Track Phantom Lone Kentucky Derby Hopeful To Breeze Sunday At Churchill

Trainer Steve Asmussen made the eight-hour journey from Oaklawn Park to Churchill Downs early Sunday morning to watch several of his barn’s top horses record published workouts, including Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful Track Phantom.

The Quality Road colt breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 in preparation for the first jewel of the Triple Crown in just 13 days.

With jockey Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle, Track Phantom worked outside of stablemate Carbone at 5:45 a.m. (ET). The duo cruised an opening quarter-mile in a modest :26.20 but galloped out six furlongs in a solid 1:13.60, according to Churchill Downs Clocker John Nichols. Track Phantom’s final three-furlongs was a sharp :34.60.

Owned by L and N Racing, Clark Brewster, Jerry Caroom, and Breeze Easy, Track Phantom won the Lecomte (G3), was second in the Risen Star (G3), then  fourth in the Louisiana Derby (G2) after setting the pace before he was overtaken in the final sixteenth. He is scheduled to add blinkers for the first time in the Kentucky Derby, according to Asmussen.

About 20 minutes earlier, Gaffalione was aboard Courtlandt Farm’s Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) hopeful Our Pretty Woman, who breezed five furlongs in 1:00. The Asmussen trainee worked outside her stakes-winning 3-year-old stablemate Otto the Conqueror through an opening quarter-mile of :25 and completed six furlongs in 1:12.60, according to Nichols.

Asmussen’s exercise rider Carmen Rosas was aboard both workmates.

Aside from the two workers from the Asmussen barn, it was a quiet morning as far as the training went for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders. The only other major training session was from Michael McMillan’s Gazelle Stakes (G3) winner Where’s My Ring, who breezed a quarter in :24. Trainer Val Brinkerhoff reported Where’s My Ring is scheduled to have an official workout Saturday.

Kentucky Derby contenders who recorded workouts on Saturday all had scheduled walk days Sunday: Catching Freedom (five furlongs, 1:00.80), Dornoch (four furlongs, :48.20), Endlessly (five furlongs, 1:00.80), Just a Touch (four furlongs, :48.20), Just Steel (one-mile, 1:40), Mystik Dan (five furlongs, :59.40) and Society Man (four furlongs, :48.20).

Japan’s UAE Derby (G2II) winner Forever Young also had a scheduled walk day.

Monday could be the first appearance at Churchill Downs for Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Sierra Leone, who was scheduled to arrive from Keeneland late Sunday morning.

Trainer Todd Pletcher reported UAE Oaks (G3) winner Manama Gold was transferred to his care and is possible to supplement for the Kentucky Oaks. The Louisiana-bred daughter of Star Guitar is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Monday.

Churchill Downs on Sunday issued an updated Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard, which follows below.

Fans can watch the “Morning Works Show presented by TwinSpires” each morning from 7:25-7:45 a.m. on the Kentucky Derby YouTube, Facebook and X accounts.