Most of the 2015 Kentucky Derby contenders have completed their final workouts in preparation for the first jewel of the Triple Crown after a morning of activity on the Triple Crown trail.
Saturday was a busy day of preparation with 10 of 20 horses currently in the field for the race turning in timed workouts. Final workouts from unbeaten Santa Anita Derby winner Dortmund and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes victor Carpe Diem highlighted the activity.
Dortmund completed six furlongs (three-quarters of a mile) in 1:13.60 handily (with encouragement) under regular rider Martin Garcia while working in company with a stablemate. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was pleased with the workout from Dortmund, who along with stablemate American Pharoah should be one of the top two betting choices.
"Went well," Baffert said. "He cruised today."
American Pharoah is scheduled for his final workout on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
He galloped 1½ miles on Saturday for exercise rider Jorge Alvarez at 5:45 a.m. ET rather than waiting for the time reserved for Derby and Oaks horses at 8:30 and, potentially, rain.
"The track was perfect. The weather was good,"Jimmy Barnes said. "I'd rather just get him out on a good racetrack and be done with it."
Carpe Diem was ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who has the mount for the Kentucky Derby, for his final serious prep for the Run for the Roses. He breezed four furlongs (a half-mile) in :48.60 on Saturday at Keeneland Race Course and is scheduled to be shipped from Lexington to Louisville on Monday.
"Johnny was very happy with it," Carpe Diem's trainer, Todd Pletcher, said upon return to his Churchill barn. "And I saw what I wanted to see. He's really doing well. He likes Keeneland; likes the track and the routine we have him in over there. That's a big part of why we've kept him there. We were concerned about the weather and their track handles the rain and drains so well. There's some comfort in that."
Louisiana Derby winner International Star, who swept the major Kentucky Derby prep races at Fair Grounds, breezed four furlongs in :50.80 on Churchill Downs' Trackside Louisville Training Track.
"We were out trying to beat the rain," trainer Mike Maker said of the 6 a.m. move. "It was a simple maintenance work and everything went well. He was well within himself. He's fit by now. We're not going to do anything in the last seven days that might put him 'over the top.' We're ready to go."
Wood Memorial Stakes winner Frosted and Florida Derby runner-up Upstart completed their final serious preparations for the Kentucky Derby at Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida.
Frosted breezed five furlongs (five-eighths of a mile) in 1:01.10 for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and owner Godolphin Racing.
Upstart breezed five furlongs in :59.95, the fastest of nine timed workouts at the distance, for trainer Rick Violette.
"It was a typical Upstart work," Violette said. "It looked like he was going :50 and change and it was :47 or :48. He galloped out great; didn't want to pull up. He could have gone faster or slower. He's pretty much push-button."
United Arab Emirates Derby winner Mubtaahij worked a half-mile at Arlington Park in :49.70, with a final three furlongs in :35.30.
Sunland Derby victor Firing Line completed an easy five furlongs in 1:02.20 at Santa Anita Park under Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens; Gotham Stakes winner El Kabeir turned in a swift half-mile drill in :46.81 at Belmont Park; Wood Memorial Stakes runner-up Tencendur drilled five furlongs in 1:00 at Churchill; and Keen Ice, who moved into the final spot in the field this weekend with the defection of Madefromlucky, covered five furlongs in 1:01.80 at Churchill Downs.
