Bob Baffert

Avalon Farms’ Buckleupbuttercup got up in the final strides to win the 26^th running of the $167,400 Chilukki (Grade II) for fillies and mares by a head over May Day Rose to complete Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships day card at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Eddie Kenneally and ridden by Javier Castellano, Buckleupbuttercup ran the mile on a fast main track in 1:37.03.

A 4-year-old homebred daughter of Najran out of the Conquistador Cielo mare Golden Borders, Buckleupbuttercup remained perfect in four starts at Churchill Downs, a run that includes a victory in the Eight Belles (GIII) in 2010.

The victory was worth $99,638 and increased Buckleupbuttercup’s bankroll to $334,629 with a record of 15-7-3-1.

Buckleupbuttercup returned $10.60, $5.20 and $3.60. May Day Rose, ridden by Martin Garcia, returned $4.80 and $3.60 with Maristar finishing a length back in third under Rajiv Maragh and paying $3.20.

Persuading finished fourth another half-length back and was followed in order by Ailalea, Absinthe Minded, Freedom Star and Anunciata (PER).

Earlier on the card, Craig Singer’s Salty Strike cruised to a four-length victory over favored Dancinginherdreams in the second running of the $87,700 Dream Supreme for 3-year-old fillies.

Salty Strike, a homebred daughter of Smart Strike out of the Salt Lake mare Lake Huron, covered the six furlongs on a main track rated as good in 1:10.10. It was the second Churchill Downs stakes victory for Salty Strike, who had won the Dogwood (GIII) here in June.

The victory was worth $52,201 and increased Salty Strike’s earnings to $219,145 with a record of 11-4-1-1 with all four victories coming at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Ken McPeek and ridden by Edgar Prado, Salty Strike returned $6.60, $3.40 and $3. Dancinginherdreams, ridden by Julien Leparoux, returned $2.80 and $2.40 with Garnet Crystals, ridden by Castellano, paying $5 to show.

Racing continues Sunday with an 11-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m. (ET). Highlighting the card will be the 26^th running of the Cardinal Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course. Post time for the Cardinal, the 10^th race on the program, is 5:15 p.m.

ASTROLOGY/NEHRO – The two possible Preakness contenders in the Churchill Downs barn of trainer Steve Asmussen turned in easy half-mile works over a sloppy and sealed track on Monday morning.

            Stonestreet Stable and George Bolton’s Iroquois (GIII) winner Astrology covered the distance in :51.60 just after the track opened for training at 6 a.m. (EDT).  Zayat Stable’s Nehro, the runner-up to Animal Kingdom in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), breezed a short time later and was timed in :50.80 for his half-mile.  Carlos Rosas was in the saddle for both works.

            Astrology, considered a definite starter in the second jewel of the Triple Crown, completed his work in fractional times of :14.40, :27.40 and :39.40 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:06.20.

            “He went over the track very well, very handy,” Asmussen said.  “There were concerns about an awfully wet race track this morning, but he handled it well and went over it well.”

            Nehro, who continues to be listed as “possible” for the Preakness, was timed in :12.80, :25.40 and :37.80, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:05.20.

            Owner Ahmed Zayat was at Churchill Downs to view the work.

            “We’ll just evaluate how he’s doing, how he comes out of the race and how he’s acting,” Asmussen said of Nehro’s possible Preakness bid.  “I thought he went over the race track well (this morning) and traveled good.”

            Nehro’s runner-up finish in the Kentucky Derby was his third race in six weeks, with second-place runs in the Louisiana Derby (GII) and Arkansas Derby (GI) prior to his run at Churchill Downs.

            Asmussen said a decision on a Preakness run would be made on Tuesday.  The flights that will carry horses from Churchill Downs to Baltimore for Saturday’s race at Pimlico leave Wednesday. 

            “He’s done a lot over a short period of time,” Asmussen said.  “I think you’re trying to evaluate the runs, the races themselves and how he’s doing, while also trying to weigh the opportunity that is ahead of you.”

            Mike Smith will ride Astrology in the Preakness.  Corey Nakatani was aboard Nehro in his runner-up efforts in the Kentucky Derby and Arkansas Derby.

MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE – Arnold Zetcher’s Midnight Interlude worked a brisk three furlongs in :35.60 after the morning renovation break over a sloppy track with Peter Hutton in the irons.

            Working on his own, the 16^th-place finisher in Kentucky Derby 137 posted a first furlong fraction of :12 and then gallop-out times of :48.60 and 1:02.80 before pulling up at the track kitchen by the half-mile pole.

            “He acted like he got into his work this morning,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “The track was a little greasy this morning and we haven’t had the best of luck with him here catching fast tracks for works.

            “After what I saw today, we are going to the Preakness. I feel pretty good about him. I think he is better now than he was before the Derby. He never really ran in the Derby; he just laid a big goose egg.”

            Midnight Interlude broke from the 15 hole for the Kentucky Derby and Baffert feels the post position draw will be key for his horse in a 14-horse Preakness field.

            “He was stuck outside in the Derby,” Baffert said. “His Santa Anita Derby (G1) was a good race, and if he runs back to that, he’s right in the mix (in the Preakness).”

            For Baffert, a five-time Preakness winner including last year with Lookin At Lucky, there is no question of who the horse to beat in Saturday’s Preakness is.

