Calumet Farm's Sunland Derby (G3) winner Hence breezed five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 the morning of April 17 at Churchill Downs for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen in preparation for the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
The Street Boss colt worked in company over the fast track at 6 a.m. with Local Hero, who was also credited with 1:00 2/5, in fractions of :13, :25 2/5, :37 and :48 3/5, before galloping out three-quarters of a mile in 1:13 2/5 and seven furlongs in 1:27. The pair shared the fastest time of 16 at the distance with two other workers.
"It's very comforting to see Hence doing well again over the Churchill surface," Asmussen said.
The 3-year-old has a lifetime record of 2-1-1 from six starts and earnings of $462,601. Before winning the Sunland Derby by 3 3/4 lengths, he finished seventh in the grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
Also on the Churchill worktab Monday was Albaugh Family Stable's J Boys Echo, who recorded a half-mile move in :49 1/5 for trainer Dale Romans, his first breeze since finishing fourth in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) April 8 at Keeneland.
The 3-year-old Mineshaft colt, who won the March 4 Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack, began his workout at the three-furlong pole under Tammy Fox and recorded splits of :12 1/5, :24 3/5 and :36 4/5.
"I think this is the best he's looked over the track," Romans said. "This morning we just wanted to get a solid maintenance breeze in him and we'll do something more serious next week."
J Boys Echo has accrued $349,600 with a lifetime record of 2-1-1 from six starts.
