Noble's Promise , showing no ill effects from cuts in both front legs from his previous start, registered a bullet workout of :59 4/5 for five furlongs April 20 at Churchill Downs in preparation for the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Trained by Kenny McPeek, the son of Cuvee worked in tandem with stablemate Beautician, who is being aimed for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) the day before the Run for the Roses.
“Noble’s Promise worked fantastic,” McPeek said. “They were given instructions to stay together. She got a little bit tired during the last part of it. I actually caught him a little faster than :59 4/5. He did very, very well, and his leg had come along fine."
Noble's Promise was ridden by Willie Martinez.
Beautician’s work of 1:00 2/5 was the third-fastest work of the day.
It earler was reported that Noble's Promise was suffering from a lung infection. "It's more like an allergy," McPeek said. "He's never been sick, but he's had some allergies we've been dealing with. It's that time of year for allergies."
McPeek plans to work Noble's Promise again on April 26, "probably at a half-mile."
Noble’s Promise, who arrived at the track April 15, finished second to champion Lookin At Lucky in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park in his debut. In his next start, the April 10 Arkansas Derby (gr. I), he suffered cuts to both front lengths and finished fifth.
For his career, Noble's Promise has won or placed in seven of eight races for Chasing Dreams Racing 2008.
