Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Midnight Interlude posted his third consecutive bullet workout when he covered six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 on the Churchill Downs main track the morning of April 26. It was first time working at the Louisville track for Midnight Interlude, who is based in California.
Trained by Bob Baffert for owner/breeder Arnold Zetcher, the son of War Chant worked in company with stablemate Mythical Power. Beginning a length back of the 4-year-old grade III winner, Midnight Interlude’s splits were :12 2/5, :24 3/5 (where both horses drew even), :36 2/5, :48 3/5, and 1:00 3/5. The Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) hopeful galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27 4/5.
Baffert did not discuss the workout with the media, since he was dealing with the catastrophic breakdown of the mare Gilded Gem.
Jockey Martin Garcia, who was aboard when the colt broke his maiden by 11 lengths in his career debut, said Midnight Interlude handled the track well. “He worked really good,” Garcia said. “He looks like he is a really nice horse.”
Midnight Interlude, who did not race as a 2-year-old, has had three other starts this year. Before the Santa Anita Derby, he broke his maiden by 8 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita March 20.
The bay colt, who was ranked first of nine horses that worked six furlongs at Churchill April 26, previously worked six furlongs over Santa Anita's dirt oval in :59 1/5 April 20, and 1:10 3/5 April 4.
Currently seventh on the graded earnings list of Derby contenders, Midnight Interlude is out of the New Zealand-bred stakes-placed Groom Dancer mare Midnight Kiss.
In addition to Midnight Interlude and Uncle Mo , the only other work of the day turned in by a Derby contender was the half-mile breeze of Santiva in :49 1/5.
Working in company with stablemate Shotgun Shine after the morning track maintenance break, Santiva galloped out five-eighths of a mile in 1:03 1/5. The work over a track upgraded to “good” was the 18th fastest of the day among 42 horses working that distance.
A son of Giant's Causeway trained by Eddie Kenneally for owner Tom Walters, Santiva is coming into the Derby off a ninth-place effort in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I). As a 2-year-old, Santiva showed an affinity for the Churchill surface with a win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II).