Rousing Sermon drilled five furlongs on 1 May ahead of the Kentucky Derby
The California bred son of Lucky Pulpit, Rousing Sermon, hasn’t impressed that much on the Kentucky Derby trail as a 3-year-old, is still pointed toward the $2 million event at Churchill Downs on 5 May, 2012.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for owners Larry Williams, Mrs. Larry D. Williams and Tree Top Ranches, Rousing Sermon was the lone Kentucky Derby starter to work on 1 May, 2012, as he turned in five furlongs in a time of 1 minute 2/5 seconds, which pleased the Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Under the Twin Spires, Rousing Sermon under jockey Jose Lezcano galloped out six furlongs in 1 minute and 14 seconds flat, and his move was recorded in fractional splits, as the 3-year-old colt went 12 3/5 seconds and 25 seconds for the quarter mile, and 36 3/5 seconds and 48n 2/5 seconds for the half mile marker.
"He goes straight and true every day and, knock wood, he's remained sound as long as I've had him,"Hollendorfer said.
Out of Awesome Again mare Rousing Again, Rousing Sermon has been raced 9 times through his juvenile and sophomore season, which makes him one of the more seasoned campaigners in the Derby lineup.
Won just twice out of those 9 starts, Rousing Sermon was close to a disappointment in his sophomore season where the best he could do was finish third twice in three starts.
The California based colt kicked off his 2012 campaign with a run in the Grade 2 Robert. B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park where he finished third to winner, I’ll Have Another.
His second race was a troubled trip, where Creative Cause and Bodemeister tormented the colt to finish fifth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at about 1 1/16 miles.
Veteran jockey, Mike Smith, took the mount on Rousing Sermon in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby and worked him to finish third on the day to the surprise winner Hero of Order.
"Jose skipped a couple of things he had planned to come in and work this horse," Hollendorfer said. "Now he knows a little bit about him. You have to prompt him to get him.”
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