            “Animal Kingdom is definitely the horse to beat,” Baffert said. “He was the best horse in the Derby, no question.”

            Baffert also trains Peachtree Stable’s Plum Pretty, winner of the Kentucky Oaks (GI) here on May 6. Baffert said no decision has been made on the filly’s next start.

BARN TALK – Four other Preakness probables housed at Churchill Downs had routine mornings on Monday.

            The Estate of Edward P. Evans’ Dance City jogged a little more than a mile before the renovation break; Robert LaPenta’s Dialed In galloped a mile and a half under Stacy Prior a little after 7 o’clock; Michael Lauffer and W.D. Cubbedge’s Shackleford, the Kentucky Derby pacesetter, jogged two miles after the renovation break under exercise rider Faustino Ramos; and, Batman Stable, Philip Lebherz, Cindy Olsen, Janet Sharp and Glen Wallace et al’s Sway Away walked the shedrow.

One horse that would need several defections by horses under consideration for the Preakness to make the field, Robert Baker and William Mack’s Saratoga Red, walked a day after working five furlongs in 1:02.80.

Arnold Zetcher’s Always a Princess, wire-to-wire winner of the Indiana Oaks (GII) in her most recent start, headlines a competitive field of 12 fillies and mares entered for the 25th running of the $150,000-added Chilukki (GII), the highlight of the undercard of Breeders’ Cup World Championships competition on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The Chilukki, run at one mile on the main track, will go as the third race on Saturday’s 11-race program that begins at 12:05 p.m. (all times Eastern). Post time for the Chilukki is 1:15 p.m. and serves as the lead-in to eight Breeders’ Cup World Championship races.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Always a Princess is one of five graded stakes winner in the field for the Chilukki, which was won last year by Malibu Prayer. Malibu Prayer was nominated to the Chilukki, but will be occupied on Friday with an engagement in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI).

Always A Princess is unbeaten in two starts as a 3-year-old after showing much promise at two with a runner-up finish in the Oak Leaf (GI) over the synthetic Pro-Ride course at Oak Tree at Santa Anita and a fifth-place run behind She Be Wild in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) over the same track.  She returned to competition with an allowance victory over older rivals at Del Mar in early September and then shipped to Hoosier Park to score her first stakes victory in the Indiana Oaks.

Martin Garcia, who was aboard for the Indiana Oaks win, has the call Saturday on Always a Princess, a solid 5-2 favorite in Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia’s morning line odds.  The daughter of Leroidesanimaux will break from post position three and carry top weight of 119 pounds.

Other major players in the Chilukki include the Doug O’Neill-trained California invader Emmy Darling, fifth to Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) favorite Zenyatta in the Ladies Secret (GI) at Oak Tree at Hollywood Park.  Rafael Bejarano will ride the daughter of Graeme Hall, who is the 5-1 second choice in the race.

Ike and Dawn Thrash’s Third Dawn also travelled from California for the Chilukki for trainer John Sadler.  The 4-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa makes just her third start of the year and has not run since a good third-place finish in the Milady Handicap (GII) at Hollywood Park in May.  Calvin Borel will ride Third Dawn, who is the 6-1 third choice in Saturday’s race.

The field for the Chilukki, from the rail out, is as follows: First Passage (Garrett Gomez, 118 pounds), Bronx City Girl (Julien Leparoux, 115), Always a Princess (Garcia, 119), Direct Line (Tony Farina, 118), Emmy Darling (Bejarano, 118), Taste’s Sis (Larry Sterling Jr., 118), Be Fair (Rajiv Maragh, 118), Distinctive Dixie (Robby Albarado, 118), Third Dawn (Borel, 118), Devil by Design (Kent Desormeaux, 118), Double Espresso (Leandro Goncalves, 118) and Alpha Kitten (Joel Rosario, 118).

One race prior to the Chilukki will be the $85,000-added Dream Supreme, an overnight stakes event for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the main track. Post time for the Dream Supreme is the 12:35 p.m.

Heading the field of 11 is the Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable’s Rapport, wire-to-wire winner of the six-furlong Victory Ride (GIII) at Saratoga in August.   The daughter of Songandaprayer is coming off a disappointing sixth-place run behind Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint contender My Jen in the Gallant Bloom (GI) at Belmont Park.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Rapport is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the Dream Supreme.  She will break from the rail under Martin Garcia and carry top weight of 122 pounds.

Aclose second choice in the Dream Supreme at 3-1 is Gem Inc.’s Nicole H, a 10 ½-length winner in a six-furlong allowance race at Belmont Park in her most recent start.  Ramon Dominguez will ride the daughter of Mr. Greeley, who is trained by Michael Hushion.

Other contenders include Wertheimer and Frere’s Happy Week (6-1), a daughter of Distorted Humor trained by Todd Pletcher, and Westrock Stable’s Tidal Pool (10-1), the third-place finisher to Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic favorite Blind Luck in the Kentucky Oaks (GI).  John Velazquez will ride Happy Week, while Mike Smith has the call on Tidal Pool.

The field for the Dream Supreme, from the rail out, is as follows: Rapport (Garcia, 122 pounds), Nicole H (Dominguez, 116), Helen Belen (Robby Albarado, 116), Storming Suzy (Freddie Lenclud, 116), Wildcat Heiress (Corey Lanerie, 116), Aegean (Joel Rosario, 116), Tidal Pool (Smith, 116), Lou’s Angel (John McKee, 116), Happy Week (John Velazquez, 116), Fuzzy Britches (Calvin Borel, 116) and Magnificent Mia (Javier Castellano, 116).

