The work of the morning at Churchill Downs Monday was Hard Spun’s :57 3/5 scorcher, but other Derby hopefuls went through their final paces over the main track just after the renovation break. Trainer Bill Kaplan sent out Storm in May and Imawildandcrazyguy while trainer Darrin Miller worked Silverton Hills’ Sedgefield.
Both Storm in May and Imawildandcrazyguy breezed three-eighths of a mile under jockey Juan Leyva.
“He breezed off a very strong gallop heading into it,” Bill Kaplan said of Storm in May back at Barn 41. “It’s a little unusual but he thrives on that, and I believe he worked in :35 4/5 and went out in : 49 or :48 and change.
Imawildandcrazyguy had a similar move and was clocked going three furlongs in :36 1/5 and was out in a half-mile in :49 1/5.
Storm in May, owned by Kaplan and partners, has four wins from 13 starts and has earned $459,430. The gray/roan colt is blind in his right eye. A son of Tiger Ridge—Laun Shaw, by Relaunch, he was bred in Florida by Flying H Enterprises.
Imawildandcrazyguy, a two-time winner from 11 starts, needs some help getting into the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The son of Wild Event, owned by Michael Eigner and Lewis Pell is No. 22 on the graded earnings list. If more than 20 enter the Derby, only the top 20 by graded earnings will be allowed to start.
“I need two scratches to get in,” Kaplan said regarding Imawildandcrazyguy. “If not we’ll run Friday in the Crown Royal American Turf.”
“He doesn’t have the speed or the athletic ability Storm in May has, but he’s a freight train—he doesn’t get tired,” Kaplan said. “
Sedgefield, stablemate of Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner Domincan who worked five furlongs yesterday, went four furlongs in
“We just sort of set him up behind a horse at the three-quarter pole,” said trainer Darrin Miller. “He galloped to the pole and then worked in company. He worked with a horse called Bacetto. I think they caught him in :48.”
The official time was :48 2/5.
Sedgefield was second to Hard Spun in the Lane’s End Stakes (gr. II) at Turfway Park March 24. He then ran fourth as the 7-5 favorite in the Transylvania Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland April 6. A son of Smart Strike, out of the Theatrical mare Belva, Sedgefield was bred in Kentucky by Keene Ridge Farm. He is a full brother to multiple grade I winner English Channel.