Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Resilience and 2023's champion 2-year-old filly Just F Y I recorded their first Churchill Downs workouts of the spring April 18 after competing in respective Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) prep races nearly two weeks ago.
The pair worked together an easy half-mile at 7:30 a.m. ET after the renovation break. Designed to be a starting point for the next 16 days, Resilience was clocked in :50 1/5 and Just F Y I in :50.
"We'll be doing more in the future," Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said.
Resilience started ahead of Just F Y I, who was a handful as the pair approached the five-eighths pole before settling in as the breeze began. Just F Y I moved about a length in front of Resilience by the quarter pole, but the duo finished on the wire together. Resilience moved ahead to gallop out five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 while Just F Y I finished in 1:03 2/5, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott’s Wood Memorial (G2) winner #Resilience (rider in black) and champion #JustFYI (in white) record their first work over the @ChurchillDowns track. #Resilience clocked in :50 1/5, #JustFYI in :50. #KentuckyDerby #KentuckyOaks pic.twitter.com/LIZp3mWQAN
— Sean Collins (@BH_SCollins) April 18, 2024
"(Just F Y I) was a little anxious early on in the work," Mott said. "She needed to breeze."
Mott said prior to her runner-up performance in the April 5 Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland that he wished he had an extra breeze or two in her. Now with the race under her belt, the filly is progressing toward the Kentucky Oaks. The May 3 Kentucky Oaks is one day before the May 4 Kentucky Derby.
Owner George Krikorian was also on hand to watch his champion homebred filly work and said she looks "pretty strong."
Mott, who won the Derby via disqualification in 2019, is hoping that his Wood Memorial winner will help bring him his first experience of crossing the Kentucky Derby wire first.
"I thought (Resilience) had a great trip in the Wood Memorial," Mott said. "I thought Johnny (Velazquez) rode him great. He might have gotten a little jammed up on the first turn but got clear down the backside. When he asked him, he responded and he finished up well. The best part is he looked good visually.
"The entire family of this horse has been very accomplished on the racetrack. Part of the family is Courageous Cat, who I trained for a grade 1 win (in the 2011 Shoemaker Mile Stakes). The owners (Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman) have been in the breeding business a long time and Resilience is just the result of their program."
Resilience was bred in Kentucky by Pam and the late Marty Wygod, the parents of Bushnell. This would be the first starter in the Kentucky Derby for the Wygod family along with Waldman, a longtime partner of the Wygods.
Tapit Jenallie Blazes in First Local Work for Kentucky Oaks
Tapit Jenallie, third in the Fantasy Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park March 30, completed her first recorded workout at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Oaks. With jockey Rafael Bejarano aboard, the Eddie Milligan Jr. trainee blitzed five furlongs in :58 2/5, the fastest of 19 works at the distance. According to Churchill Downs clocker Adam Wallace, she ran her opening quarter-mile in :22 4/5 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:11 4/5.
Rain may impact training plans April 19 for other contenders as it is forecast for Thursday night into the Friday morning hours in the Louisville, Ky., area. April 20 is the first day of a special training period restricted to Derby and Oaks contenders from 7:30-7:45 a.m.
As of Thursday, Kentucky Oaks contenders Tarifa, Gin Gin, and Into Champagne could have published workouts Friday. Saturday is scheduled to be a busy morning as Derby contenders Catching Freedom, Dornoch, Endlessly, Just a Touch, Just Steel, Mystik Dan, and Society Man are expected to work. Also working Saturday are Oaks contenders Lemon Muffin and Thorpedo Anna. Honor Marie is slated to work April 21 and Forever Young April 23.
