Most Feared Works Toward Lexington Stakes; Badge of Silver OK

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Edited release from Churchill Downs
Tom Durant's Most Feared tuned up for a run in Sunday's Coolmore Lexington at Keeneland with a sharp five-furlong work on Monday at Churchill Downs.

The Ronny Werner-trained gelding covered the distance in 1:00.60 over a "fast" track. Jockey Mark Guidry was aboard for the work, which was the fifth-fastest move of 24 at the distance.

"I don't get caught up in the clock a whole lot," Werner said. "I watch how they do it and how they come back and he really did it right. He just did it really easy - having fun and pricking his ears. He seems to be ready to rock."

Most Feared has not run since a 10th-place finish as the favorite in the Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds on Jan. 25. The Texas-bred son of Commanchero suffered a stress fracture in his right front leg in the Lecomte, but the injury healed quickly and Werner has said that a good effort in the Coolmore Lexington could earn Most Feared a trip to the Kentucky Derby.

"He's just been training so well up here," said Werner. "I'd say this is probably about as good as he's ever trained and for that reason I'm excited about running him. I look for him to show up this weekend."

Werner also had good news to report on Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Badge of Silver, who was knocked out of Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass and off the Kentucky Derby trail when he suffered leg injury during a Friday gallop at Keeneland.

The colt suffered a hairline fracture of the cannon bone on his right front leg and Werner said he underwent surgery for the injury on Monday at Rood & Riddle Equine Clinic in Lexington, Ky. Werner said he had not had a chance yet to speak with the colt's surgeon, Dr. Larry Bramlage, about the procedure -- but early indications are very good.

"He's out of surgery and they told me it went really good," said Werner. "Dr. Bramlage was back in surgery, so I didn't get to talk to him. But it looks like it went really well."

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