Trainer Mike Maker vanned Fast and Accurate to Churchill Downs from the Trackside Training Center April 30 to put in the colt’s final work prior to the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). The gray/roan son of Hansen, working with 4-year-old Adventist, went five furlongs in 1:01 1/5.
"We weren't looking for anything special," Maker said. "It was designed to be a head-and-head work. Whatever the time was, it was. He looked nice."
Fast and Accurate, with rider Channing Hill aboard along the rail, was caught in splits of :12 1/5, :23 4/5, :35 4/5, and :48 3/5. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 2/5 and seven in 1:28 3/5. Hill will have the Kentucky Derby mount.
The colt's prior move was five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 at the Training Center April 23.
Bred in Pennsylania by John Penn and campaigned by Dr. Kendall Hansen, who bred and raced his sire, Fast and Accurate was a surprising 24-1 winner of Turfway Park's JACK Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes (G3). After the race, the Skychai Racing team of Harvey Diamond and Jim Shircliff bought in. Bode Miller recently purchased an interest April 21.
Dr. Hansen raced Hansen in the 2011 Derby, and this is not Skychai’s first rodeo. They've were partners in past Derby runners Hansen, Twinspired , Harry's Holiday, and General a Rod .
Dr. Hansen watched the work via Facetime while Diamond and Shircliff were on the backside.
"It was just what we wanted," deadpanned Diamond back at Barn 2 after the move. "Actually, he worked very well. We were happy with it. That wasn't any slouch he was working with. Channing was very happy with the way he went. He said he did everything easily."
Fast and Accurate's workmate Adventist finished third last year in the Withers Stakes (G3), Gotham Stakes (G3), and Wood Memorial Stakes (G1), and was second in the Ohio Derby.
Fast and Accurate, out of the Green Dancer mare It's Heidi's Dance, has won three of six starts and is two-for-two as a 3-year-old. Prior to the Spiral he won going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream Park Feb. 20. He broke his maiden last December for a $30,000 claiming tag at Turfway Park.
Following the drill, Fast and Accurate returned to the training center, but will be back under the Twin Spires in Maker's Barn 27 Tuesday.
Maker's game plan?
"Hopefully win a few races between now and Derby day and win every race we're in Derby day. I think I've got six to enter."
