KENTUCKY DERBY UPDATE – THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013
BLACK ONYX – Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx galloped 1 ½ miles during the Derby and Oaks session while under regular exercise rider Aurelio Gomez. Trainer Kelly Breen was concerned that with the largest throng of morning onlookers yet his Spiral Stakes (Grade III) winner might finally get fazed by all the attention. Turned out, there was nothing to worry about.
Charles Cella’s Cyber Secret, runaway winner of the Oaklawn Handicap (Grade II) in his most recent start, and WinStar Farm and Chuck and Maribeth Sandford’s Take Charge Indy, winner of the 2012 Florida Derby (GI), head a field of nine for Friday’s 10th running of the $300,000-added Alysheba Presented by Besilu Stables (GII).
BLACK ONYX (No. 11) – Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx galloped 1 ¾ miles under exercise rider Aurelio Gomez during the Derby and Oaks training session.
“It was a little bit longer gallop, a little bit stronger at the end,” trainer Kelly Breen said. “He came out of it looking dynamite.”
The top 3-year-old fillies from all corners of the country, headed by Dreaming of Julia, the 21 ¾-length winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (GII), and Eclipse Award winner Beholder passed the entry box Tuesday morning for Friday’s 139th running of the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I).
BLACK ONYX (No. 11) – Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx jogged one mile under exercise rider Aurelio Gomez during the Derby and Oaks session. The Rock Hard Ten colt is officially dark bay or brown but appears black.
Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx walked the shedrow at Barn 41 the morning after working a half-mile in :48.60. Exercise rider Aurelio Gomez reported that the Spiral Stakes (Grade III) winner came out of the work “good” and likely would return to the track Monday during the portion of training hours dedicated to Derby and Oaks contenders from 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. (all times Eastern).
BLACK ONYX (No. 12) – Trainer Kelly Breen supervised the half-mile work by Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx at 7:30 Saturday morning then headed back to New York to saddle a horse in a stakes at Belmont Park later in the day.
BLACK ONYX – Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx (No. 12) galloped 1 ½ miles over a track labeled as “good” on a clear, crisp Thursday morning at Churchill Downs.
KENTUCKY DERBY UPDATE – TUESDAY, APRIL 23
BLACK ONYX – Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx (No. 12) galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Aurelio Gomez during the special training session after the morning renovation break for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses.
KENTUCKY DERBY UPDATE – MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2013
BLACK ONYX – Sterling Racing’s Black Onyx (No. 12) jogged after the morning renovation break during the time reserved for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders. Aurelio Gomez was aboard Black Onyx, who comes into Derby 139 off a victory in the Spiral (Grade III) in his stakes debut.
