Trainer Tom Amoss said he only wanted a maintanance work from Louisiana Derby (gr. II) runner-up Mylute April 27 at Churchill Downs, and that was exactly what jockey Rosie Napravnik delivered in preparation for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
In his final major drill before the May 4 Derby, Churchill clockers timed the 3-year-old son of Midnight Lute going four furlongs in :50 3/5 with Napravnik perched quietly in the irons. Splits were recorded as :12 3/5, :25, and :37 3/5, with a gallop-out of five furlongs in 1:05 4/5.
Mylute followed a similar work pattern leading up to the March 30 Louisiana Derby for owners Goldmark Farm and Whisper Hill Farm, when he came running with a powerful six-wide rally from far back but missed catching Revolutionary by a neck.
"That won't get rave reviews, but that's him," Amoss said following the latest move. "He had a three-quarter and two half-mile (works) going into the Louisiana Derby and that's exactly what we've done here. The only variation to his work pattern here was the previous move was quick, quicker than I thought it was supposed to be, but there was a pair of horses working in front of him that had his attention going all the way around there (last time)."
Mylute worked six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 April 14 at the Louisville oval. Napravnik has the mount in the Derby.
Bred in Kentucky by Mike Rutherford, Mylute was purchased for $150,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale.
