayat, and I would not be able to speak to him for 24 hours," Pletcher said.
"I felt badly I couldn't tell you guys about that, but my priority is always to have the owner know first. It was not a phone call I wanted to make."
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