John Sikura and Stetson Land and Cattle’s Spun Silver surged to the lead in the upper stretch and drew off to a 1 ½-length victory over Beyondallboundarys to take Thursday’s featured $49,600 Ingredient Resource Corporation Classic at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, Spun Silver covered the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.32 over a fast main track. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Grand Slam, Spun Silver increased her record to 4-2-1-0 and hiked her bankroll to $66,520 with Thursday’s $30,000 winner’s check.

Second choice in the field of seven fillies, Spun Silver returned mutuels of $7, $4.60 and $3.60. Beyondallboundarys, ridden by Leandro Goncalves, returned $5.80 and $4.40 with Elusive Jozi, ridden by Robby Albarado, finishing third and paying $3 to show.

Racing resumes Friday with an 11-race program that begins at 2:45 p.m. (EDT).

ROMANS DUO COMPLETES CHURCHILL PREPARATIONS FOR PREAKNESS – Routine gallops were the order of the day on Tuesday for a pair of Preakness contenders trained by Louisville native Dale Romans, who is looking forward to saddling his double-barreled bid for a first victory in a Triple Crown classic.

Donegal Racing’s Paddy O’Prado, third to Super Saver in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), will be joined in the starting gate on Saturday by stablemate First Dude, Donald Dizney’s third-place finisher behind Stately Victor and Paddy O’Prado in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (GI) at Keeneland on April 10.

Paddy O’ Prado will enter the Preakness without a work between the Kentucky Derby and Saturday’s race in Baltimore.  Beaten Kentucky Derby favorite Lookin At Lucky, sixth in the ruggedly-run race, also heads to Pimlico Race Course without a work between races.

“He didn’t need to work,” Romans said of his gray colt.  “If’s he not fit now, a half-mile work is not going to do him much good.”

Romans was relieved that First Dude finally seemed assured of a spot in the starting gate in Saturday’s Preakness.  Earlier in the week, it appeared that the 1 3/16-mile second jewel of the Triple Crown could attract an overflow field and Romans’ imposing bay son of Stephen Got Even could be left on the outside looking in.

“I wanted to run him in the Derby,” said Romans.  “I think he’ll run good.”

The trainer’s confidence in First Dude was boosted on Sunday when the Nick Zito-trained Fly Down, who has handed First Dude a pair of narrow defeats at Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park, scored a runaway victory in Sunday’s Dwyer (GII) at Belmont Park.  First Dude has a record of 1-3-1 in six career races.

“He’s a nice horse,” said Romans of First Dude.  “He’s a big, strong colt and he’s run with some of the best.  Fly Down just beat him twice and came back and crushed ‘em in the Dwyer.  We just think a lot of him.”

There is a potential for rain at Pimlico over the next few days, but Romans said track condition should be of little concern to his Preakness hopes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 “It shouldn’t bother either one of them,” he said.  “I think both of them will run on anything.  Paddy’s already proven that by running well on grass, Poly[track] and mud.  I don’t see why running on a fast track would be any different.”

SUPER SAVER WELL ON EVE OF JOURNEY TO BALTIMORE, NO PREAKNESS FOR MISSION IMPAZIBLE – WinStar Farm’s Super Saver, winner of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), was reported to be doing well on the morning after Monday’s Churchill Downs workout that completed his serious training for Saturday’s 135th running of the Preakness (GI), the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
The son of Maria’s Mon worked three furlongs in :36.60 over a fast track under regular jockey Calvin Borel on Monday.  Mike McCarthy, the assistant who oversees Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher’s stable at Churchill Downs, said Super Saver was doing well Tuesday morning.

Pletcher will be represented in the Preakness by Super Saver and Dogwood Stable’s Aikenite, runner-up in the $200,000 The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GII) on April 24 at Churchill Downs.  Both horses are scheduled to fly from Louisville to Baltimore at midday on Wednesday.

Pletcher confirmed via text message that Twin Creeks Racing Stable’s Mission Impazible, the ninth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, would not travel to Baltimore to compete in the Preakness.  He said the next start for the winner of the Louisiana Derby (GII) at Fair Grounds has not been determined.

The Pletcher duo and other Preakness contenders on the grounds at Churchill Downs are schedule to board vans at the Pletcher barn for the brief journey to Louisville International Airport around 11:30 a.m. (all times EDT).  The Sutton Forwarding Co. flight that will carry the horses to Baltimore is set to depart from Louisville at noon.

LOOKIN AT LUCKY GALLOPS, GARCIA NOW DEFINITE FOR PREAKNESS RIDE – Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman’s Lookin At Lucky, a troubled sixth in the Kentucky Derby and America’s reigning 2-year-old champion, galloped at Churchill Downs on Tuesday, the eve of the colt’s departure for Baltimore to run in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

Trainer Bob Baffert said all was well with the 3-year-old son of Smart Strike, who will bid to provide the three-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer with his fifth victory in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.  Baffert notched earlier wins in the 1 3/16-mile classic with Kentucky Derby winners Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (’98) and War Emblem (2002), and with Point Given, who also won the Belmont Stakes in 2001 after a fifth-place finish as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby.

