Zito's Kentucky Derby Contender Anak Nakal Works At Churchill Downs

Four Roses Thoroughbreds’ Anak Nakal, winner of the $250,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Grade II) at Churchill Downs, continued his preparation for a run in the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) with a four-furlong work over the Louisville track on Friday.

The son of 1998 Belmont Stakes (GI) winner and 1999 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) winner Victory Gallop breezed the half-mile over a “fast” track on a perfect spring morning in :49.40 under exercise rider Megan Smillie. Anak Nakal covered the distance in fractional times of :12.40, :24.60, and :37.20 and he galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.80.

“He did pretty well,” said Zito. “He’s got a fondness for the track. He won the Kentucky Jockey Club, which is a prestigious race and it’s proven over the year to do well with 3-year-olds. It’s been kind of a springboard.”

Anak Nakal has failed to win in three races this year and finished fifth to Tale of Ekati in the Wood Memorial (GI) at Aqueduct in his most recent start. But Zito was encouraged by the colt’s effort in that race.

“He’s catching up this year, that’s all,” said Zito. “I think his Wood was a pretty good race. He was only beaten three or four lengths, and I think he’ll run okay.”

The colt’s pedigree points toward success at Churchill Downs. His sire ran a close second to Real Quiet in the 1998 Kentucky Derby and later set the track record of a mile and an eighth in winning the Stephen Foster Handicap. Victory Gallop also ran a good fourth to Awesome Again in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs in 1998.

“He’s got a few things going for him, and this time of year you never know,” said Zito, who won the Kentucky Derby in 1991 with Strike The Gold and 1994 with Go for Gin. “You never know. It is the Derby. It’s the biggest race, so why not give him a shot?”

Zito’s has two other Kentucky Derby hopes in Robert LaPenta’s War Pass, the reigning 2-year-old champion in the United States, and Cool Coal Man, winner of the Fountain of Youth (GII). War Pass is coming off a runner-up finish in the Wood Memorial, while Cool Coal Man finished ninth behind Monba in last week’s Toyota Blue Grass (GI) at Keeneland. He expects both colts to work in the next few days.

“Obviously the Wood was tough on him,” said Zito. “I think anybody could see it was a gut-wrenching performance, so I’ve kind of been taking it easy with him. Of course, I’ve got to make up my mind pretty soon to breeze him. But I don’t think he needs too much for that race, and we’ll see what we’re going to do pretty soon.”

As for Cool Coal Man, Zito said the son of 2003 “Horse of the Year” Mineshaft came out of his race over the synthetic Polytack surface in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in good shape. He will head on to the Kentucky Derby and would work next Thursday, his only serious training move before the big race on May 3.

“Not to make excuses, but he certainly didn’t like the synthetic surface – none of my horses do, basically,” Zito said. “But hopefully we can throw it out and build from it. He did win a race here last fall, and he did win a race called the Fountain of Youth.”

Zito plans to announce a rider for Cool Coal Man this weekend.

Also working out on Friday at Churchill Downs was Aurora Springs Stable’s Awesome Chic, the winner of the Florida Oaks (GIII) and a contender for the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 2.

The daughter of Awesome Again breezed six furlongs in 1:16.

Awesome Chic has won three of five races and has earned $180,260.