The four 3-year-olds that immediately followed Medina Sprit across the finish line in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1)—Mandaloun , Hot Rod Charlie, Essential Quality , and O Besos—were all in action May 15 for workouts.
Three of them breezed at Churchill Downs, while the other, third-place finisher Hot Rod Charlie, went five furlongs in 1:03 4/5 for trainer Doug O'Neill at Santa Anita Park. Hot Rod Charlie is pointed toward the final leg of the Triple Crown, the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes (G1) June 5 at Belmont Park.
The Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner races for Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Strauss Bros Racing, and Gainesway Thoroughbreds.
Juddmonte's Derby runner-up Mandaloun and Godolphin's fourth-place finisher Essential Quality, both trained by Brad Cox, went half-miles in :48 1/5 and :50 4/5, respectively, at Churchill Downs.
"Mandaloun was sharper but both of them did extremely well," Cox said.
Cox said he has not finalized Belmont Stakes plans yet for any of his horses, but he believes Essential Quality, a son of Tapit , has the kind of pedigree that gives him confidence about the Belmont.
"Tapit has had so much success (in the Belmont Stakes) as a stallion," Cox said. "(Essential Quality) is a good colt. He stays on. I think he can handle the mile and a half."
Derby fifth-place finisher O Besos completed the same distance in :49 1/5.
Next-race plans for O Besos are to be determined, according to a Foley Racing tweet. Greg Foley trains the Orb colt for owners Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Terry Stephens.
All four colts could see their finishes in the Kentucky Derby elevated one position if a split sample post-race test from victorious Medina Spirit confirms an initial test result for the corticosteroid betamethasone and he is disqualified.
Also breezing Saturday morning at Churchill Downs were a pair of grade 1-winning 4-year-old fillies. Flurry Racing Stables, Qatar Racing, and Big Aut Farms' Shedaresthedevil went a half-mile in :49 2/5 for Cox and Peter Callahan's Swiss Skydiver, the champion 3-year-old filly of last year, worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 for trainer Kenny McPeek. They produced a 1-2 finish in the 2020 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.
"Shedaresthedevil breezed really good," Cox said.
The next grade 1 race for older fillies and mares on dirt is the $500,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 5 at Belmont. Churchill Downs hosts the $300,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) June 26. Both races are Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifiers for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) this fall at Del Mar.
Cox said "there's a strong possibility" that Shedaresthedevil will run in the Ogden Phipps.