Baffert said 26-year-old Martin Garcia is confirmed to ride Lookin At Lucky in the Preakness.  It will be the first Preakness ride for Garcia, who will replace Garrett Gomez in the saddle after Lookin At Lucky endured troubled journeys in the Santa Anita Derby (GI), where he finished third, and the “Run for the Roses.”  
The trainer consulted with several more experienced riders who were available to ride in the Preakness, but decided to go with Garcia.

The thing with Martin is that he’s been on him – he’s worked him a lot,” Baffert said.  “And he wins for me.”
Baffert has said that his decision to replace Gomez is not a reflection on the rider’s talent, but an effort to reverse the recent run of bad luck for the horse.

LUKAS LEAVES EARLY WITH DUBLIN, NORTHERN GIANT – Hall of Fame trainer and five-time Preakness winner D. Wayne Lukas decided against a plane ride to Baltimore on Wednesday for his pair of Preakness contenders, who boarded a van Tuesday morning for the overland trip to Pimlico Race Course.

Robert Baker and William Mack’s Dublin, seventh in the Kentucky Derby for Lukas, completed his major preparation for the Preakness with a half-mile work on Monday in 48.40.  Also on the van on Tuesday was Westrock Stables’ Northern Giant., who had breezed three furlongs on Monday at Churchill Downs in :36.40.

Westrock’s Tidal Pool, a game third behind Blind Luck in the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI), was also on the van to Pimlico to run in Friday’s $175,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (GII) for 3-year-old fillies.  The Lukas-trained Yankee Gentleman filly is the morning line favorite in a field of nine and will be ridden by Calvin Borel.

 SUTTON FLIGHT TO CARRY 10 PREAKNESS HOPES TO BALTIMORE – Wednesday’s Sutton Forwarding Co. flight from Louisville to Baltimore for Saturday’s Preakness will carry 10 Preakness contenders to Pimlico – including eight that have been training at Churchill Downs.

The noon flight will carry the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and Aikenite; Lookin At Lucky; the Dale Romans duo of Paddy O’Prado and First Dude; the Nick Zito-trained Jackson Bend, who finished 12th in the Derby; and Hurricane Ike, winner of The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial.

The flight will originate in Ontario, Cal. and Preakness contender Caracortado will board the plane there.  Joining the group of Preakness hopes in Louisville will be Florida Derby (GI) runner-up Pleasant Prince, who has been training at Keeneland for Wesley Ward since his third-place run in The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial.

Also boarding the plane in Louisville will be Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Blame, the Al Stall, Jr.-trained winner of last fall’s Clark Handicap (GII) who is scheduled to make his 4-year-old in the Schaefer Handicap (GIII) at Pimlico on Preakness Day.  He has been preparing his 2010 debut at Keeneland.

WORK TAB (Track: WET FAST) – Aspire, runner-up in the 2009 Hopeful (GI) and third in the Champagne (GI), breezed five furlongs for trainer Eddie Kenneally in 1:00.60 – the fastest of 16 moves at the distance. … veteran sprinter Euroears breezed a half-mile in :48 … John Battaglia Memorial winner Vow to Wager breezed a half-mile in :50 … Iroquois (GIII) winner Thiskyhasnolimit breezed four furlongs for trainer Steve Asmussen in :50.80.

FIRST DUDE WORKS BULLET FIVE-EIGHTHS FOR PREAKNESS – Donald Dizney’s First Dude punched his ticket to Baltimore with a bullet, five-furlong work in 1:00.60 under Tammy Fox after the morning renovation break.

Churchill Downs clockers caught the son of Stephen Got Even in fractions of :11.60, :23.40, :35.20, :47.60 and out six furlongs in 1:14.80. First Dude started his work at the half-mile pole and went to the seven-eighths pole.

“I was very pleased with the work. It’s on to the Preakness,” trainer Dale Romans said. “I got him in 1:01.”

The move, accomplished over a track labeled as fast, was the best of 13 at the distance. It was First Dude’s second bullet work since finished third in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes on April 10. First Dude had worked five furlongs over a muddy track in 1:00.80 on April 26, the best of 26 at the distance that day.

"If he had thrown in a clunker today, he would not have gone,” Romans said. “But he never has thrown one in and I didn’t expect him to this morning.”

Romans’ other Preakness probable, third-place Kentucky Derby finisher Paddy O’Prado, galloped a mile and a half after First Dude’s work. Paddy O’Prado is owned by Donegal Racing.

PLETCHER LIKES WHAT HE SEES OF SUPER SAVER – MONDAY WORK LIKELY – WinStar Farm’s Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver galloped a mile and an eighth early on a cool, brisk Saturday morning with exercise rider Kevin Willey aboard.

Trainer Todd Pletcher viewed the morning exercise from the frontside of the track.

He galloped really, really well,” said Pletcher, who arrived in Louisville Friday night and was seeing the Derby winner on the track for the first time since his triumph in last Saturday’s Run for the Roses.

“His energy level is very good and he has rebounded quickly. You always hope for that coming back in two weeks.”

Super Saver, who gave jockey Calvin Borel his third Kentucky Derby victory in the past four years, may work Monday.

“Right now, I am leaning toward working him,” Pletcher said. “I want to see how he gallops tomorrow, but most likely it will be an easy half-mile.”

