Midnight Bourbon settles, pulls away

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There was a time not too long ago when the special training session for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks starters only two Sundays out from those races would be frenetic, with horses working everywhere simultaneously during the special 15-minute window reserved exclusively for contenders for the two big events. But not so much nowadays, with more trainers opting to complete preparations for the Derby and Oaks at their home tracks before shipping to Churchill Downs early Derby week.

Such is certainly the case this year, with only two Oaks starters working Sunday morning under clear but crisp skies at Churchill. Those two were stablemates and Stonestreet homebreds Pauline’s Pearl and Clairiere, from the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen.

With owner Barbara Banke looking on from the finish line up on the fourth floor of the grandstand, Fantasy winner Pauline’s Pearl was the first to go, approximately 30 minutes after the track opened for training at 5:15 a.m. Working in company and inside stablemate Abrogate, Pauline’s Pearl eased away from the five-furlong pole in 12.90 seconds before increasing the tempo steadily. The team turned for home after posting a 36.41 half-mile clocking, finishing willingly and well within themselves in 1:00.30 before galloping out six furlongs on even terms in 1:13.90.

Asmussen waited nearly two hours, until the Derby/Oaks session, to breeze Fair Grounds Oaks runner-up Clairiere in almost identical fashion, in company and inside her partner Finite. They, too, were well reserved throughout, posting splits of 24.23 and 35.72 through the opening three furlongs before coming home in 24.98 to complete five-eighths in 1:00.70, neither pushed by their riders at any point. They ran out the full six furlongs in 1:14.30, pulling up seven-eighths in 1:27.65 with Clairiere keeping her head in front at the wire and throughout the run-out into and around the clubhouse turn.

Asmussen did not wait for the special training session to send out his two Derby contenders, with both Midnight Bourbon and Super Stock galloping Sunday shortly after sunrise and just minutes before the first renovation break. Midnight Bourbon had a long and very useful session, showing good energy passing by the grandstand twice as a final prep before a scheduled breeze Monday. Super Stock, upset winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby just eight days earlier, also looked good while galloping in a set of draw reins as he had the previous morning.

Among the Derby contenders to train at 7:30 were the Pletcher pair of Bourbonic and Sainthood, with stablemates Known Agenda and Dynamic One not sighted during the special session. All four Pletcher runners had their penultimate Derby works here Friday.

At Keeneland, Highly Motivated, second by a neck to unbeaten Derby favorite Essential Quality in the Blue Grass after setting the pace, worked a half-mile in company in 47.20, the fastest of 27 at the distance on the fast main track.

Working inside of stablemate Founder, a maiden-winning 3-year-old, Highly Motivated came to the finish line about a quarter-length ahead of Founder, who was being encouraged. Highly Motivated galloped out in front around the clubhouse turn, with Keeneland clockers catching him going five furlongs in 1:00.20.

“It was a little quick. He’s sharp,” trainer Chad Brown said in New York.

Highly Motivated will van to Churchill Downs on Monday and will have his final pre-race breeze next weekend.

At Belmont Park on Sunday, Kentucky Oaks prospect Maracuja worked a half-mile in 51.28 over the training track.

Maracuja, runner-up to Search Results in the Grade 3 Gazelle on April 3, went in company with the 3-year-old gelding Horn of Plenty, with the pair going their opening quarter in 26.41 and finishing up in 24.87, with neither rider asking for much.