2013 (CD): Derby/Oaks 'Morning Patrol'

[Kasept]

Brisk a.m. at CD. 8:30 @KentuckyDerby & Oaks workers shortly: Verrazano, Revolutionary, Nrmndy Invsn, Will Take Charge (1m), Close Hatches.

[Kasept]

Times/splits are Mike Welsch's watch (see links below), so I will simply concentrate on visuals of the morning..

NORMANDY INVASION was quick early and slower late. Not a bad breeze overall but imagine Chad Brown would have preferred to flip the elements and have him slower early and faster late. Some yutz on facebook and/or twitter started a rumor when the colt was photographed upon arrival at Churchill that he had lost 'a ton of weight' out of the Wood. A naturally lean, trim horse, he looked 100% fine upon viewing today as evidenced by photo below.

Mike Welsch ‏@DRFWelsch: Normandy Invasion off fast, :11.57 :23.06 opening 1/4, completed 1/2 in :48.22 out 5/8's 1:01.41 up 1:15.41.

[Kasept]

VERRAZANO, who only raced 13 days ago, had a mundane drill with Authenticity, not being asked and not really attacking the work either. He remains the same striking looking colt I saw in Florida in January. Gary Stevens was aboard..

Mike Welsch ‏@DRFWelsch Verrazano 5f.:59.95 in co. G3 placed Authenticity, broke off 1-1/2 lengths back, fin. neck in front, out 1:13.13 up 1:26.64. Mate held tuff.


REVOLUTIONARY worked a nice half with Calvin, finish the second quarter very nicely (:23+) and galloping out away from his workmate without being asked..

Mike Welsch ‏@DRFWelsch Revolutionary, Borel up, 4f. :48.73 scrapping rail, finished under a hold, appeared to switch leads nearing wire, out 1:01.36 up 1:15.13.

[Kasept]

Given his time off since the Rebel, WILL TAKE CHARGE had what had to be a fairly necessary 1m work and I only saw the early and late portions as well as the gallop out. Here are the eighths and quarters:

13.3
12.2 (26.0)
12.3
12.2 (25.0)
12.4
13.0 (25.4)
12.3
12.1 (24.4)

1:41.3

Seemed to be all on his own..

[Kasept]

Should toss in that I saw CHARMING KITTEN for the first time and he looks and moves completely like a turf horse with that prancey, high knee action.. PALACE MALICE was out as well and looks no worse for wear for having wheeled back in the Blue Grass of the Louisiana Derby fiasco..

[Kasept]

CLOSE HATCHES had the most spirited looking drill of the 8:30 special session going a very sharp half under a hold by the exercise girl. Nice.. MIDNIGHT LUCKY went twice around two minute licking and just at a passing glance, looks physically more sprint than route to me..

Mike Welsch ‏@DRFWelsch Close Hatches :23.56 went 1/2 in :47.78 out 5/8's 1:01.38 up 1:15.84 for Oaks.

[bare it all]

Did you get a look at Mylute by chance?

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by bare it all

Did you get a look at Mylute by chance?

Did not unfortunately.. Went at 6a and was quite strong according to Welsch. Considering that last week's drill was his 'Derby work', clockers that saw both were impressed that MY LUTE was as aggressive as he was today given his reputation for indifference when working solo..

Mike Welsch ‏@DRFWelsch Mylute 12.48 24.57 1/2 in 47.80 going ez last 1/4 23.23 finished well but out average 101.86 with Rosie up.

Mike also noted that OXBOW was out for his gallop early and had to be dissuaded from doing more..

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Times/splits are Mike Welsch's watch (see links below), so I will simply concentrate on visuals of the morning..

NORMANDY INVASION was quick early and slower late. Not a bad breeze overall but imagine Chad Brown would have preferred to flip the elements and have him slower early and faster late. Some yutz on facebook and/or twitter started a rumor when the colt was photographed upon arrival at Churchill that he had lost 'a ton of weight' out of the Wood. A naturally lean, trim horse, he looked 100% fine upon viewing today as evidenced by photo below.

Mike Welsch ‏@DRFWelsch: Normandy Invasion off fast, :11.57 :23.06 opening 1/4, completed 1/2 in :48.22 out 5/8's 1:01.41 up 1:15.41.

It was Don Chatlos. I saw the picture and he did look skinny, but its impossible to know how he normally carries his weight to compare.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Scav

It was Don Chatlos. I saw the picture and he did look skinny, but its impossible to know how he normally carries his weight to compare.

Surprised that Chatlos would say anything with him not knowing the horse at all. Normandy Invasion is a narrow type in the Real Quiet mode. Cherie says he's always been lean and trim.

[Kasept]

4/21 WORKOUT VIDEOS

VERRAZANO: http://t.co/olAgeFo9KT

REVOLUTIONARY: http://t.co/d0FIEaeLmw

NORMANDY INVASION: http://t.co/ODHUpekOah

CLOSE HATCHES: http://t.co/YBXP8h53Mf

WILL TAKE CHARGE (Stretch): http://t.co/MS3A9SEzdG

More to come..

[Kasept]

Churchill Downs PR (Darren Rogers) ‏@DerbyMedia Complete rundown of today's #KyDerby & #KyOaks news and notes @ChurchillDowns: http://bit.ly/11syFa4

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Surprised that Chatlos would say anything with him not knowing the horse at all. Normandy Invasion is a narrow type in the Real Quiet mode. Cherie says he's always been lean and trim.

Is he speaking whereof he knows not, or is this a case of trying to get better odds on what sounds like a wiseguy horse? How much does this kind of rumormongering lead to people clutching pearls vs. doing research and going 'Oh he's always like that, phfew. No problem.'

Mylute's sure getting a lot of buzz from that work. How big is he? Very Midnight Lute-ish?

[wac]

i just wonder about mylutes breeding. i put him in my stable mail last summer when he ran at CD think he came in 3rd but just liked the way he ran and i had a feeling that the midnight lutes would do something b/c i rememberd that he was bafferts KD horse till the breathing issues came up. Man this KD is one of the weirder ones ive seen in the 15yrs ive been paying attention.

[wac]

i haven't heard anybody say anything about Flashy Gray so i take it she is not looking very good. i had some hope on her for the Oaks but doesn't seem to be any buzz at all. Any infor would be good.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by wac

i haven't heard anybody say anything about Flashy Gray so i take it she is not looking very good. i had some hope on her for the Oaks but doesn't seem to be any buzz at all. Any infor would be good.

Not at all... Just hasn't done much in the mornings.. Paddock visits and light gallops. Was more engaged today. Seems fine.

[Kasept]

QUICK WORK RECAP: Rough second half of drill for Vyjack who started well enough but finished poorly; Sharp efforts from the endlessly eager Rose to Gold and increasingly possible starter Golden Soul..

GALLOPERS: The McPeek 'Brothers' Java's War and Frac Daddy impress daily; Normandy Invasion and Orb carry on nicely..

[OldDog]

RE: Vyjack

What am I missing?

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...half-mile-move

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by OldDog

RE: Vyjack

What am I missing?

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...half-mile-move

While Vyjack broke off fine and seemed fluid early, Rudy had to chirp and bark at him in the lane and then wrist twitch him with the stick repeatedly on the shoulder to and past the wire. Then added 2 or 3 forehands into the turn. It was not an encouraging work at this stage. And Welsch and Migliore agreed.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Sharp efforts from the endlessly eager Rose to Gold

I really like this filly, but this is such a deep group...