Pletcher’s other Preakness probable, Dogwood Stable’s Aikenite, galloped a mile and three-eighths under Willey.

“He will work five-eighths in company in the morning,” Pletcher said of the Grade 3 Derby Trial runner-up. “He is training well and doing well.”

NOTE: Pletcher will have a meeting with the media this afternoon at 5:15 (EDT) in the Churchill Downs paddock.

LOOKIN AT LUCKY GALLOPS TOWARD POSSIBLE PREAKNESS BID – Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman’s Lookin At Lucky galloped a mile and a half after the renovation break under exercise rider Peter Hutton.

Trainer Bob Baffert has yet to make a firm decision on Lookin At Lucky’s Preakness participation but said Saturday morning, “I’ll know by Monday, but he’s 52 percent (to go) today.”

Baffert also addressed the rumor mill surrounding jockey Garrett Gomez, who has been aboard Lookin At Lucky in all nine of his starts.

"I am still not sure if I am going to run and if I don’t run, I don’t need to make a switch,” Baffert said. “There are a lot of rumors out there. What happened is I told Martin Garcia’s agent (Jim Pegram) not to do anything for Preakness Day because I might have other horses running there that day.”

Tne horse Baffert is considering taking to Pimlico is Quiet Invader, who is nominated to the Chick Lang Stakes. The colt is also nominated to the Matt Winn to be run at Churchill Downs the same day and Garcia has ridden Quiet Invader in all five of his starts.

BARN TALK – Robert LaPenta’s Ice Box, runner-up in last Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, left by van for Saratoga on Friday afternoon. Trained by Nick Zito, Ice Box is being pointed to the June 5 Belmont Stakes (GI). …

Ice Box’s stablemate, 12th-place Kentucky Derby finisher Jackson Bend, galloped a mile and three-eighths under Stacy Prior before the renovation break Saturday morning as he moved toward a possible Preakness start.

Other Preakness prospects on the grounds included Hurricane Ike galloping a mile and a half before the break and Yawanna Twist galloping the same distance under Michelle Nevin after the break. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ two Preakness hopefuls, Dublin and Northern Giant, galloped before the break under Arielle Witkowski.

The Lukas duo is scheduled to work Sunday or Monday and Hurricane Ike is penciled in for a seven-furlong work Monday.

WORK TAB (Track: GOOD prior to the maintenance break, FAST afterward ) – Count Fleet (GIII) and Mr. Prospector (GIII) winner Custom for Carlos breezed a half-mile in :50 over a “fast” track for trainer Eddie Kenneally.

CONVEYANCE REMOVED FROM PREAKNESS CONSIDERATION – Three-time Kentucky Derby (GI)-winning trainer Bob Baffert reduced his list of Preakness prospects in half Friday morning by declaring Zabeel Racing International’s Southwest Stakes (GIII) winner Conveyance out of the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

“He’s not going,” Baffert said of the Kentucky Derby pacesetter who finished 15th in the mile and a quarter classic. “The plan now for Conveyance is to win a stake somewhere in the country with him.”
Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman’s Lookin At Lucky, the Kentucky Derby favorite who finished sixth behind Super Saver, galloped a mile and a half after the renovation break under Peter Hutton.

"I am just taking it day by day with him,” said Baffert, who has won the Preakness four times. “He is still 51 percent (to go).”

In addition to Lookin At Lucky, eight other horses eyeing the Preakness galloped Friday morning at Churchill Downs.

Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, owned by WinStar Farm, galloped a mile and a sixteenth under Kevin Willey. Dogwood Stable’s Aikenite galloped a mile and three-eighths under Willey and is scheduled to work Sunday. Both colts are trained by Todd Pletcher.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ two Preakness prospects, Robert Baker and William Mack’s Dublin and Westrock Stables’ Northern Giant, galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break with Arielle Witkowski handling both colts. Lukas plans to work both horses Sunday or Monday.

Donegal Racing’s Paddy O’Prado, third in the Kentucky Derby, and Donald Dizney’s First Dude each galloped 1 ½ miles for trainer Dale Romans. First Dude is scheduled to work Saturday morning with Tammy Fox in the saddle.

Robert LaPenta and Jack or Better Farm’s Jackson Bend, 12th in the Kentucky Derby, galloped a mile and three-eighths under Stacy Prior and Ike and Dawn Thrash’s Hurricane Ike, winner of The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII) on April 24, galloped a mile and a half shortly after the track opened at 6 a.m. Hurricane Ike is scheduled to work Monday.

APPRENTICE LENCLUD BAGS THURSDAY TRIPLE – Apprentice jockey Freddie Lenclud had an idea Thursday could be a good day at Churchill Downs.

"In the morning, I was looking at the paper and it looked like I had a couple of shots,” said Lenclud, a 23-year-old native of Lamdrecis, France. “I told my agent (Doc Danner) that three or four was a good number and he was laughing.”

When the day was done, Lenclud had three winners from seven mounts and became the first apprentice to win three races in a day at Churchill Downs since Julien Leparoux in the spring of 2006 when he won at least three races 11 times.

"To win three at Churchill Downs, that’s pretty good,” said Lenclud, who posted his first North American victory last July at Ellis Park. Lenclud rode 24 winners at the 2010 Oaklawn Park meeting, good for seventh in the rider standings, and rode five winners last month at Keeneland, good for a tie for ninth in a star-studded jockey colony.

