Churchill Downs Saturday, April 29, 2023 Weather: Cloudy  Temperature: 52  Track: Fast LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Nine of the 20 confirmed starters for the 2023 Kentucky Derby, along with two others still hoping to draw into the field, got in their final works for the most important start of their careers Saturday at Churchill Downs. The majority came during a hectic 15-minute session reserved for Derby and Oaks starters only immediately following the first renovation break. The main track had dried out nicely after being sealed and wet the previous morning and weather conditions were cloudy, with just a hint of a chill in the air, throughout the morning. Trainer Brad Cox started the Derby workout brigade early, sending out Hit Show and Verifying, workmates the previous week, in separate sets shortly before 5:30 a.m.  Cox likely was all smiles when he left his regular perch on the fourth floor of the grandstand just past the finish line, from where he watches all his timed workouts, a short while later. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2023: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Hit Show was the first to go, breaking off three lengths behind Tapit’s Conquest at the five furlong pole before quickly joining his partner on the turn. Hit Show had his head in front at the wire, going totally on his own outside his pressured mate after completing the distance in 59.96 seconds before edging a couple of lengths clear galloping out in 1:13.15. Hit Show appeared to be a lot more comfortable working outside his company than he was breezing inside Verifying eight days earlier. Verifying broke off at the 4 1/2 furlong marker outside the very promising maiden Everso Mischievous (narrowly beaten in his only previous start with a 90 Beyer), the pair going pretty much on even terms throughout and posting a final clocking of 59.48, finishing a sixteenth past the wire before continuing strongly on the run-out in 1:12.63. Tyler Gaffalione was in his regular seat aboard Verifying, who was equipped in blinkers for the work. The Derby-Oaks session began with Tapit Trice breezing an easy half-mile in 48.58, edging away from his mate Equivoque at the wire before striding out impressively and effortlessly, as usual, on the gallop out getting five furlongs into the turn in 1:01.20. Continues to catch the eye on a regular basis since arriving locally following his gutsy triumph in the Blue Grass. Derby favorite Forte was in total maintenance mode under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., again in company with his talented stablemate Bright Future, cruising four furlongs in 50.09 and finishing under a hold, although he was arguably slightly second-best on the gallop out. Rarely a flashy work horse, seems to save all his wow moments for when the money is down. :: DRF Kentucky Derby Package: Save on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more. Old friends Major Dude and Kingsbarns hooked up for a third consecutive week and again there was little to choose between the pair, breezing an easy half in 48.42 before again galloping out with plenty of energy when roused slightly into and around the bend, easing up after six furlongs in 1:13.40 with Kingsbarns, under jockey Jose Ortiz, holding perhaps a slight edge at the end.  Major Dude couldn’t be doing better and is more likely to compete next Saturday in the American Turf.  Cox returned two hours later with the team of Jace’s Road and Angel of  Empire, the latter the best of this pairing while giving off positive vibes for a second consecutive week. I caught the team from the half in 48.74 with Angel of Empire, under Chris Landeros, holding a slight edge to the wire going easily before asserting his superiority on the gallop out, getting three quarters in 1:14.60, then continuing to extend his advantage while not pulling up until nearly midway down the backstretch. Worked in blinkers again although does not wear them on race day. Confidence Game and Mage were a contrast in styles working almost simultaneously this morning. The former was full of run leaving the five-eighths pole, completing the distance in 59.30 while kept well off the rail and going easily enough to the finish line before easing up six panels in 1:13.30.  He missed some training time last week but looked sharp in his first recorded trial in over two weeks. Mage just cruised along this morning from the six furlong marker, completing his final half in 49.78 while kept out near the center of the track down the stretch, as is customary for workers from the Gustavo Delgado barn. He galloped out with good energy, per usual, although perhaps not quite as sharply as he had in his two previous works over his home base at Gulfstream Park. Cyclone Mischief needs one more defection to crack the Derby lineup. He worked five furlongs in 1:01.17 under regular exercise rider Tammy Fox, galloping out in average fashion, six panels in 1:14.83. As an added bonus to the mayhem at 7:30 here this morning, Japenese contender Derma Sotogake was sent to the starting gate where, after standing patiently awaiting clearance on the track, broke sharply from the blocks before being pulled up fairly abruptly upon leaving the chute located near the top of the stretch. He is scheduled to have his final Derby tuneup on Tuesday. A pair of Oaks runners, Defining Purpose and Mimi Kakushi, also worked Saturday morning, the former looking sharp zipping four furlongs in 47.57, finishing well while going easily throughout, the latter breezing a slow half in 50.40 before being angled wide and easing up fairly quickly on the gallop out. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.