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Kentucky Derby works: Time for Truth, Liberal Arts lead 14 on tab

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Kentucky Derby works: Time for Truth, Liberal Arts lead 14 on tab


Monday’s work tab featured 14 horses in Las Vegas futures for ” title=”Kentucky Derby 2024″>Kentucky Derby 2024.

Time for Truth, 93-1 in the most recent Kentucky Derby Future Wager and a 150-1 best price in Las Vegas, worked Monday for the first time since breaking his maiden. The son of Omaha Beach, trained by Ron Moquett, worked four furlongs in 50.4 seconds at Oaklawn. He debuted Dec. 31 in Hot Springs, disputing the pace and clearing off to win the six-furlong race by 1 3/4 lengths.

Street Sense (G3) winner Liberal Arts also worked Monday, his fourth drill since that 2 3/4-length victory on Oct. 29. The Robert Medina trainee breezed three furlongs in 39.0 seconds and was the only horse to work over that course and distance. The son of Arrogate is a 100-1 best price in Las Vegas and closed at 72-1 in KDFW Pool 3.

Keep track of graded stakes on HRN:
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These 14 horses in Las Vegas futures for the Kentucky Derby worked Monday morning across the country:

Billal (Street Sense) worked four furlongs in 50.0 seconds at Payson Park on Monday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 22 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start he placed eighth in the Remsen (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on Dec. 2 for trainer Bill Mott.

Coach Prime (Quality Road) worked five furlongs in 1:00.8 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 27 works at the distance. His previous work was 14 days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed third in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Los Alamitos Race Course on Dec. 16 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Crushed It (Dialed In) worked four furlongs in 49.0 seconds at Oaklawn on Monday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 162 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed second in a maiden race going one mile on the main track at Oaklawn on Jan. 5 for trainer Brad Cox.

Give Me a Reason (Justify) worked five furlongs in 1:02.6 at Oaklawn on Monday morning. It was the 12th fastest of 29 works at the distance. His previous work was 22 days ago going five furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he placed fifth in a maiden race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Dec. 17 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

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Googol Joke (Practical Joke) worked four furlongs in 51.6 seconds at Oaklawn on Monday morning. It was the 123rd fastest of 162 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed third in the Renaissance going six furlongs on the main track at Oaklawn on Dec. 31 for trainer Robert Medina.

Liberal Arts (Arrogate), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Street Sense), worked three furlongs in 39.0 seconds at The Thoroughbred Center on Monday morning. It was the only work at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at The Thoroughbred Center. In his last start he won the Street Sense (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on Oct. 29 for trainer Robert Medina.

Lightline (City of Light) worked five furlongs in 1:02.0 at Fair Grounds on Monday morning. It was the sixth fastest of 12 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he placed second in an allowance race going one mile on the main track at Oaklawn on Dec. 31 for trainer Brad Cox.

Linebacker (Bolt d’Oro) worked four furlongs in 50.4 seconds at Oaklawn on Monday morning. It was the 65th fastest of 162 works at the distance. His previous work was 18 days ago going four furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he placed second in a maiden race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Dec. 31 for trainer Jordan Blair.

Orange Diablo (Union Rags) worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Oaklawn on Monday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 29 works at the distance. His previous work was 18 days ago going five furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he placed second in a maiden race going one mile on the main track at Oaklawn on Dec. 9 for trainer Brad Cox.

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Raguel (Justify) worked four furlongs in 51.3 seconds on turf at Palm Meadows on Monday morning. It was the 25th fastest of 33 works at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going four furlongs at Palm Meadows. In his last start he placed third in an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 5 for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Resilience (Into Mischief) worked four furlongs in 50.0 seconds at Payson Park on Monday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 22 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Payson Park. In his last start he won a maiden race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 1 for trainer Bill Mott.

Slider (Jimmy Creed) worked four furlongs in 47.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 52 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed third in the San Vicente (G2) going seven furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on Jan. 6 for trainer John Sadler.

