Pyro's Polytrack Breeze: 'Excellent!'

In a work trainer Steve Asmussen described as "excellent," Louisiana Derby (G2) winner PYRO (Pulpit) geared up Monday morning for an expected start in the April 12 Blue Grass S. (G1), covering five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 over Keeneland's Polytrack.

"It was exactly what we wanted to see and what we asked him for," Asmussen said. "He was very comfortable over the track, and we hope that continues."

With regular exercise rider Dominic Terry aboard, Pyro carved out fractions of :26 2/5, :38 4/5, :50 4/5 and 1:02 2/5, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15 2/5.

The work was Pyro's first major work since his arrival last week from his winter base at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Though he has spent time working over the Keeneland Polytrack, where he also made his final preparations prior to a runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) last fall, the Blue Grass will be Pyro's first race over Polytrack and his final prep before the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1).

The dark bay colt has compiled a mark of 6-3-2-1, $1,056,718. A homebred campaigned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Pyro will eventually retire to stud at Sheikh Mohammed's Darley near Lexington.