Carl Nafzger Had Both His Oaks Fillies Out For Works
April 23, 2002
By, Jill Byrne

The Churchill track surface was in excellent shape for this mornings workouts having fully recovered from the heavy rains over the weekend. Kentucky Oaks fillies were on the track today for workouts as were two of the top contenders for the Derby.

Trainer Carl Nafzger had both his Oaks fillies out for strong workouts today.

Take the Cake was the first to go shortly before the track break with Jon Court up. This filly looks very well in her coat and is carrying great flesh. She went away from the pole a bit strongly and worked quickly fininshing in 59.1. It was a decent work except when Jon Court asked her to finish at the eighth pole she swithched back to her inside lead abruptly as if she was thrown off stride for a moment. Belterra, last years winner of the Golden Rod at Churchill , had her first workout following minor throat surgery to correct a breathing problem . Jon Court was also up for this work and had the filly gallop very strongly to the pole and go the first five furlongs quickly and well in hand. However, I did not like the way she seemed to fall apart when he asked her to finish, with her action getting short and her head coming up. She appears to have lost weight and her coat is not as gleaming as her stablemate.

Medaglia D'Oro and Came Home were on the track immediately following the renovation break for their first Derby workouts over the Churchill surface.

Medaglia D'Oro looked very good just cruising over the track as easy as one would want to see in a breeze. This colt has a strong stride over the track and gets excellent push from his powerfull hind quarters . If he can maintain the way he is training now, I believe he will be a force to be reckoned with in the Derby .

However my work of the past few days so far is Came Home. Chris McCarron was aboard the Santa Anita Derby winner for the six furlong move. He galloped to the pole relaxed and focused broke away beautifully and continued on throughout the work moving well within himself. McCarron never asked the Gone West colt to extend himself at anytime during the work or the strong gallop out .

He covers the ground low and smooth switching leads on cue at the top of the stretch and staying perfectly straight with his head and neck out long and low.

He is extremely well mannered and professional which will bode well for him on Derby day. I think all the positive attributes of Came Home, the most important of course being his unlimited talent, will overcome his sprint biased pedigree.

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