“I’m not sure about the last time an apprentice rode three, but I am sure glad he did it yesterday,” said Danner, “because everybody was watching Churchill Downs.”

With a $947,641 Pick 6 carryover and a pool in the multiple-race wager that grew to $4,086,255, plenty of eyes were on Churchill Downs and two of Lenclud’s winners came in the Pick 6 sequence:  Dabossman ($10.40) in the sixth and Quiet by Seven ($5.80) in the seventh. The latter victory on the Matt Winn Turf Course was for trainer Michelle Nihei.

"I like a lot of things about him,” Nihei said of Lenclud, whom she uses often. “He works hard. He shows up in the mornings and I feel very confident that he knows the horses.

“He tries hard and he’s hungry. He works to get it done. He’s very patient and I think he’s got a little bit of ice in his veins and that’s important.”

IROQUOIS WINNER THISKYHASNOLIMIT HEADS NOMNEES TO MAY 15 MATT WINN – Cathy and Bob Zollars and Mark Wagner’s Thiskyhasnolimit, winner of last fall’s Iroquois (GIII) beneath the Twins Spires, heads a list of 20 nominations for the ninth running of the Matt Winn.

Scheduled for May 15, the $100,000-added Matt Winn is a seven-furlong sprint on the main track for 3-year-olds that was won last year by Capt. Candyman Can.

Idle since finishing sixth as the favorite in last year’s Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) that was won by Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, Thiskyhasnolimit is trained by Steve Asmussen. Asmussen has won the Matt Winn twice, scoring with Posse in 2003 and Razor in 2005.

Among the other stakes winners nominated to the Matt Winn training on the grounds are Robert and Lawana Low and Winmore LLC’s Cool Bullet and Donegal Racing’s Vow to Wager.

Cool Bullet, trained by Steve Margolis, won the Sugar Bowl this winter at Fair Grounds and in his most recent start won the Hansel at Turfway Park. Vow to Wager, trained by two-time Matt Winn winner Dale Romans, won the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park in February via disqualification and ran second to Stay Put in an optional claiming race that opened the Kentucky Derby Day card.

Trainer John Sadler, who saddled Hurricane Ike to win the opening-day The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII), is pointing C R K Stable’s Privilaged to the Matt Winn. Privilaged ran third last out in the seven-furlong Swale (GII) at Gulfstream.

Entries for the Matt Winn will be taken Wednesday.

BARN TALK – Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel will be the Spring Meet’s first guest for “Get in the Game with Jill Byrne,” a regular Saturday interview and handicapping seminar hosted by the Churchill Downs racing analyst.

Saturday’s seminar is set for at 11:45 a.m. (EDT)  in the paddock.

Jill Baffert and Lynn Jacobs’ Kimmyv repulsed a challenge from Millennia at the head of the stretch and then drew off to a 6 ¼-length victory in Thursday’s $47,500 allowance feature for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs.

    Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, Kimmvy assumed command after a quarter-mile in :22.77, maintained a daylight advantage to the top of the stretch and then shrugged off a bid from Millennia to score her third victory in three starts in 2010.
    
    Kimmyv, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of El Corredor, covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:23.76. The victory was worth $30,000 and increased Kimmyv’s earnings to $82,400 with a record of 6-4-1-1.

    As the favorite in the field of seven, Kimmyv returned $3.80, $2.40 and $2.20. Millennia, ridden by Robby Albarado, returned $3.40 and $2.80 with Concert finishing third two lengths back in third under Corey Lanerie and paying $3.60 to show.

The Pick 6, which requires bettors to select the winners of races five through 10, was hit Thursday after being unsolved for the first six days of the meet. There were 134 perfect tickets (11 at Churchill Downs) resulting in a $21,317.80 payoff. The day began with a $947,641 carryover and another $3,138,615 was bet into the pool.

The Super Hi-5, which requires bettors to select the first five finishers in order, also was hit after a six-day carryover with a payoff of $30,912.10 to each of the 20 winning tickets, including one on-track.

Racing continues Friday with a 10-race program with first post time at 2:45 p.m. (EDT).

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will host the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on Saturday, May 1 and the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, April 30. The track will conduct its 2010 Spring Meet from Saturday, April 24 through Sunday, July 4. Churchill Downs is scheduled to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on Nov. 5 and 6, 2010. Churchill Downs tickets are available at Tickets.ChurchillDowns.com or by calling (502) 636-4400. Additional information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at ChurchillDowns.com.

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BAFFERT DERBY DUO, DUBLIN RETURN TO THE TRACK – Kentucky Derby favorite Lookin At Lucky and stablemate Conveyance were back on the track Thursday morning for the first time since last Saturday’s “Run for the Roses” with both colts galloping 1 ½ miles after the renovation break under Peter Hutton.

`“He looks good,” trainer Bob Baffert said of Lookin At Lucky, who finished sixth as the tepid favorite in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands.  “He’s got a swagger to him. They both looked good.”

Throughout the week, Baffert had called Preakness participation for both colts a “50-50” proposition. That changed a tiny bit Thursday morning.

“He’s 51,” Baffert said of Lookin At Lucky, owned by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman. “This one (Conveyance, owned by Zabeel Racing International) is 50.”

Also returning to the track for the first time since Saturday’s Derby was Robert Baker and William Mack’s Dublin.  The son of Afleet Alex jogged a mile shortly after 6 o’clock under exercise rider Arielle Witkowski.

