Regal Ransom

REGAL RANSOM RETURNS TO ‘SECOND HOME’ FOR FOSTER BID - Godolphin Racing LLC’s Regal Ransom, a multiple graded stakes winner of more than $1.8 million who will run in Saturday’s  $500,000-added Stephen Foster Presented by Abu Dhabi (Grade I), arrived at Churchill Downs on Monday and has settled into familiar surroundings in Barn 41.

"This is the fourth time he (Regal Ransom)’s been at Churchill Downs and he’s been in Barn 41 every time,” assistant trainer Ian Grant said. “It’s kind of like a second home for him.”

The 5-year-old son of Distorted Humor has been preparing for his start in the 30^th running of the Stephen Foster at Belmont Park, but the Saeed bin Suroor trainee not been away from his “second home” for very long. Regal Ransom was last seen beneath the Twin Spires on Kentucky Oaks Day when he was second by a nose to Donald Dizney’s First Dude in the Alysheba Presented by Besilu Stables (GIII).

“I think we got a little unlucky last time with an outside post,” Grant said. “If he wouldn’t have been so wide, I think he would have been able to hold on. Hopefully we will get a good post for the Foster and he’ll win it this time.”

Regal Ransom has recorded three works at Belmont Park in preparation for the Stephen Foster; including an eye-opening four-furlong “bullet” work in 46.60 on May 28.

“He’s really doing well,” Grant said. “I think he’ll run another big race this weekend.”

Regal Ransom handled the trip from New York well and Tuesday morning he visited the Churchill Downs track for the first time since the Alysheba.

"He’s always been a great shipper and has had lots of practice,” Grant said. “We galloped him 1 ½ miles this morning and he looked great. He loves this track.”

Regal Ransom has a record of 4-4-0 from 14 starts, with his biggest victory coming under jockey Alan Garcia in the 2009 Grade II, $2 million UAE Derby.  Garcia will be aboard Regal Ransom again on Saturday.

A Stephen Foster contender settling into completely new surroundings at Churchill Downs on Tuesday was Spendthrift Farm LLC’s Crown of Thorns.  He arrived at the track at 1:30 p.m. (all times Eastern) following a flight from Ontario, Cal. to Lexington and a van ride to Louisville. 

Trained by Richard Mandella, the lightly-raced 6-year-old son of Repent is coming off a victory in the Mervyn Leroy (GII) at Hollywood Park.  Crown of Thorns has a record of 3-4-1 in 10 races, with all of the runner-up finishes coming in Grade I races in 2009 and 2010.  That string included a nose loss to Dancing in Silks in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI).

The Stephen Foster Handicap will be the first start outside of California for Crown of Thorns, although Mandella has tried to get him to Churchill Downs on two other occasions.  He was considered to be a major contender for the Kentucky Derby after he won the 2008 Robert B. Lewis (GII) at Santa Anita, but was injured shortly after that race and went to the sidelines for a year and a half.  Mandella also pointed Crown of Thorns to last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) at Churchill Downs, but a minor knee ailment prompted a late scratch from that race.

Southern California-based Tyler Baze is scheduled to ride Crown of Thorns in the Stephen Foster.  He will carry 121 pounds, one fewer than the 122-pound high weight Giant Oak, who won last fall’s Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) and the Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park.

Crown of Thorns is stabled in Barn 47, stall 6.

Set to arrive later in the week for the 2011 Stephen Foster are Alex and Joann Lieblong, Marilyn McMaster and Fawkes Racing’s Duke of Mischief, winner of the $1 million Charles Town Classic (GIII), and Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable’s Equestrio, third in his stakes debut in the Alysheba.  Duke of Mischief will settle in stall 6 of Barn 16 for trainer David Fawkes, while the Nick Zito-trained Equestrio will make his home in stall 1 of Barn 36.

