Gormley (photo by Jim Stafford).
“Breezing” or “breezed” indicates the horse was not under strong urging. “Handily” indicates the horse was under urging from its rider. Numbers in parentheses represent the ranking among other horses that worked that day at the specified distance and track.
Battalion Runner: 4/22 – In his first work since a runner-up effort in Aqueduct’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes, Todd Pletcher’s charge breezed four furlongs in :48.96 (27/113) on Belmont Park’s fast dirt training track.
Gormley: 4/22 – Trainer John Shirreffs’ multiple graded stakes winner spotted stablemate Oregon about four lengths at the beginning of a six-furlong work over Santa Anita’s fast course and overhauled his rival on the inside to complete the work handily in 1:15.80 (14/15).
Irap: 4/21 – Starting at the seven-furlong pole on the clubhouse turn, the surprise winner of Keeneland’s Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes breezed one mile in 1:44.00 (1/1) on that fast oval with conditioner Doug O’Neill on hand.
J Boys Echo: 4/23 – During the dedicated daily workout period for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks hopefuls, the Dale Romans trainee breezed five furlongs over a fast Churchill Downs surface in 1:02.20 (26/38) with exercise rider Tammy Fox in the irons.
McCraken: 4/18 – The Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC homebred had his first official exercise since his perfect record was snapped when he finished third in the Blue Grass Stakes, a four-furlong breeze in :47.80 (2/17) on a fast main track at Churchill Downs under regular rider Brian Hernandez, Jr.
Patch: 4/21 – The Grade 2 Louisiana Derby runner-up breezed five furlongs in company with multiple graded stakes placed stablemate Sonic Mule over fast dirt at Palm Beach Downs in 1:01.45 (2/7).
