Friesan Fire , one of the top choices for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), breezed five furlongs at Keeneland the morning of April 14. (VIDEO)
Shortly after 7 a.m., Friesan Fire and jockey Gabe Saez went to the track accompanied by trainer Larry Jones astride his pony Pal. It was Jones' first morning in Kentucky, having arrived from Oaklawn Park the previous day.
Friesan Fire and the other horses in the barn at Keeneland have been under the care of Jones’ assistant, his wife, Cindy.
Jones and Pal walked Friesan Fire the wrong way from the gap to the turn and the group then turned and galloped down the stretch and through the turn. Jones let Friesan Fire loose at the six furlong marker and he broke off at the five-eighths pole and worked to the wire.
Clockers caught the son of A.P. Indy owned by Fox Hill Farm and Vinery Stables in 1:00 2/5.
"He went very well; this was just a prep for Sunday when he will have a long work of a mile,” Jones said.
Saez was also pleased. “I thought he worked well. He handles this track well and he is getting better and better all the time.”
Friesan Fire enters the Derby off three straight wins, the last March 14 in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) at Fair Grounds. He will attempt to win the Derby off a seven-week layoff.