With entries for the Stephen Foster due on Wednesday, horses considered likely or possible for the race include (with trainer, assigned weight): A.U. Miner (Clark Hanna, 114); Apart (Al Stall Jr., 118), Crown of Thorns (Mandella, 121), Duke of Mischief (Fawkes, 118), El Caballo (Ralph Nicks, 115), Equestrio (Zito, 116), Flat Out (Scooter Dickey, 114), Giant Oak (Chris Block, 122), Headache (Mike Maker, 114), Mission Impazible (Todd Pletcher, 118), Pool Play (Mark Casse, 116), Regal Ransom (bin Suroor, 117) and Worldly (Paul McGee, 113).

A.U. Miner has been entered in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on Friday’s “Downs After Dark” night racing program and could opt for that race instead of Saturday’s Stephen Foster.

BANNED PREPS FOR JEFFERSON CUP WITH EASY TUESDAY WORK – Glen Hill Farm’s Banned cruised an easy five furlongs a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:04.40 on Tuesday morning in preparation for his run as the likely favorite in Saturday’s $100,000 Jefferson Cup Presented by Abu Dhabi (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

“That was exactly what I wanted,” trainer Tom Proctor said. “We just wanted him to go an easy five-eighths this morning.”

Exercise rider Gabrial Sanchez was in the irons for Tuesday’s breeze. Jose Lezcano, who was aboard the Proctor-trained Keertana when she made history earlier in the meet by becoming the first filly or mare to win the Louisville Handicap (GIII), will ride Banned on Saturday.  It will be Lezcano’s first ride on the son of Kitten’s Joy since August, when he was aboard the colt in a sixth-place finish in his career debut at Saratoga.

Banned will be looking to collect his second graded stakes victory of the meet in the Jefferson Cup, a race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.  He captured the American Turf Presented by Ram (GIII) over a “good” Matt Winn Turf Course on Kentucky Oaks Day in his most recent start.

The colt’s schedule after the Jefferson Cup is undecided, and will remain that way until after the race.

 “I just want to win the next one (Jefferson Cup),” Proctor said. “I don’t look down the road like that. I never have.”Three-year-olds considered likely or possible for the Jefferson Cup (with trainers) include Banned (Proctor). Chalice (Kellyn Gorder), Chinglish (Mark Hennig), Derby Kitten (Mike Maker), Dream Warrior (Eddie Kenneally), Perregaux (Neil Howard), Redboard (Garry Simms), and Swagger Jack (Darrin Miller).

HOLIDAYSATTHEFARM GEARS UP FOR ANOTHER SHOT AT KATHMANBLU – Glen Hill Farm’s homebred Holidaysatthefarm, a contender for the $125,000-added Regret Presented by Etihad Airways (GIII) worked an easy five furlongs Tuesday over the Matt Winn Turf Course in preparation for Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies.

The daughter of 2004 Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones breezed in 1:05.40 around the dogs in preparation for her Regret rematch with Five D Thoroughbreds and Wind River Stables’ Kathmanblu.

Holidaysatthefarm last faced Kathmanblu, a multiple stakes winner on turf and dirt, in the Jan. 22 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park.  She finished third to Kathmanblu, beaten 12 lengths, on yielding turf in that one-mile race.

"She didn’t run any good that day even though she was third,” trainer Tom Proctor said.

Proctor’s filly was then entered in the Edgewood on Kentucky Oaks Day, but was scratched from the race by veterinarians.  Proctor then entered the Glen Hill homebred in an allowance race over the Matt Winn Turf Course, but scratched her when the race was moved to the main track because of wet weather.

Proctor believes Holidaysatthefarm has benefited from her longer than expected break between races, but is not sure if that will be enough when it comes to beating a rival as talented as Kathmanblu.

“My filly is doing really well and the layoff has actually helped her a lot,” Proctor said. “But it’s going to be tough to beat Kathmanblu.”

Kathmanblu is one of three Ken McPeek-trained fillies expected to run in the Regret.  Catesby Clay’s Bizzy Caroline and Livin the Dream Racing 2009 LLC’s Sassy’s Dream are also probable starters Saturday.

Susan M. Forrester’s Blushandbashful, another probable starter for the Regret, arrived at Churchill Downs on Monday from New York. The 3-year-old daughter of Even The Score handled the trip well and jogged around the historic track for the first time Tuesday morning for trainer John Terranova II.