“He’s doing excellent; sharp as a tack,” trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “You’d never know he ran.”

Dublin, who ran seventh in the Kentucky Derby, is scheduled to van to Pimlico on Tuesday where he will attempt to give Lukas a sixth Preakness victory.

Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, owned by WinStar Farm, jogged a mile for the second consecutive day under exercise rider Kevin Willey.

Other Thursday morning activity for Churchill Downs-based Preakness hopefuls included Dogwood Stable’s Aikenite galloping 1 ¼ miles, Robert LaPenta and Jacks or Better Farm’s Jackson Bend galloping a mile and a quarter, Ike and Dawn Thrash’s The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII) winner Hurricane Ike jogging a mile and the Dale Romans-trained duo of Donegal Racing’s Paddy O’Prado and Donald Dizney’s First Dude galloping a mile and a half each.

PURE CLAN HEADED TO ROOD & RIDDLE – What was supposed to be a routine work day turned out to be anything but that when Lewis Lakin’s star turf mare Pure Clan demonstrated that she wanted no part of a scheduled five-furlong work under regular exercise rider Steve Schmelzel.

“She didn’t want to work,” trainer Bob Holthus said. “There is possibly something wrong with her left front foot and we are going to try to get her in today at Rood & Riddle (clinic in Lexington).”

Pure Clan has not raced since finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) last November at Santa Anita.

“She bruised the bottom of her feet when she was turned out, just like last year,” Holthus said. “Physically, she has filled out a lot.”

Holthus was plotting a 2010 campaign similar to that of 2009 when Pure Clan began the year in the Early Times Mint Julep (GIII) at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course and concluded with a Breeders’ Cup run.

“If she runs five times and as good as she did last year, I’ll be happy,” said Holthus, who counts Pure Clan among the best horses he has trained in the company with Proper Reality and Lawyer Ron.

In three seasons of racing, Pure Clan has compiled a record of 8-4-3 in 16 races with earnings of $1,987,498. Included in that record are Grade I victories in the American Oaks Invitational and Flower Bowl and three graded stakes triumphs at Churchill Downs.

RAVI’S SONG RETURNS WITH STYLISH VICTORY-- If one wants to draw a smile from trainer Carl Bowman, just mention Ravi’s Song.

The smiles have been plentiful since last Friday when Ravi’s Song returned to the races after a 7 ½-month layoff because of an injury. Ridden by Francisco Torres, Ravi’s Song swept past seven rivals in the stretch to win a seven-furlong allowance test by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:22.85.

“She was pretty impressive, wasn’t she,” Bowman said. “She just has an incredible turn of foot and when she kicks it in, wow!”

The 4-year-old filly by Unbridled’s Song is a daughter of Lu Ravi, who was trained by Bowman. A five-time graded stakes winner and three-time runner-up in Grade I races, Lu Ravi compiled a record of 26-11-8-3 in five years of racing for earnings of $1,819,781.

Lu Ravi’s best running came in routes and Bowman expects the same from Ravi’s Song.

“She is much better going two turns,” Bowman said. “I would prefer to find a non-winners of three other than going a mile and a sixteenth and after that look at stakes. I don’t like grass and I don’t like synthetics, so she will stay on dirt.”

SELVA HEADS FIELD OF EIGHT FILLIES AND MARES FOR SATURDAY’S UNBRIDLED SIDNEY – Helen Alexander and Helen Groves’ Selva, winner of the 2009 Mardi Gras on turf at Fair Grounds and runner-up in her 2010 debut in the Bienville on grass, tops a field of eight fillies and mares entered for Saturday’s $62,000-added Unbridled Sidney at five furlongs on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

Trained by David Carroll, Selva will be ridden by Robby Albarado, who was aboard for the Mardi Gras triumph.

The field for the Unbridled Sidney, from the hedge out, is Ivory Empress (Julien Leparoux, 118 pounds), Knockout Bertie (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118), Tirbracken Lily (Leandro Goncalves, 112), Pina Colada (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118), Selva (Robby Albarado, 118), Trusty Temper (Corey Nakatani, 118), Valentine Fever (Francisco Torres, 118) and Candy Cane (Garrett Gomez, 118).

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – Miner’s Reserve, seventh in The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial for trainer Nick Zito, breezed four furlongs in :49.40 … (Turf: FIRM – dogs up) –  Veteran turf star Silverfoot breezed four furlongs on turf in :50.20.  Trainer Dallas Stewart’s three-time winner of the Louisville Handicap (GIII) is now 10 years old … Regret (GIII) winner and Mrs. Revere (GII) runner-up Keertana breezed three furlongs on turf in :36 for trainer Tom Proctor.

FLORIDA / BUDDY’S SAINT MAKES 2010 BOW IN FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH – An important weekend of preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) offers opportunities to view intriguing contenders in several locations, but few of those 3-year-olds will attract more scrutiny than Buddy’s Saint.

The impressive winner of last fall’s Remsen (GII) at Aqueduct makes his 2010 debut against nine rivals in Saturday’s  $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (GII) over 1 1/8 miles at Florida’s Gulfstream Park.

Regular jockey Jose Lezcano will be in the saddle for trainer Bruce Levine.  The son of Saint Liam, who also won Aqueduct’s Nashua by 14 lengths, will break from post two.

