Arkansas Derby (G1) hero Sandman completed his final major preparations for the Kentucky Derby by working five furlongs in 1:02.40 on April 23 at Churchill Downs. With exercise rider Froylan Garcia aboard for the solo drill, Sandman galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.60. He is all systems go for the $5-million classic on the First Saturday in May.
Mark Casse said, “It was a perfect breeze. I told everyone going in not to expect anything spectacular because he’s already race fit. He’s funny because he’s an extremely smart horse, so he broke off and I think he thought he was just galloping, then at the top of the lane I said to the kid through the walkie talkie, ‘OK, time to pick it up’ and you can see in the video where he switched into high gear. He cooled out perfect, didn’t take a deep breath. Now we just get to gallop and keep him happy for the next 10 days.”
Casse added, “I think he grows every time I look at him. He is more than 16 hands, more than 16-3.”