Likely starters for the 42^nd running of the Regret (with trainers) include: Bizzy Caroline (McPeek), Blushandbashful (Terranova II), Bouquet Booth (Steve Margolis), Diva Ash (Dale Romans). Excited (Todd Pletcher), Gaya (Tom Amoss), Holidaysatthefarm (Proctor), Kathmanblu (McPeek), My Phi Temper (Ronny Werner) and Sassy’s Dream (McPeek).

MCGEE’S INFRATTINI SET FOR STAKES DEBUT IN MATT WINN – Trainer Paul McGee believes Z Thoroughbreds LLC’s Infrattini has found his niche in route races and the Louisville-born trainer keep the 3-year-old son of Include running around two turns when he makes his stakes debut in Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile $125,000-added Matt Winn Presented by Emirates Equestrian Federation (GIII).

“He’s eligible for a one-other than (allowance), but the ones here (at Churchill Downs) were only one-turn races,” McGee said. “I wanted to keep him going two-turns.”

The Winn’s distance is not the only reason Infrattini will step into stakes company on Saturday.

“He’s doing really well and likes it at Churchill Downs.,” McGee said.  “We think he’s doing good enough to try (stakes company).”

Infrattini will enter the Matt Winn off a second-place finish to the highly-regarded Wilburn, who is listed as a possible starter in the Matt Winn.  Leading rider Corey Lanerie will ride McGee’s colt in the Winn.

Meanwhile, trainer Steve Asmussen continues to monitor a foot issue that has put the Matt Winn participation of George Bolton, Stonestreet Stables LLC and Spendthrift Farm LLC’s Dominus in doubt.

Asmussen said Tuesday that the son of Smart Strike, the runner-up to Machen in The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII), is “50-50” to make Saturday’s race.

Entries for the Matt Winn, formerly known as the Northern Dancer, will be taken on Wednesday.

The roster of possible starters in the Matt Winn (with trainers) includes: Alstom (D. Wayne Lukas), Dominus (Asmussen), Infrattini (McGee), Joe Vann (Todd Pletcher), Uncle Brent (Lynn Whiting) and Wilburn (Asmussen).

ARABIANS BEGIN TO ARRIVE FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES CUP - The first race for Arabian horses in the history of Churchill Downs is set for Saturday’s Stephen Foster Day Presented by Abu Dhabi, and some horses pointing to the race were scheduled to arrive at the Louisville track on Tuesday.

Arabians nominated to the first running of Saturday’s $50,000-added The President of United Arab Emirates Cup (GI) for 4-year-olds and at 1 1/4 miles on the main track, include (with trainers):  A Ladys Man (Lynn Ashby); Another Color (Renee Lafleur); Crownn Royal (Ashby); Dixies Valentine (Tracy Nunley); Full of Fiesta (Greg Ketter); Grilla (Bill Waldron); Ovour the Top (Ashby); T M Fred Texas (Ronald Martino); Vip (Martino); and Wodkka (Lafleur).

BARN TALK – Nominations for the 111^th running of the Grade III, $100,000-added Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs on the main track at Churchill Downs closed Saturday, June 18 with 18 nominations. The Debutante was won last year by Eldon Farm Equine LLC’s Just Louise under Robby Albarado for trainer Dale Romans. …

Corey Lanerie, the leading rider of the Spring Meet, proved Monday that his talents are not limited to riding horses. Lanerie was victorious in the Inaugural Cowgill-Valvano Wild Eggs Scramble Fore Cancer golf tournament at The Cardinal Club in Simpsonville, Ky. The tournament raised money for the American Cancer Society and the V Foundation. …

Calling all poker players – registration is underway for the Blackie Huffman Memorial Scholarship Fund Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament sponsored by the KHBPA, KTA & Churchill Downs Racing Committee. The tournament, which has a buy-in of $125, will take place June 22 at 6 p.m. (Eastern) in Churchill Downs’ Triple Crown Room. The tournament is limited to 250 players and has a first prize is $7,500, with cash prizes being paid to the top five finishers. Contact the KHBPA at (502) 363-1077 to register. …

WORK TAB – Barbara Hunter’s homebred Keertana, winner of the Louisville Handicap (GIII) at Churchill Downs on May 28, worked four furlongs over a “firm” Matt Winn Turf Course on Tuesday in 50.20 for trainer Tom Proctor.  No plans have been made for Keertana’s next start.

