Photo:
Tommy Land / Eclipse Sportswire
Speed King, who won the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on Jan. 25, worked a sharp four furlongs Friday morning in Hot Springs, Ark. His four-furlong time of 48.0 seconds was fourth fastest of 117 at the distance.
The work was his second since winning the Southwest, where he earned 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to bring his total to 25.
The Ron Moquett trainee has won two of three starts, with his only defeat coming by a half-length to Coal Battle in the Springboard Mile at Remington in December. Coal Battle came back to win the Smarty Jones, another points prep at Oaklawn.
At Caesars Sportsbook in Las Vegas, Speed King was 33-1 as of Sunday. That price shortened from 50-1 a week before. In the fourth Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool, which opened Friday and runs until 6 p.m. EST on Sunday, he is 30-1 on the morning line.
These six horses in Kentucky Derby futures worked across the country Friday morning:
Burning Glory (Into Mischief) worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Payson Park on Friday morning. It was the fastest of 18 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed third in the Holy Bull (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 1 for trainer Bill Mott.
Dominant Spirit (Mohaymen) worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Sam Houston on Friday morning. It was the second fastest of 41 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed third in an allowance race going one mile on the main track at Sam Houston on Jan. 19 for trainer Bret Calhoun.
Filoso (City of Light) worked five furlongs in 59.1 seconds at Palm Meadows on Friday morning. It was the fastest of 11 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Palm Meadows. In his last start he placed sixth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on Nov. 30 for trainer Chad Summers.
Hot Property (Medaglia d’Oro) worked four furlongs in 49.8 seconds at Fair Grounds on Friday morning. It was the 48th fastest of 104 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed third in an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Fair Grounds on Jan. 30 for trainer Brad Cox.
Innovator (Authentic) worked five furlongs in 59.8 seconds at Oaklawn on Friday morning. It was the fastest of 34 works at the distance. His previous work was 17 days ago going four furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he placed third in the Lecomte (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on Jan. 18 for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Speed King (Volatile), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Southwest), worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds at Oaklawn on Friday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 117 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he won the Southwest (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Jan. 25 for trainer Ron Moquett.
These two horses in Kentucky Derby futures worked Thursday morning:
Curvino (Vino Rosso) worked five furlongs in 1:01.0 at Oaklawn on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of nine works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed second in an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Jan. 26 for trainer Peter Miller.
Smoken Wicked (Bobby’s Wicked One) worked five furlongs in 1:00.0 at Fair Grounds on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of eight works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going five furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he won the Louisiana Futurity going six furlongs on the main track at Fair Grounds on Dec. 29 for trainer Dallas Stewart.
These two horses in Kentucky Derby futures worked Wednesday morning:
Grande (Curlin) worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Palm Beach Downs on Wednesday morning. It was the fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going four furlongs at Palm Beach Downs. In his last start he won a maiden race going one mile on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 11 for trainer Todd Pletcher.
He’s Not Joking (Practical Joke) worked four furlongs in 48.4 seconds at Palm Meadows on Wednesday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 13 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed fifth in the Holy Bull (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 1 for trainer Josie Carroll.
Photo: Santa Anita / Benoit Photo El Potente, who served notice with a dominant win in the Grade 3 Thunder Road earlier this month at
Admittedly, the primary utility of fair odds is to identify overlays in the win pool, but occasionally they can point to a more general wagering opportunity in
Trainer Nicky Henderson described Constitution Hill's performance as "perfect" as he impressed in a pre-Cheltenham Festival gallop at Kempton.The unbeaten eight
Tom Pedulla is interviewing prominent owners, trainers and jockeys as they travel the Road to the 151st Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on May 3 at