Afleet Alex’s Grade 1-winning son Dublin showed his affinity for the Churchill Downs main track on Monday morning, firing a bullet :59.20 as he continues to train forwardly for the Kentucky Derby (G1). The move was the fastest of 44 at the 5 furlong distance.

Dublin at Churchill on Apr. 19 PM Advertising photo

The 3-year-old from the first crop by dual Classic-winning Champion Afleet Alex broke off behind a stablemate, but was quickly on even terms, and left his workmate in the dust down the lane. The splits were :11.80, :23.20, :35.20 and :47.20, and he galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:13.20.

“I thought it was an excellent work,” said Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “I liked the way he did it. It is hard to say it was in company; it was almost a solo work.”

Lukas continued, “The first work here, it is the energy that you want to see, and I saw that today. I think he really fits. I like him as well as any of them I’ve had.” Lukas has had a record 43 Derby starters, and has won four times.

Dublin has been on the board in five of his eight career starts, including a victory at two in the Hopeful S. (G1). Jockey Terry Thompson, aboard for the work, will have his first Derby mount this year.

“I think Terry is riding as well as anybody in the nation right now, and he has great chemistry with the horse,” Lukas said. “We had made a change of riders, but it didn’t work, and we had the sense to switch back. If it wasn’t broken, it shouldn’t have been fixed.”