On a cool, damp morning April 11 at Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) contenders Midnight Bourbon and Soup and Sandwich continued their Derby preparation with workouts beneath the Twin Spires.
Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred grade 3 winner Midnight Bourbon breezed five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 while Live Oak Plantation's grade 1-placed Soup and Sandwich worked a half-mile in :48 4/5.
Soup and Sandwich, the runner-up finisher in the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1), worked at 5:30 a.m. ET with jockey Declan Carroll aboard through fractions of :12 3/5 and :24 3/5. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 and completed seven-eighths of a mile in 1:27 2/5. The striking gray son of Into Mischief worked on the outside of two-time winner Natural Power, who completed a half-mile in :49 1/5.
"This was the first time I've seen him work because he's been in Florida," trainer Mark Casse's assistant David Carroll said. "He has a big stride on him and really got over the track well. I told Declan to just let him do his thing and gallop out nicely. I think he's starting to find his stride. The Derby will be the first time he'll be led over from his own stall and I think it'll benefit him getting experience over the track."
Soup and Sandwich has not finished out of the exacta in three starts. He dominated Florida-bred competition in his debut at Gulfstream by 7 1/4 lengths. He returned in a first-level allowance at Tampa Bay Downs where he bested two rivals by 2 3/4 lengths. The homebred finished 2 3/4 lengths behind Known Agenda in the Florida Derby after dueling on the lead for the majority of the 1 1/8-mile race.
Two hours after Soup and Sandwich recorded his published workout, the Steve Asmussen-trained Midnight Bourbon took to the track and breezed on the outside of stablemate Jackie's Warrior through fractions of :12 2/5, :24 4/5 and :36 4/5. The duo galloped out together through five furlongs in 1:13 1/5 and completed seven furlongs in 1:27 2/5.
Jackie's Warrior is also slotted to run on Derby Day, May 1, though in the $500,000 Pat Day Mile Presented by LG&E and KU (G2) on the undercard. The Pay Day Mile is a mile dirt race that begins at the end of the long backstretch chute at Churchill Downs.
Like fellow Derby contender Soup and Sandwich, Midnight Bourbon has never finished off the board. Through seven lifetime starts, he's recorded two wins, two seconds, and three third-place finishes. Most recently, the son of Tiznow finished second to Hot Rod Charlie in the $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2).
The field for the $3 million Kentucky Derby continues to take shape even with the completion of the qualifying races. As of Sunday morning, the last horse in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby was Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) runner-up Sainthood with 40 points. He's scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Sunday along with stablemate Known Agenda.
As the probable lineup currently stands, Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) winner King Fury, with 20 Derby points, would not have the points necessary to qualify for the Derby, though defections regularly occur in the weeks leading up to the race. Churchill Downs officials use points to determine preference when the Derby draws more than its capacity field size of 20 horses.
His trainer, Kenny McPeek, is also considering the May 15 Preakness Stakes (G1) as an alternative for the Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm-owned runner.
"If his points get him into the Kentucky Derby, we will probably run. It is his home track and he has won there," trainer Kenny McPeek said. "If he doesn't get in the Derby, he will run in the Preakness. He seems like a horse that is ready to do all that. We will have to see how that ball bounces. It is out of our control, but we will keep his work schedule the same."
Lexington winners have been competitive in the Preakness in recent years. The respective 2019, 2017, and 2015 Lexington winners—Owendale, Senior Investment, and Divining Rod —all ran third in the Triple Crown's second leg. Senior Investment was trained as a 3-year-old by McPeek.
Last year the Lexington was not run after Keeneland canceled its spring meet with the onset of COVID-19.
Travel plans to Churchill Downs for UAE Derby (G2) runner-up Panadol continue to be finalized. Trainer Salem bin Ghadayer reported that a decision on the colt's plans to run in the Derby would be finalized in the upcoming days.
The first day of the exclusive training period for Kentucky Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders will start April 17 at 7:30 a.m. EST and run through April 29. Derby and Oaks horses will have a 15-minute training window where they will be the only horses on the track.