The Process (More Than Ready) worked four furlongs in 49.9 seconds at Palm Meadows on Monday morning. It was the fifth fastest of nine works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed sixth in an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 13 for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

Time for Truth (Omaha Beach) worked four furlongs in 50.4 seconds at Oaklawn on Monday morning. It was the 65th fastest of 162 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won a maiden race going six furlongs on the main track at Oaklawn on Dec. 31 for trainer Ron Moquett.

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Missing on this PF in the transfer portal could be a good thing for Kentucky

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Missing on this PF in the transfer portal could be a good thing for Kentucky


Power forward has been one of the positions that Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats have to fill with Andrija Jelavic and Mo Dioubate gone. The two players that Pope has had on campus at the power forward position are Syracuse’s Donnie Freeman and Colorado’s Sebastian Rancik. Both are really good players, but Freeman is better by a wide margin.

It has felt that entire time that Kentucky wanted Rancik as the backup to Freeman or a backup plan if they weren’t able to land Freeman. Well, Rancik just picked Florida State, so perhaps this is a sign that the Wildcats will land Freeman.

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Feb 11, 2026; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes forward Sebastian Rancik (7) looks to pass the ball against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images | Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

Big Blue Nation was torn on Rancik, but I do believe he would have been a really solid backup power forward. I personally didn’t want him to be the starting four for this team. It is clear that he wanted to go somewhere where he could be the guy at the four, so he will be heading to the ACC to play for FSU.

Now that Kentucky has missed on Rancik, it is very important that the Wildcats land Freeman soon. The problem with waiting on some of these players is the fact that the portal isn’t slowing down. If Pope targets two power forwards and misses on both of them, most of the good fours in the portal will be gone.

There will be some panic in Lexington if the Wildcats are not able to land Freeman, but I do believe the Wildcats are in a good spot to land the elite power forward. From the beginning, Freeman has been my top player for Kentucky in the portal, as he, plus Malachi Moreno, will give the Wildcats an elite frontcourt.

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Mar 7, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange forward Donnie Freeman (1) warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images | Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

If Pope is able to land Freeman and Tyran Stokes to pair with Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Moreno, and Kam Williams, this could be the start of a really good team in Lexington. Hopefully, an announcement for where Freeman will transfer comes soon, and hopefully, this will be to play for Pope at Kentucky.

Fans of rival teams will say Pope “whiffed” on Rancik, but if this whiff was because the Wildcats are set to land Freeman soon, then it was more than worth it for Kentucky. If the Wildcats are able to land Freeman, it will officially be time for Big Blue Nation to start getting excited about the 2026-27 season. I expect a decision from Freeman to come within the next day or two.

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Rancik would have been a solid backup four in Lexington but Freeman has been the guy from the beggining for this staff so if Kentucky lands him all is well. If the staff misses on Freeman not landing Rancik will look bad.

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Kentucky is poised to land either Donnie Freeman or Sebastian Rancik this weekend, per report

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Kentucky is poised to land either Donnie Freeman or Sebastian Rancik this weekend, per report


Jones posted on Twitter that “Kentucky will have (absent a major change) either Freeman or Rancik by tomorrow,” while also noting the Wildcats still need to add another shooter and another big to round out the roster.

One of the top targets is Donnie Freeman, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound sophomore forward transferring from Syracuse. Freeman arrived in Lexington on Tuesday night and began his visit on Wednesday before leaving without a commitment. While there was concern he could land at UConn, that visit has since been canceled, leaving Kentucky and St. John’s as the top teams.

Freeman averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game last season, while adding nearly a block and a steal per contest. He shot 47.4% from the field but 30.2% from 3-point range across 23 games.

The other option is Sebastian Rancik, a 6-foot-11, 220-pound sophomore forward transferring from Colorado. Rancik visited Kentucky starting Wednesday through Thursday and brings a versatile skill set, averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 33.1% from 3.

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Either Freeman or Rancik would provide a significant boost at the power forward position for head coach Mark Pope. Kentucky has already added guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins in the portal.



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Kentucky football spring game offers early look at Will Stein’s Cats

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Kentucky football spring game offers early look at Will Stein’s Cats


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LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.

The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.

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Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.

Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.

“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”

While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.

“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.

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“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”

New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.

And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.

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This story will be updated.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.



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