Barry Butzow and Westrock Stables LLC’s Hamazing Destiny worked a “bullet” four furlongs in :47.20 over a fast main track Tuesday morning for trainer Wayne Lukas. The 5-year-old son of Salt Lake was second to Big Drama in his most recent start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) in November at Churchill Downs.

HIGHLY REGARDED BIND OUT OF MATT WINN WITH FRACTURE, PROBABLY OUT FOR YEAR – An injury suffered during a Monday workout has taken Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s highly regarded Bind out of consideration for Saturday’s $125,000-added Matt Winn Presented by Emirates Equestrian Federation (GIII) at Churchill Downs and has probably knocked him out of racing for the year.

Trainer Al Stall Jr. said Bind suffered a condylar fracture in his right front leg during a four-furlong work over Keeneland’s synthetic Polytrack surface that was to have been his final major work prior to his stakes debut in the Matt Winn.  Bind covered the distance in :49.60 under exercise rider Jerry O’Dwyer.

"He worked like a champ,” Stall said.  “He worked like his normal self.  He looked like a gazelle running down the lane, but he didn’t cool out properly and there it was.”

Stall said the injury would require surgery and Bind was transported later in the morning to the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital for the procedure.  He said the prognosis for Bind’s fracture is “very good” at this point.

“It’s non-displaced, clean, there’s no trash,” Stall said.  “It’s a kick in the teeth right off the bat on a Monday morning, but that’s just how it goes.”

Stall said that the best case scenario for Bind would probably see him return to competition late this year or early 2012 when his stable returns to New Orleans’ Fair Grounds.  Even if the surgery is as successful as he anticipates, Stall said the colt would probably be out of training for 120 days.

Meanwhile, another major contender for the Matt Winn – George Bolton, Stonestreet Stables and Spendthrift Farm’s Dominus – is dealing with a foot issue, but remains “possible” for the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds.

The son of Smart Strike was nipped at the finish by Machen in a runner-up finish in The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII) on April 30 and trainer Steve Asmussen said he hopes the issue will clear up in time for the colt to be entered for the Matt Winn on Wednesday.

Another Matt Winn contender, Iron Horse Racing LLC’s Alstom, worked a sharp five furlongs on Monday in :47.40 for Hall of Fame trainer and four-time Kentucky Derby-winner D. Wayne Lukas.

The move over a fast track by the son of Silver Train was the fastest of 54 at the distance.  Alstom finished third to Meistersinger in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Churchill Downs in his most recent outing.

Another Asmussen nominee for the Matt Winn – George Bolton and Stonestreet Stables’ Astrology – worked six furlongs at Churchill Downs on Monday.  The third-place finisher in the Preakness (GI) and winner of Churchill Downs’ Iroqouis (GIII) breezed in company with 3-year-old stablemate Brock and covered the distance in 1:13.20.

The list of 3-year-olds considered for the Matt Winn (formerly the Northern Dancer) includes (with trainer): Alstom (Lukas); Dominus (Asmussen); Infrattini (Paul McGee); Joe Vann (Todd Pletcher); and Uncle Brent (Lynn Whiting).

APART SHARP IN KEENELAND WORK FOR STEPHEN FOSTER – While trainer Al Stall Jr.’s Monday was darkened by news of the season-ending injury to his promising 3-year-old Bind, a glimmer of light was provided by a sharp workout by Adele Dilschneider’s Apart in his final prep for a run in Saturday’s $500,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) Presented by Abu Dhabi (GI).

The 4-year-old son of Flatter breezed four furlongs in :48.40 over the synthetic Polytrack course at Keeneland.  The move under exercise rider Jerry O’Dwyer was the second fastest of eight at the distance.