Major rivals to the favorite include Jackson Bend, a Nick Zito-trained winner of five-of-seven races who finished second in the Holy Bull (GIII) last out at Gulfstream; the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of Eskendereya and Aikenite; and Lost Aptitude, a Kentucky-based colt trained by Dale Romans who makes his debut on dirt following a narrow loss on grass in the Tropical Park Derby (GIII).   Zito also trains Ice Box, who is coming off a recent allowance win at the Fountain of Youth distance at the Florida track.

Also on Saturday’s Gulfstream Park card is the $150,000 Hutcheson (GII) at seven furlongs.  The race matches brother-against-brother as trainer Rick Dutrow, who saddled Big Brown to win the 2008 Kentucky Derby, sends Saratoga Special (GII) and Belmont Futurity (GII) winner D’Funnybone and British import Radiohead out to face younger sibling Tony Dutrow’s A Little Warm, winner of the Spectacular Bid (GIII) at Gulfstream Park.

A strong Gulfstream allowance race on Sunday has attracted potential Kentucky Derby contenders that include the Zito-trained Fly Down, Pletcher’s Colizeo and Romans’ First Dude.

In Wednesday, Padua Stables’ Odysseus stamped himself as a 3-year-old to watch when he crushed a field in an allowance race at Tampa Bay Downs by 15 lengths.  The Tom Albertrani-trained son of Malibu Moon could run next in the Tampa Bay Derby (GIII),

On the same day, Lentenor – the little brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro – finished second to the rail-skimming Doubles Partner in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race on the grass at Gulfstream Park.

"I thought he performed well,” said Lentenor’s trainer Michael Matz, who also trained Barbaro.  “He was a little immature and green down the stretch.  He just needs experience.”

SOUTH / LECOMTE WINNER RON THE GREEK TAKES ON TOUGH GROUP IN RISEN STAR – Ron the Greek, a stretch-running winner of the Lecomte (GIII) at New Orleans’ Fair Grounds, faces a group of invaders headed by highly regarded Florida shipper Drosselmeyer, the speedy Tempted to Tapit and stakes veteran Discreetly Mine in the 1 1/16 mile Risen Star (GII).

Jockey James Graham will be back aboard Ron the Greek, whose stiffest challenge could come from Drosselmeyer, a winner of back-to-back races at Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who is looking for his first Kentucky Derby victory.

Other major players include Stay Put, who brings a two-race winning streak into the Risen Star for Louisville, Ky.-based owners Richard, Elaine and Bert Klein and trainer Steve Margolis, and Hotep, a son of A.P. Indy owned by Canada’s famed Sam-Son Farm who scored a recent allowance victory for trainer Mark Frostad.  The latter is a brother to Eye of the Leopard, the winner of the 2009 Queen’s Plate, Canada’s equivalent to the Kentucky Derby.

DUBLIN GETS BETTER POST IN RE-DRAWN SOUTHWEST – The $250,000 Southwest Stakes (GIII) was postponed Monday because of icy conditions at Oaklawn Park, but all 10 horses originally entered in the one-mile race were back in the entry box when it was re-drawn on Thursday at the Hot Springs, Ark. track.

Dublin, trained by four-time Kentucky Derby winner D. Wayne Lukas, ended up in post three on Saturday after having drawn the outside post in the earlier version of the race.  Lukas’ colt won the Three Chimneys Hopeful (GI) at Saratoga and underwent throat surgery to correct a breathing problem after suffering back-to-back losses to end his 2-year-old season.

A trio of California invaders headed by the unbeaten Conveyance figure to be among Dublin’s chief rivals.  Conveyance won the San Rafael (GIII) over synthetic footing at Santa Anita and is perfect in three starts for three-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert.  He makes his debut on real dirt, as will Cardiff Giant and Domonation, the 2-3 San Rafael finishers.

Other major players include Smarty Jones winner Dryfly, who is trained by Lynn Whiting, who saddled Lil E. Tee to win the 1992 Kentucky Derby, and Kitty’s Turn, a flying third in the Smarty Jones after a poor start.

WEST / EL CAMINO REAL, TURF PARADISE DERBY ARE HEADLINERS – Trainer Todd Pletcher’s Connemara, an upset victim when he suffered his first career loss as the odds-on favorite in the California Derby, will attempt to make amends in Saturday’s $150,000 El Camino Real Derby at Northern California’s Golden Gate Fields.  Despite his runner-up finish in the earlier race, the son of Giant’s Causeway is the 2-1 favorite as he faces nine rivals under jockey Russell Baze.

Ranger Heartley, who defeated Connemara in the earlier race, is the 5-2 second choice.

Arizona native Bob Baffert has shipped Indian Firewater to Turf Paradise in Phoenix for the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby at 1 1/16 miles.  The son of Indian Charlie is coming off a runner-up finish to stablemate The Program in a Santa Anita allowance race.

DERBY 136 NOTES: South African-based 4-year-old Musir defeated Godolphin’s Kentucky Derby-nominated 3-year-old Frozen Power in the UAE 2000 Guineas on Thursday at Dubai’s Meydan Race Course … The Courier-Journal’s Jennie Rees reports that Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s William’s Kitten, a wagering interest in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, is off the Kentucky Derby Trail after suffering a minor ankle injury during a workout at Gulfstream Park.