Colonel John ran the fastest 5 furlongs Sunday in his last major workout before the 134th Kentucky Derby, when the California colt will race on dirt for the first time.
Colonel John was one of five prospective Derby starters to work over a fast track Sunday. He was joined on a busy tab by the Bill Mott-trained duo of Court Vision and Z Humor, Adriano and the filly Eight Belles.
Colonel John completed 5 furlongs in 57.80 seconds, quickest of 62 workouts at the distance, without any urging from exercise rider Karine Lhuillier.
"It wasn't my intention to go that fast, but it wasn't my intention the track was going to be this fast," trainer Eoin Harty said. "I think it's more the track conditions than my horse doing a little too much."
Colonel John, of WinStar Farm, waited several minutes before some of the early traffic had subsided after the break before beginning his work. He went in splits of 11.57, 23.16, 34.67 and 45.63, then galloped out six furlongs in 1:10.99.
The big question at the start of Derby week was how Colonel John would handle a dirt surface because he has raced and trained almost exclusively on the newer synthetic surfaces in California since beginning his career at Del Mar last summer. His six career starts have been on synthetic surfaces at Del Mar, Santa Anita Park, and Hollywood Park.” [The dirt] doesn't seem like it's an issue. I thought he handled it very well,” Harty said. “He's having a pretty good blow, but he seems like he's back to himself."
Harty originally scheduled Colonel John's workout for Monday, but the forecast called for rain so he moved it up.
Looking on was Elliott Walden, a former trainer and vice president of WinStar Farm.
”He went very well,” Walden said. “I don’t think it was too fast considering we’re six days out (from the Derby). We feel very comfortable about it.”
A winner of four of six starts, with two seconds, Colonel John broke his maiden in his second start during the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita last October, then won the $105,000 Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park, and finished up his 2-year-old campaign with a runner-up effort in the CashCall Futurity (Grade I).
This year, the son of Tiznow, out of the Turkoman mare Sweet Damsel, won the Sham Stakes (Grade III) by a half-length over El Gato Malo, then came from ninth to win the Santa Anita Derby by a half-length over Bob Black Jack.
Colonel John likely will be the second betting favorite at WagerWeb.com behind Big Brown when post positions are drawn Wednesday for Saturday's 1 1/4-mile Derby.
Bet on the Kentucky Derby at WagerWeb.com
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