“Apart is on target,” Stall said.  “I think he’s an improving horse.  That’s what he’s got going for him.  He’s a Grade II, Grade III type of winner and we just feel like he’s going to get better with time.  It’s nothing we’re doing.  It’s just something Mother Nature will take care of, hopefully.”

Julien Leparoux is scheduled to ride Apart in the Stephen Foster, a 1 1/8-mile race won last year by stablemate Blame.

While Stall likes the way Apart is coming up to the race, he is a bit concerned about the prospect of a full starting gate for the race.

"This race is getting to be such a big field that the (post) draw will be important, so we’re going to have to sweat that out,” he said.  “It’ll be about set-ups and trips and that kind of thing this weekend, I think.”

Apart is coming off a neck victory over Colizeo in the William Donald Schaefer Jr. Memorial (GIII) at Pimlico, a Preakness Day race that Blame won a year earlier and used successfully as a Foster prep.  His career record stands at 5-3-1 in 12 races with career earnings of $640,018.  His Churchill Downs record is 2-1-0 in five races, with the 2010 Ack Ack Handicap (GIII) accounting for one of those victories.

Meanwhile, Godolphin’s Regal Ransom, a narrow runner-up for First Dude in the recent Alysheba (GIII) at Churchill Downs, arrived at the Louisville track on Monday to complete his preparation for the Foster.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained son of Distorted Humor stepped off a van at the track around 10:30 a.m. (all times EDT) following a flight from New York to Louisville International Airport.  He is stabled in Barn 41.

The winner of the 2009 runnings of the UAE Derby (GII) and Super Derby (GII) has made three career starts at Churchill Downs, with an eighth-place finish behind Mine That Bird in the 2009 Kentucky Derby and a ninth-place finish behind Stephen Foster contender Giant Oak in last fall’s $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) on his on his resumé along with his near miss in the Alysheba.

Southern California-based Stephen Foster contenders Crown of Thorns and Gladding are scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Tuesday following a flight from the West Coast.

The Stephen Foster appears to have lost a starter in Donald Dizney’s First Dude, who had been scheduled to be on the same plane.  Trainer Bob Baffert told Daily Racing Form he would keep the 4-year-old winner of the Alysheba in Southern California to run in the Hollywood Gold Cup (GI) on July 9.

Horses considered likely for the Stephen Foster (with trainer, weight) include: Apart (Stall, 118); Crown of Thorns (Richard Mandella, 121); Duke of Mischief (David Fawkes, 118); Equestrio (Nick Zito, 116); Flat Out (Scooter Dickey, 114); Gladding (John Sadler, 117); Giant Oak (Chris Block, 122); Mission Impazible (Todd Pletcher, 118); Pool Play (Mark Casse, 116) and Regal Ransom (bin Suroor, 117).

PERREGAUX WORKS FOR POSSIBLE JEFFERSON CUP BID – Courtlandt Farms’ Perregaux, a recent allowance winner on Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course, tuned up for a possible run the $100,000-added Jefferson Cup Presented by Abu Dhabi (GIII) on Saturday’s Stephen Foster Day program.

The son of Distorted Humor breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 over a fast main track for trainer Neil Howard, who is also considering a Jefferson Cup run by William S. Farish and Skara Glen Stable’s Close Ally, runner-up in the American Turf (GII) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day.

The Jefferson Cup, a race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf, is one of four graded stakes races for Thoroughbreds on the Stephen Foster Day program.

Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course is scheduled to be open for training on Tuesday, June 14.  That will provide a final chance for contenders for the Jefferson Cup and the $125,000-added Regret Presented by Etihad Airways (GIII), a Foster Day race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf, to train over the grass surface before Saturday’s races.

Three-year-olds under consideration for Saturday’s Jefferson Cup (with trainer) include: Banned (Tom Proctor), Chalice (Kellyn Gorder), Chinglish (Mark Hennig), Close Ally (Howard), Derby Kitten (Mike Maker), Dream Warrior (Eddie Kenneally), Perregaux (Howard); Redboard (Garry Simms); and Swagger Jack (Darrin Miller).

