With one week to go until next Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby, contenders began putting in their final works Friday.At Keeneland, Golden Tempo (Curlin) had his final timed drill for first-time Derby trainer Cherie DeVaux. Working inside of MGSW Brilliant Berti (Noble Mission {GB}), the GIII Lecomte Stakes winner clocked a half-mile in :47.40 (2/72).“He's had different company, and he's outworked each one,” DeVaux said. “This was just a maintenance work and Brilliant Berti is a pretty good workhorse and he's older. We didn't want him (Golden Tempo) doing too much in the work and the gallop out. We have had great luck with our stable prepping here then going over to Churchill Downs.”Golden Tempo last finished third in the GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby March 21. He will make the short trip from Keeneland to Churchill Downs Saturday morning.“He has matured both physically and mentally a lot,” DeVaux said. “By design, we let him have the four weeks in between races and then we had six weeks (at Keeneland), so that we could do a little bit more with him. He was always a heavier horse and took a while for him to really shape up physically, and we're there now. He has really improved in that respect.”Already on site at Churchill, two more Derby hopefuls also tuned up over a fast track Friday morning. So Happy works 5F in 1:00.20 this morning as we're just about a week out from the Kentucky Derby! pic.twitter.com/uUKtH8gqjn— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 24, 2026GI Santa Anita Derby winner So Happy (Runhappy) and Louisiana Derby winner Emerging Market (Candy Ride {Arg}) were both on track, with So Happy going five furlongs in 1:00.20 (8/19) and Emerging Market covering a half-mile in :47.60 (15/92).“He just glided through the lane,” trainer Chad Brown said of Emerging Market. “He galloped way out past three-quarters the right way and came back good. I was very pleased with the way he was moving. He hit his fractions perfect, and he didn't even look like he was going that fast, which is what you love to see as a trainer.” Louisiana Derby winner EMERGING MARKET put in his final work for the @KentuckyDerby this morning at @ChurchillDowns outside of company. pic.twitter.com/iXCTxrc9N2— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 24, 2026Japan's G2 UAE Derby winner Wonder Dean (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}) went a solo six furlongs in 1:17.80 (1/1).“He felt similar today as he did during his breeze a week out from the UAE Derby,” said rider Takuya Nakano, who was aboard for the drill. “He felt really great. This gives me a lot of confidence that he will be able to perform his best on Derby Day.”The Riley Mott-trained duo of Albus (Yaupon) and Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) paddock schooled and galloped Friday and will work Saturday morning.Chief Wallabee (Constitution) is set to work Sunday or Monday and spent Friday also visiting the paddock and galloping for trainer Bill Mott.Saturday looks to be a busy work day with the Brad Cox trio of Commandment (Into Mischief), Fulleffort (Liam's Map) and Further Ado (Gun Runner) all scheduled to breeze in the morning after galloping Friday. Chip Honcho (Connect) will join that trio, as will Japan's Danon Bourbon (Maxfield) and Right to Party (Constitution). Prom Queen finishing five furlongs in :59.80.Splits: 12.20, 23.60, 47.80, 59.80/1:12.40 pic.twitter.com/ul6fgKG23V— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 24, 2026On the Kentucky Oaks front, six fillies put in breezes at Churchill Friday. The sextet was comprised of Always a Runner (Gun Runner) (four furlongs in :48.40 {48/92}), Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) (four furlongs in :47.40 {12/92}), Brooklyn Blonde (Gun Runner) (five furlongs in 1:01 {14/19}), Meaning (Gun Runner) (five furlongs 1:00 {5/19}), Paradise (Gun Runner) (four furlongs in :47.60 {15/92}) and Prom Queen (Quality Road) (five furlongs in :59.80 {4/19}).“I was able to get Jose Ortiz out to breeze her, who is going to ride her for the first time in the Kentucky Oaks, which I thought was a real positive,” Chad Brown said of Always a Runner. “He just loved the filly. Very smooth, and she galloped out well.”The post Friday Derby/Oaks Notes: Contenders Put In Final Drills, Busy Saturday Ahead appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.