Old Trieste Turns In Blistering Six-Furlong Workout Time

In what was probably the fastest six-furlong workout ever run before a Kentucky Derby, Old Trieste shocked clockers Sunday with a 1:09 time, missing the track record by two-fifths of a second.

Horses are not supposed to work that fast, but Mike Puype, Old Trieste’s trainer, didn’t seem to think the lickety-split workout will hurt his colt’s chances in Saturday’s Derby. Robby Albarado, who will ride Old Trieste in the Derby, was in the saddle for the work.

Old Trieste, who has won two of six starts but is winless in two stakes, won a mile allowance race by 10 lengths at Santa Anita on April 4. He ran the first six furlongs in 1:09 4/5 that day, coming home in 1:34 3/5. Old Trieste and Chilito, winner of the Flamingo at Hialeah, are expected to set the early pace in the Derby.

Big Pistol set the race record at Churchill Downs when he ran six furlongs in 1:08 3/5 in 1986. The fastest opening six furlongs in the 1 1/4-mile Derby was the victorious Spend A Buck’s 1:09 3/5 in 1985.