Racing: Carpe Diem looks best of trainer's four

Todd Pletcher stablemates Itsaknockout, left, and Materiality work out at Churchill Downs last week. Photo / AP

Pletcher stable trio already at Churchill Downs but Keeneland trial stands out.

Led by Todd Pletcher's Keeneland-based Carpe Diem, a trio of in-state Kentucky Derby contenders hit the track for workouts before rains arrived. And another, Dale Romans' Keen Ice, went out under spitting skies during Derby and Kentucky Oaks training at Churchill Downs on Sunday.

Carpe Diem impressed Pletcher by moving four furlongs in 48.60 seconds, picking up his speed with every fraction. Jockey John Velazquez was aboard.

"He seemed to get over the ground really well," Pletcher said of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner. "We got fortunate with the weather; looks like most of the rain kind of went south of here. Perfect track. The track was in excellent condition. He seemed to handle it really well, finished up strongly, galloped out good."

Carpe Diem will likely ship today to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby this Sunday.

The other members of Pletcher's other Derby trio - Materiality, Itsaknockout and Stanford - got on track at Churchill on Saturday a day after their final pre-race breezes. The trainer added that Florent Geroux is likely to ride Stanford, the Louisiana Derby runner-up.

Dortmund's chief competition on the California Derby prep circuit, Firing Line, went out early at Santa Anita Park, covering five furlongs in an easy 1:02.20 for trainer Simon Callaghan's. Later, Dortmund moved six furlongs in 1:13.60 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Both ship to Louisville along with Carla Gaines' Bolo on Sunday.

Now safely in the Derby field, Keen Ice went out after the renovation break and drilled four furlongs in 1:01.60, ranking 11/40 at that distance under the Twin Spires. After a solid gallop out by Keen Ice, Romans said, "The colt couldn't have gone any better. He's not a fast-work horse by himself. We just wanted to get a maintenance work. We've tightened the screws the last two breezes, and now it's time to start backing up a little bit and get his energy good."

Trainer Gary Weaver's Tencendur went out early at Churchill Downs for a quick five-furlong breeze. In company with Wake Up in Malibu, he covered it in a minute flat, ranking 1/38 on the tab. "By himself, he's a lazy workhorse, unfocused," Weaver said. "I'd be scared to death to work him by himself leading into the race because he might go around there by himself in 1:04."

International Star, originally scheduled to breeze for the second straight week at Churchill Downs, instead remained at the Trackside training facility, where trainer Mike Maker's string is based. He went a half mile in 50.80 seconds, a maintenance work under jockey Miguel Mena.

Derby contenders still in Florida moved as well on Saturday at the Palm Meadows Training Centre. Rick Violette's Upstart worked fastest, running five furlongs in 59.95 seconds. Then Kiaran McLaughlin's Frosted galloped over the same distance in 1:01.10.

"He's push-button. He's really a nice ride," said Upstart's exercise rider, Vicki King. "If he messes up, it's the rider's fault, because he does anything you ask him to do."

Added McLaughlin on Frosted: "Going into the Wood Memorial, he worked every week here and flew up there and won. Weather was a big thing. It looked rainy in Kentucky, and it has been, and in New York, too. It just looked like it was the right move. He's trained great here."

Derby day looms
•The first leg of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, will be raced at Churchill Downs this Sunday.
•Top trainer Todd Pletcher will line up four members of his stable.
•Materiality, Itsaknockout and Stanford were three of his runners to work on the track.

- Agencies