Likely starters for the Regret (with trainer) include: Bizzy Caroline (Ken McPeek), Blushandbashful (John Terranova II), Bouquet Booth (Steve Margolis), Diva Ash (Dale Romans), Excited (Todd Pletcher); Gaya (Tom Amoss), Holidaysatthefarm (Tom Proctor). Kathmanblu (McPeek). My Phi Temper (Ronny Werner) and Sassy’s Dream (McPeek).

BARN TALK – Preakness (GI) winner Shackleford and Kentucky Derby runner-up Nehro returned to Kentucky on Monday on board a flight from New York to Louisville.

            Shackleford, who finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby for trainer Dale Romans, ran fifth in the Belmont after leading to the top of the stretch and has settled back into Romans’ barn at Churchill Downs.

Nehro finished fourth for trainer Steve Asmussen, but came out of the race with an ankle chip.  Nehro is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday in Lexington, according to owner Ahmed Zayat.

The flight also carried Belmont also-rans Santiva (eighth in the Belmont and sixth in the Kentucky Derby) and Prime Cut (11^th in the Belmont) back to their Churchill Downs barns.   Santiva is trained by Eddie Kenneally, while Prime Cut is conditioned by Neil Howard.

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) – Riley Tucker, winner of the 2010 Aristides (GIII), breezed four furlongs in :52.20 … Texas Mile (GIII) winner Thisskyhasnolimit breezed five furlongs in 1:03.

WIN WILLY FINALLY GETS HIS CHURCHILL DOWNS CHANCE ON FRIDAY – Trainer McLean Robertson was just three days away from having his first Kentucky Derby (Grade I) starter in 2009 with Jer-Mar Stable’s Win Willy.

However, on the day of entry, Robertson saw something he did not like on an x-ray of the colt’s left front ankle.

“I didn’t think he was right after the Arkansas Derby,” Robertson said of Win Willy, who had finished fourth in the race at Oaklawn Park. “I was going to vet him out even if he had worked a hole in the wind.”
    The x-ray revealed a small line.

“We walked him for 30 days and then twice a day for another 30 days,” Robertson said. “I don’t think he would have been this good if he had run.”

Win Willy has been good enough in the past 14 months to earn a shot at his first Grade I victory in Friday’s $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare. Win Willy will break from post position eight under Cliff Berry, who has been aboard six times during Win Willy’s career that shows a record of 5-3-1 in 13 races with earnings of $507,952.

Robertson has no regrets about missing the Run for the Roses.

“I don’t feel bad for doing the right thing,” Robertson said. “I was disappointed for the owner rather than for me, but he’s a good horse now. I am glad I did it. He is better now than he ever has been.”

Win Willy comes into the Clark off a victory in the Brandywine at Delaware Park on Oct. 30. Earlier this year, Win Willy ran second to Clark Handicap rival Duke of Mischief in the Oaklawn Handicap (GII) at Oaklawn Park.

A good showing in the Clark could alter Robertson’s plans with the son of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos in 2011.

“If he runs first or second on Friday, I’d be in no hurry to run in a $50,000 at Oaklawn,” Robertson said. “That would change things.”

REGAL RANSOM TO GET HIS SECOND CD CHANCE IN FRIDAY’S CLARK HANDICAP – Although Win Willy did not make the 2009 Run for the Roses, one of his Clark Handicap opponents on Friday did: Regal Ransom.

The Godolphin Racing runner pressed the pace in the Kentucky Derby over a sloppy track before fading to eighth, 14 ¾ lengths behind Mine That Bird. On Friday, Regal Ransom makes his first run at Churchill Downs since that soggy day nearly 19 months ago.

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Regal Ransom will be ridden in the Clark by Freddie Lenclud and break from post position nine in the field of 11.

“He had some time off after the Derby and then after he ran in the Breeders’ Cup last year, we took him back to Dubai,” said Ian Grant, who is overseeing the 4-year-old colt’s preparations at Churchill Downs. “He does not do well on Polytrack or synthetics and he came back over here in the spring.”

