Tappan Street appears to be progressing smoothly in his preparations for the Kentucky Derby, with another strong performance during a Friday morning workout session at Payson Park Training Center. The three-year-old colt covered five furlongs in company in a time that left his trainer, Brad Cox, satisfied with the colt’s conditioning and mental sharpness as Derby Day approaches. This effort marked his penultimate breeze before the prestigious Grade 1 race at Churchill Downs on May 3.
The son of Into Mischief continues to build on a promising campaign that includes a Grade 1 victory in the Curlin Florida Derby, where he showed tactical speed and a professional demeanor to fend off a well-regarded rival. Owned by WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc., and Cold Press Racing, Tappan Street has consistently impressed with each start, showing that additional distance might bring out even more in him. His workout partner for the breeze, stablemate Rapture, provided a steady target, enabling a strong gallop out, as planned by the training team.
The colt will head to Churchill Downs on Saturday following a productive winter season in Florida, where Cox established his base at Payson Park for the first time. The training center has proven effective for Cox’s stable, yielding success across multiple racing circuits and even on the international stage. Notably, Cox prepped Hit Show at the same venue ahead of the horse’s triumph in the Dubai World Cup earlier this month. The experience has reinforced his confidence in the training surface and conditioning environment offered at Payson.
Meanwhile, another Derby hopeful, Neoequos, continued his own training with a solid breeze at Gulfstream Park. The colt, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., posted a quicker time over five furlongs while working in company and finishing with a reasonable flourish. Joseph acknowledged the horse’s tendency to ease up once he hits the front, something the team is actively working to improve ahead of the Derby.
Currently just outside the top 20 in the Derby points standings, Neoequos would require withdrawals from other contenders to secure a spot in the starting gate. Despite the uncertainty, his connections are pressing forward with Derby preparations, noting that his recent performances justify taking a shot. His trainer remains cautious but optimistic, pointing out that although distance might be a factor, the colt continues to earn competitive speed figures.
Neoequos is expected to remain at Gulfstream for one more workout before heading to Churchill Downs, with his final pre-Derby breeze tentatively scheduled for next Thursday. As both colts inch closer to the Run for the Roses, their final preparations will play a pivotal role in determining their readiness for the biggest test of their young careers.
