Kentucky Derby Contenders Coal Battle, Sandman Tune Up at Churchill Downs

[Wandering Eyes]

On a crisp Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby 151 contenders Coal Battle (Coal Front) and Sandman (Tapit) turned in published workouts.

Sandman, winner of the GI Arkansas Derby for D.J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables, breezed at 7:15 a.m. (all time Eastern) with trainer Mark Casse's longtime exercise rider Froylan Garcia in the irons. The grey began his work with eighth-mile splits of :13.60 and :26.40 before registering an official final time of :49.60 for four furlongs. The colt galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.80 and six furlongs in 1:15, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“It looked perfect,” Casse said from his Ocala, Fla. base. “I asked the rider to go between :49 and :50 [seconds] and he did just that.”

Casse's local assistant, Allen Hardy, was on-site for the workout.

“That's Froy for you–always doing exactly what you ask,” Hardy said. “He's a great horseman and rider.

“I think we saw in the Arkansas Derby that when Sandman got to stretch his legs going further in distance, it was much better. We're going to do our best to keep him happy and healthy while enjoying the ride he's taking us on.”

Shortly after Sandman completed his move, Norman Stables' Coal Battle breezed under assistant trainer Bethany Taylor. The duo worked eighth-mile splits of :12.20, :23.80 and :36.40, according to Churchill Downs clocker Adam Wallace.

In related Derby news, trainer Brad Cox reported that GI Florida Derby winner Tappan Street (Into Mischief) will have one more workout at Payson Park in South Florida before vanning to Churchill Downs for his final move beneath the Twin Spires.

Training hours at Churchill Downs remain 5:30-10 a.m. with renovation breaks from 6:45-7:15 a.m. and 8:30-9 a.m. Beginning Friday, training will shift to 5:15-10 a.m., with a special 7:15-7:30 a.m. window designated exclusively for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders.

 

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