Kentucky Derby Notebook: Citizen Bull fires bullet in final tuneup; Toby Keith's family posts tribute

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The serious Derby work is just about finished, but there was still some rocket fuel left in the tank Monday morning at Churchill Downs.

The big move came from Citizen Bull, last year's champion 2-year-old, who cranked it up in the Derby and Oaks training session with a sharp five furlongs in :58.40 — fastest of 15 at the distance on the morning. It also is the fastest final five-furlong tuneup in the Derby field.

With jockey Martin Garcia aboard, Citizen Bull was content to lengthen his stride.

"He was just messing around. Did it easy," Garcia said afterward.

Kentucky Derby 151 | Derby Prep Races | Derby Festival Events

Garcia thought he was supposed to work four furlongs — until Baffert changed it midstream via radio.

"I thought I was done at the wire," Garcia said. "Then Bob says, 'Keep going!'"

No problem. Citizen Bull just kept rolling, finishing out six furlongs in 1:12.40 and seven-eighths in 1:27.20.

Citizen Bull, the 2-year-old champion whose form has regressed at three, will need the speed. He's trying to become the first colt since Ferdinand in 1986 to win the Derby from the No. 1 post. He's at 20-1 in the morning line.

Final moves – and one hoping to make it

Coal Battle worked an efficient three furlongs in :36 seconds flat for trainer Lonnie Briley, who will saddle his first Derby runner at age 72. "He looked like he did it pretty easily," Briley said.
Baeza, who needs a scratch to draw into the field, cruised five furlongs in 1:02 under Flavien Prat. Trainer John Shirreffs was happy to keep it light. "We put a good work into him last week. He's ready. We just need a little luck now."

Journalism Walks, Rispoli Runs

While Citizen Bull was putting on a show, Derby morning-line favorite Journalism took it easy — just walking the shedrow in Barn 35.

Trainer Michael McCarthy said Journalism earned the light day after his Sunday breeze of five furlongs in 1:01.6.

Jockey Umberto Rispoli, meanwhile, wasn't taking it easy.

Rispoli spent the weekend in a real-life Amazing Race episode: canceled flights, airport layovers, rerouted connections, a Saturday of no work and travel frustration, then a Sunday workout with Journalism at Churchill, followed by a dash back to California — and a stakes win that afternoon at Santa Anita.

Netflix could've made a episode of his weekend alone.

He'll be back in Louisville Saturday, breaking from post No. 8 aboard the 3-1 favorite.

A Derby Dream for Toby Keith

Render Judgment isn't among the favorites, but the colt is carrying some heavy meaning this week.

Owned partly by the late country star Toby Keith, Render Judgment will fulfill a lifelong dream Keith talked about often — having a horse run in the Kentucky Derby.

The family posted Monday: "It was Toby's dream … Render Judgment is going to the Kentucky Derby. He worked so hard to finally have one there. Toby will have the best seat in the house to watch."

Render Judgment galloped Monday under retired jockey Robby Albarado and will be ridden by Julien Leparoux Saturday.

Around the Track

Grande (Todd Pletcher) stretched his legs early Monday, galloping about 1 3/8 miles and standing in the starting gate. With rain in the forecast later this week, Pletcher didn't want to take any chances. "I wanted to get him to the gate when we've got dry land," Pletcher said.
American Promise, the flashy chestnut by Justify, continues to wow in the mornings. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas says the best part of the past six weeks? "No adjustments. Everything has been smooth."
East Avenue, Final Gambit, Flying Mohawk, and others kept it light, jogging or galloping after weekend works.
Sovereignty, second choice at 5-1, walked the shedrow Monday after a strong work Sunday. Trainer Bill Mott simply said, "It's all good."
Japan-based hopefuls Admire Daytona and Luxor Café are tentatively set to breeze Tuesday, likely the final serious works before Saturday's Derby.