Rousing Sermon, whose next start is expected to come in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), worked seven furlongs at Betfair Hollywood Park April 21 in 1:27 1/5 handily.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Rousing Sermon has worked three times over Hollywood's Cushion Track since his third-place finish in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) April 1. His latest work was the longest of the three as he progresses toward the May 5 Kentucky Derby.
Hollendorfer said Rousing Sermon, working without company, finished well and came out of the drill in good order. He said he plans to ship him to Kentucky April 30.
"We'll blow him out once more at Churchill" before the Derby, Hollendorfer said.
He said Jose Lezcano has the riding assignment. Mike Smith, who was aboard Rousing Sermon in the Louisiana Derby, has the mount on Arkansas Derby (gr. I) winner Bodemeister .
Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams' California homebred son of Lucky Pulpit has $270,000 in graded stakes earnings, used to determine the 20 starters for the Derby. He ranks 18th currently.
Rousing Sermon has two wins from nine starts in his career. He amassed his graded earnings through a runner-up finish in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) in December as well as a third in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II). He was also fifth in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) prior to the Louisiana Derby.
Though he will be a decided longshot in the Derby, Hollendorfer believes the 1 1/4-mile distance will suit his late-running chestnut colt, especially if the pace is lively. Rousing Sermon is out of the Awesome Again mare Rousing Again.
Rousing Sermon, whose only stakes win came in the Bob Benoit California Cup Juvenile last October, has total earnings of $404,000.
He would be the fifth Kentucky Derby starter for Hollendorfer, who sent out Eye of the Tiger (who finished fifth) in 2003, Cause to Believe (13th) in 2006, Bwana Bull (15th) in 2007, and Chocolate Candy (fifth) in 2009.
