LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A handful of colts were working beneath the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs Saturday as some of the top contenders for the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby. Essential Quality, the current favorite, trained with fellow contenders Mandaloun and Soup and Sandwich.

Some changes to the leaderboard were announced as well: Concert Tour, the Bob Baffert-trained colt, has withdrawn from the run for the roses. The horse will instead set its sights on the May 15 Preakness.

Essential Quality recorded a swift five-furlong run in 0:59.60. Soup and Sandwich breezed the same length in 0:59.80, while Mandaloun ran a six-furlong stretch in 1:11.40.

Trainers and owners said they're comfortable with Essential Quality's performance.

“I’m not taking a deep breath yet but we’re very pleased with where we are at today two weeks from the Derby,” trainer Brad Cox said. “He really had to work for that win in the Blue Grass and we were very pleased how well he ended up bouncing out of it.”

Derby 147 is just two weeks away – here's the current leaderboard:

 

You can find more about the Kentucky Derby in our special section.

-

Facebook Twitter