Mylute, runner-up to Revolutionary in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (gr. II), continued his preparations for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a six-furlong breeze in 1:12 1/5 the morning of Apil 14 at Churchill Downs.
Working under Shaun Bridgmohan in company with two other Tom Amoss trainees, Mylute, who is ranked 16th on the list to determine Kentucky Derby starters, recorded fractions of :12 3/5, :24 4/5, :36 3/5 :48 2/5, and 1:00 1/5. He galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25 and a mile in 1:39.
The gray/roan Midnight Lute colt started about eight lengths behind his workmates and finished eight lengths in front at the wire.
"I wanted him to pass those horses down the lane and then finish once he got by them," Amoss said. "He did those things, so the work went well."
Amoss said Mylute would have two more works prior to the Kentucky Derby May 4, but they would be much easier than Sunday's move.
"If anybody was interested in Mylute as a Derby prospect, today's work was the one they needed to see," Amoss said. "It was a serious work and he looked very good. Mylute is going to do nothing to impress anyone in his next two works. He's going to work by himself and they are going to be slow and easy half-mile works. Today's work was an indication of where we are with him, and we were pleased."
Owned by Goldmark Farm and Whisper Hill Farm, Mylute has a 2-3-2 mark in nine lifetime starts with earnings of $417,695. in his only other start this year, he ran seventh in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II), which like the Louisiana Derby was contested at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. He will be seeking his first stakes win in the Kentucky Derby.
In other Kentucky Derby news, overpowering Arkansas Derby (gr. I) winner Overanalyze arrived in good order at Churchill Downs April 14 at 12:15 p.m. EDT. On the morning after his victory in the $1 million race at Oaklawn Park, he flew to Lexington and then vanned to Louisville. He is stabled in Barn 34 for trainer Todd Pletcher.
"We were hoping for an improved performance in his second start off the layoff," Pletcher said. "We were hoping for a big effort, but he actually exceeded our expectations."
Later on Sunday, Overanalyze is to be joined in the Pletcher barn by Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Verrazano , who was on a Tex Sutton flight from New York that was scheduled to land in Louisville at 3:50 p.m. EDT.
Joining Verrazano on the flight from New York are the Chad Brown-trained Normandy Invasion , the runner-up in the Wood, and Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) contenders Close Hatches for trainer Bill Mott, and Princess of Sylmar, who will join the rest of the Pletcher string at Churchill. Close Hatches and Princess of Sylmar were the top two finishers in the Gazelle Stakes (gr. II).
Also expected to arrive at Churchill from Oaklawn on the evening of April 14 are Derby qualifiers Will Take Charge , Oxbow , and Falling Sky. Will Take Charge won the Rebel (gr. II) over stablemate Oxbow, who finished fifth in the Arkansas Derby. Both will be stabled in Barn 44 for four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Falling Sky, who finished fourth in the Arkansas Derby, will be stabled in Barn 36 for trainer John Terranova.
Following the running of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), runner-up Palace Malice and third-place Charming Kitten returned to Pletcher's barn at Churchill April 13.
"We were happy, but it's frustrating at the same time," Pletcher said. "We would have loved to win, but we were very pleased with their efforts. Both came out of the race well. We'll prepare as though Charming Kitten is going to get in (to the Derby)."
Charming Kitten currently sits 21st on the Derby qualifying list.
On April 14 the connections for Uncaptured , Merit Man, and Departing confirmed that their horses are no longer under consideration for the Derby. Also, Den's Legacy, sixth in the Arkansas Derby, did not fly to Kentucky as originally planned. Trainer Bob Baffert sent him back to his California base.
