The talented and consistent stakes winner Fellowship, who finished third in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II), Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) and Florida Derby (gr. I) this winter, turned in his first pre-Derby workout at Churchill Downs on the morning of April 17th.
Trained throughout his career by Stanley Gold, but now under the care of Mark Casse, Fellowship went a half-mile in :48.80, starting off with fractions of :12.40 and :25 flat before continuing past the wire to run five furlongs in 1:01.40 and six furlongs in an impressive 1:14.60.
“I didn’t really know what to expect, I just kind of went in with no real expectations,” assistant trainer Norman Casse was quoted as saying in a Churchill Downs press release. “He was real full of energy. I was real excited about the way he worked. He moved well, so I was really happy with him.”
Fellowship is currently ranked 22nd on the list of Kentucky Derby point standings, the list that determines which twenty horses will be allowed to run in the Kentucky Derby.
“Obviously there will have to be some defections for us to run,” Casse said. “But it’s still too early to tell for sure, next week will be his big work and we’ll have a better indicator on where he is and what type of horse we think he is. If he gets in he deserves a shot, but he’ll have to work his way in.”
Worked Fellowship for the 1st time today @ChurchillDowns and was very pleased. He looked great. @KentuckyDerby pic.twitter.com/AKLeOfRTxz
— Norman W Casse (@casseracingnc) April 17, 2016
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