In preparation for the Kentucky Derby 2024 in 13 days, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen travelled eight hours early on Sunday morning from Oaklawn to Churchill Downs to watch several of his barn's best horses record published workouts. Among them was Grade 2 Risen Star runner-up Track Phantom, who breezed five furlongs in 1:00.8.
At 5:45 a.m. EDT, Track Phantom worked outside his stablemate Carbone, with jockey Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle. According to Churchill Downs Clocker John Nichols, the pair galloped out six furlongs in a strong 1:13.6 after cruising a modest quarter-mile in 26.2 seconds. Track Phantom ran a precise 34.6 seconds in the last three furlongs.
Asmussen reports that Track Phantom, owned by L and N Racing, Clark Brewster, Jerry Caroom, and Breeze Easy, will debut blinkers in the Kentucky Derby.
Gaffalione had been riding Courtlandt Farm's Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender Our Pretty Woman, who won easily in 1:00 for five furlongs, only twenty minutes prior. According to Nichols, the Asmussen youngster finished the first quarter-mile in 25.0 seconds, finishing outside her stakes-winning 3-year-old stablemate Otto the Conqueror. She then finished the first six furlongs in 1:12.6.
Carmen Rosas, Asmussen's workout rider, was on board for both coworkers.
It was a quiet morning for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders in terms of training, save for the two employees of the Asmussen barn. Where's My Ring, the victor of the Gazelle Stakes (G3) under Michael McMillan, was the only other notable trainee, finishing the quarter-mile course in 24.0 seconds. Where's My Ring is expected to have an official workout on Saturday before the Kentucky Oaks on May 3, according to trainer Val Brinkerhoff.
The following Kentucky Derby candidates had planned walk days on Sunday after recording workouts on Saturday: Catching Freedom, who completed the five furlongs on Saturday in 1:00.80 Four furlongs, 48.20 for Dornoch; five furlongs, 1:00.80 for Endlessly; four furlongs, 48.20 for Just a Touch; one mile, 1:40 for Just Steel; five furlongs, 59.40 for Mystik Dan; and four furlongs, 48.20 for Society Man.
Forever Young, the victor of the UAE Derby (G2) in Japan, was also slated for a walk day.
Sierra Leone, who won the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), may make her Churchill Downs debut on Monday. She was supposed to arrive from Keeneland late on Sunday morning.