A trio of New York-trained contenders for the Kentucky Derby will leave for Churchil Downs in top form after impressive workouts on April 25.

Wicked Strong, Samraat, and Uncle Sigh had their final classic preparations in New York at Belmont Park and Aqueduct.

Wicked Strong, the impressive winner of the G1 Wood Memorial, worked seven furlongs in 1:27.11 over the Belmont Park training track.

"It's always good to finish up a work like that," said trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

"It's for stamina, and it just keeps him from getting too nervous. I like the way he worked.

“A lot of things have to work out. He's got to handle the crowd, he's got to handle the track, he's got to handle all the other things that go with it.

“At least he's going there in a good frame of mind and in good condition. As far as how he's doing, I couldn't be happier."

Wicked Strong left New York for Louisville on Saturday night.

Jerkens said Wicked Strong would most likely blow out a quarter-mile through the stretch on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

"If he gallops out in 37 and change, that should be all he needs," he said.

A $375,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase, Wicked Strong has a 2-1-1 record in six starts with earnings of $704,610, for owner Centennial Farms.

Also working over the Belmont training track was Uncle Sigh, who went five furlongs in 1:00.19 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.19 and seven furlongs in 1:29.09.

"He came home shading 23 seconds; it was a very strong work," said trainer Gary Contessa.

"His last quarter-mile was effortless and it was exactly what I was looking for. He came back like he can't even blow out a match."

It was the second time Uncle Sigh worked in blinkers, which he will wear in the Derby.

"He's much more focused, he's rating kindly in behind horses," said Contessa.

“We've done our due diligence this last month and we've worked him where he has to come up through the rail. I don't see any hesitancy, and I always saw hesitancy without the blinkers. "

Like Wicked Strong, Uncle Sigh will also be vanned to Louisville on April 26.

"I might do something at Churchill. I'm thinking maybe Wednesday or Thursday just to let him air

"I didn't want to throw him into the fire down in Churchill right away and I think we're getting there far enough in advance that he'll be able to take it all in."

Uncle Sigh, sold at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of preferred New York-bred yearlings for $270,000, comes into the Derby off a troubled fifth-place effort in the Wood Memorial.

Previously, the colt had consecutive runner-up finishes in the Withers and Gotham Stakes, both G3.

Also working toward the Derby at Aqueduct was Samraat, the Wood Memorial runner-up who breezed a mile in 1:45.91.

"I really didn't want him to go too fast," said trainer Rick Violette.

"We just wanted to get it done. Time was only important if he went too fast, and he didn't. He went great."

Samraat won the first five races of his career, including the Withers and Gotham, before finishing second in the Wood Memorial.

"We have eight days to the Derby with a travel day," Violette said.

"We'll let him be happy and recharge his batteries. He'll have a light week.

“I think it's a wide open race. California Chrome is the target and the favorite, but there are going to be 19 horses to beat.

“Ä good trip, a little bit of luck here or there and a good horse to win."