Mor Spirit, runner-up to Exaggerator in the April 9 Santa Anita Derby (GI) last time out, put in his first breeze over the Churchill Downs main track for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) on Tuesday morning during Churchill Downs’ special 8:30-8:45 a.m. training window, which is exclusive to possible starters in the Kentucky Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks.
Working in company with stablemate Jimbo Fallon, the son of Eskendreya breezed five furlongs in :59.80, producing eighth-mile splits of :11.40, :22.40, :34.20, :46, galloping out three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.20 and seven furlongs in 1:27 with regular rider Gary Stevens in the irons. It was the second fastest of 18 works at the distance for the morning over a fast track.
“Loved the work,” said Stevens, who will be looking for his fourth Kentucky Derby victory. “The work went great; he was very aggressive going to the pole, which is not always him. He’s a little quirky sometimes. [Trainer] Bob [Baffert] put a little more blinkers on him this morning to get him a little more focused and it did the job. He went to the pole aggressive, was aggressive throughout the work, he galloped out strong into the backstretch.”
The pilot in six of Mor Spirit’s seven career starts, Stevens is confident in Mor Spirit’s ability to get the mile-and-a-quarter distance.
“I can’t get the horse tired and that’s a good thing when you’re going a mile and a quarter,” Stevens said. “I don’t think that distance is going to be a problem but he’s come along at the right time. This has been the focus since last year in December; we’ve been pointing the Derby. We’re two weeks away.”