LOUISVILLE, Ky – The last of the heavy lifting as far as the 2021 Kentucky Derby is concerned took place Monday on two fronts, including here at Churchill Downs where Midnight Bourbon turned in a little more serious work than expected during the special Derby/Oaks training session, which began at 7:30 a.m. The second of the Derby works on Monday came at Parx Racing, where Brooklyn Strong worked five furlongs earlier in the morning. Trainer Steve Asmussen is usually fairly predictable when it comes to breezing his horses five days before an upcoming start, usually sending them a slow and easy half-mile in maintenance style before having them ease up on the gallop-out. But with Midnight Bourbon coming into the Derby having gone six weeks between starts, Asmussen gave the Louisiana Derby runner-up a little stiffer drill than normal, sending him five-eighths from the half in 24.95 seconds, 49.75, and 1:02.64 before having him gallop out six furlongs in 1:16.95. Midnight Bourbon got a little keyed up early, but soon settled nicely. Angled a bit wide into the stretch, he was traveling easily to complete the half before accelerating a tad when given a little cue by his rider just past the wire, picking up the pace into the turn and galloping out readily enough around the bend. He gives the appearance he’s coming up to Derby Day in top form. Nearly all the Derby action at Churchill Downs occurred during the special training session, with only O Besos out early to gallop under the lights. Derby favorite Essential Quality and his stablemate Mandaloun, usually early birds themselves, waited until daylight to train but did little more than jog only 48 hours removed from their final Derby drills. Likewise, California invader Rock Your World and Hot Rod Charlie, the two newest arrivals, also had easy mornings. Known Agenda had himself another very good day, as did Sainthood, who came out in the second set of trainer Todd Pletcher’s Derby quartet along with Bourbonic. Medina Spirit, who made such a solid first impression with a very energetic gallop here on Sunday, toned it down some this morning with his trainer, Bob Baffert, looking on from the sidelines following his arrival in Louisville the previous evening. :: Get DRF Clocker Reports for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks cards to access exclusive insights from morning training Stablemates Soup and Sandwich and Helium both galloped after the renovation break, with Soup and Sandwich showing a tad more interest this morning than he had in his daily gallops prior to his final Derby work on Friday. He still doesn’t seem to have much desire to waste energy during his routine gallops. Midnight Bourbon’s stablemate and fellow Derby contender Super Stock was back out and dragging his rider along in those draw reins once again. Unlike her Derby-bound mates, the Brad Cox-trained Travel Column, the potential Oaks favorite, was out bright and early and among the first horses on the track on Monday. Several hours later, it was the Milly and Mally Show, as Oaks hopeful Millefeuille put in a strong and impressive-looking gallop, with the undefeated Malathaat mirroring her effort while following close but socially distanced behind.