Derby, Oaks Contenders Active In A.M. At Churchill Downs
April 17, 2002
By, Jill Byrne

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 17, 2002) - On the morning of Apr. 16, trainer Patrick Biancone had Derby Trial (GII) probable Mayakovsky out for a sharp work over the Churchill Downs strip. The beautiful nearly-black colt went a half-mile in a "bullet" :47 1/5 and galloped out in 1:00 flat.

The son of Matty G has a smooth, effortless stride, making it look as though he is going slower than the final time suggests. He still wanted to cock his head towards the inside rail a bit and was pulling the rider for the first part of the work. Mayakovsky did not have a day off following this strong work, as he was out for an easy gallop at Churchill on Apr. 17, looking much more relaxed than he has the past week.

Easyfromthegitgo, preparing for an engagement in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (GII) on Apr. 20, was out for a liesurely breeze on Apr. 16 for trainer Steve Asmussen. With jockey Donnie Meche in the irons, the colt went off very easily the first quarter-mile and finished up in :49 1/5. He is a smallish, light-framed colt who moves very smoothly, yet doesn't cover a great deal of ground. Easyfromthegitgo did not gallop out, though he was not asked for anything by the rider; he has been running hard all year and doesn't carry a great deal of extra condition, therefore he doesn't seem to need as much hard-work as some of the other top three-year-olds currently stabled on the backside of Churchill Downs.

Request For Parole, who is pointing for the May 4 Kentucky Derby (GI) after a close third-place finish to Perfect Drift in the Lane's End Spiral Stakes (GII), was out for a five-furlong breeze on Apr. 16. The on of Judge T C came on the track as soon as it opened following the renovation break, and it took him a while to warm up into a comfortable stride. He began his gallop near the wire and was moving somewhat stiff, not extending as well as I have seen him in the past. He was being asked to finish strongly down the stretch and just never seemed to level out well, getting the five furlongs in 1:02 2/5. He is an honest and hard-trying colt who always seems to run his best under any circumstances.

Easy Grades, the runner up in the Santa Anita Derby (GI), was out for a gallop on Apr. 17 at the same time as Request For Parole was working. He is not an impressive looking horse to watch train, as he has a bit of knee action to his stride and his coat is not as gleaming as some of the others, yet he covers a great deal of ground in the style of a turf horse. It will be important to see how he works over the Churchill Downs surface before the Derby.

In Kentucky Oaks (GI) workout action, the multiple graded stakes winner You was out for a strong breeze on Apr. 17 for trainer Bobby Frankel. With jockey Joe Deegan in the irons, the daughter of You and I went 6 furlongs in 1:12 4/5. This filly loves the Churchill surface, having broke her maiden here last summer, and looked brilliant breezing over it again. She has filled out only slightly since I last saw her at the Breeders' Cup, but has grown taller and, more importantly, has mentally matured. When she trains, she is more relaxed, yet focused and strong. You, who gets a tremendous amount of strength from her powerful hind quarters, covers a lot of ground with an effortless stride.

Jill Byrne serves as an analyst for TVG's award-winning "The Works" program, which focuses on the morning workout activity of horses preparing for the Kentucky Derby (GI) and Breeders' Cup. Additionally, she is a handicapper for the Churchill Downs Simulcast Network (CDSN) and is a knowledgeable, hands-on horsewoman who assisted her husband, trainer Patrick Byrne, in the development of Eclipse champions Favorite Trick and Countess Diana. She is the daughter of noted show horse rider and Thoroughbred trainer Peter Howe and first started riding show horses in her native Virginia at age three; she got on her first Thoroughbred when she was 11. She went to the University of Virginia where she studied political science and has worked directly with Dosage guru Steven Roman identifying top quality horses through a race analysis system he developed. Jill and Patrick have a daughter, Devon, and reside in Louisville.

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