Kimari, O Besos Work for Opening Saturday Stakes

Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s Kimari, winner of last year’s Madison (G1), on Friday tuned up for a possible repeat bid in next Saturday’s 21^st running of the $500,000 race by working 6 furlongs in company in 1:14.80 over a fast track for trainer Wesley Ward. Kimari is undefeated in three Keeneland starts.

The Madison is a 7-furlong race on the main track.

Also on Friday morning, Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Terry Stephens’ O Besos worked a sharp half-mile in :47.60 after the renovation break in preparation for next Saturday’s 35^thrunning of the $300,000 Commonwealth (G3) going 7 furlongs over the main track. 

“I just wanted him to get a trip over the track,” trainer Greg Foley said of O Besos, who produced fractions of :12, :23, :35.20 and :47.60 with a 5-furlong gallop-out time of 1:00.40. Exercise rider Lorenzo Rivera was aboard. 

The move was the fourth fastest of 26 at the distance.

Fifth across the finish line in last year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve, O Besos ran second in the Matt Winn (G3) four weeks after the Derby but did not run again until Jan. 2 when he won an allowance at Fair Grounds. 

“He was asking for a break and he got it,” Foley said of the time off.  

Fourth in the Mineshaft (G3) in his most recent start, O Besos will be cutting back to a sprint distance for the first time in more than a year. 

“I feel like he will like the one turn,” Foley said. “Irad (Ortiz Jr.) will ride him.”