Off the Couch, First Derby works of 2011

Well it's time for Kentucky Derby contenders to "get off the couch" and onto the track.  With many of the top contenders choosing 2-start campaigns in 2011.  The workout watch is underway.

Let's recap the first published works of the last 4-years for the recent 2-Derby Prep winners:

• In 2007 Street Sense recorded his first published work on January 29th.  4F in :53 seconds.  With 5 starts as a Juvenile, Street Sense had a solid base.
• In 2008 Big Brown worked 4F in :48 flat on February 24th.  With only 2 recorded workouts.  2/24 and 3/1 before winning his March 5th prep by 12 lengths.  Then 2 more workouts and running 9 furlongs in the Florida Derby.  This horse obviously had major issues, but still the raw talent, combined with a little Dutrow/Rodriguez "elixir".
• 2009 Mine That Bird:  3 furlongs on January 6th at Sunland in 39 1/5.  The Bird fired off 6 workouts before his first race on February 28th.
• 2010:  Super Saver:  5 Furlong in 1:01 2/5 on February 14th.  Again Super Saver had a strong foundation with 4 starts as a juvenile and 3 route races.

A quartet of winners and each with unique workout patterns before wearing roses in May.  Street Sense and Super Saver both used the Tampa Bay Derby as their first prep of their Sophomore campaigns, so with Uncle Mo yet to show up on the work tab for 2011, he still has another 10 days or so before possibly having his first workout.  Although Super Saver for Todd Pletcher last year did not work until February 14th.

Monday saw the the first recorded workout of the year for To Honor and Serve, a light three furlong workout in :39 and 4/5 at Payson.

Monday also saw the 3rd workout of 2011 for Todd Pletcher trained Brethren.  Brethren with zero stakes starts as a sophomore and only two starts overall, seems to be further along than Super Saver was last year, already hitting 5 furlongs in Mondays work.

Boys at Tosconova is being trained with a complete 360 from Big Brown.  Richard Dutrow, didn't take "The Boys" out of training and opted to work him in December and into the new year.  It will be interesting to see if Boys at Tosconova can make it through the Triple Crown Series essentially never being taken out of training from his juvenile season.