Regal Ransom has won once in three starts this year, with the victory coming in an allowance race at Saratoga.

“He has had an up and down season,” Grant said. “His first race (the Grade II Suburban on July 3) we knew was a tough spot going in and then he won the allowance easily. Then came the Kelso.”

In the Grade II Kelso at a mile at Belmont Park on Oct. 3, Regal Ransom ran sixth as the even-money favorite in a field of seven, beaten 19 lengths.

“We have never had a horse train that well and then run like that,” Grant said. “It was a real head scratcher. He has been training great since then.”

Regal Ransom enters the Clark off two bullet, five-furlong works at Belmont Park, the most recent being a :59.80 move on Sunday.

Regal Ransom has compiled a record of 4-2-0 in 11 races with earnings of $1,801,900, a figure that is second only to Brass Hat ($2,167,921) among Clark entrants. One of the victories came in the last year’s UAE Derby (GII) at Nad Al Sheba and another in 2009 Super Derby (GII) at Louisiana Downs. In the latter, he defeated Blame, who would win the Clark Handicap two races later and return to Churchill Downs this year to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) and Stephen Foster Handicap (GI).

In the UAE Derby, Regal Ransom turned the tables on stablemate Desert Party, who had beaten him twice before. Desert Party, now retired, was injured when finishing 14th in the Kentucky Derby last year.

“I had been with Desert Party when (trainer) Eoin (Harty) had him in Chicago,” Grant said. “He was a nice horse. He broke his maiden going 4 ½ and then won the Sanford beating Vineyard Haven. I was surprised that Regal Ransom beat him in the (UAE) Derby.”

BARN TALK – Julien Leparoux maintained a four-win lead over Robby Albarado in the race for leading rider after each rider notched a victory on Wednesday. Leparoux, who is seeking his fourth consecutive Fall Meet title and seventh overall, has a 23-19 edge on Albarado. Leparoux is named on 11 mounts today; while Albarado is scheduled to ride eight horses. …

After 17 days of racing, there still has not been a two-time winner at the meet. Eleven previous winners have tried for the second victory, but none has succeeded with four runner-ups and four third-place finishers. On today’s card, seven horses, including Distinctive Dixie and Striking Dancer in the Falls City Handicap (GII), will bid for their second victory of the month beneath the Twin Spires.

A year ago, a lightly raced 3-year-old named Blame used a victory in the Fayette (Grade II) at Keeneland as a springboard to victory in his subsequent start in the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare, then a Grade II event and the highlight of the 2009 Fall Meet at Churchill Downs.

On Friday, history could repeat itself as Morton Fink’s Successful Dan, winner of this year’s running of the Fayette, is set to carry 121 pounds and concede from 3-6 pounds to 10 rivals as the favorite in the 136th running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap, a prestigious race for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the main track that has been restored to Grade I status by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

The Clark will go as the 11th event on a 12-race “Black Friday” holiday racing program that begins at 12:40 p.m. (all times Eastern).  Like the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and the Kentucky Oaks (GI), the Clark has been run each year without interruption since it was introduced in the first race meeting at Churchill Downs, then known as the Louisville Jockey Club, in 1875.  Post time for the Clark is 5:42 p.m.

After his major introduction to the nation’s racing fans in last year’s Clark, Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame race twice at Churchill Downs in 2010.  The Al Stall Jr. trained colt won the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) in June, then returned in November to win a showdown for the ages over previously unbeaten Zenyatta in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI).

Like Blame, Successful Dan will be making his eighth career start in the Clark. Trained by Lexington-based Charles Lopresti, Successful Dan is undefeated at Churchill Downs having won an allowance race in May 2009 and following that up with a victory over future Grade I winner Warrior’s Reward in the Northern Dancer (GIII) the following month.

Julien Leparoux, who was aboard for the two Churchill Downs victories and four of the 4-year-old gelding’s five career wins, has Friday’s mount on Successful Dan, who will break from post three.  Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed him as the 5-2 morning line favorite.

Another Clark starter who is following even closer in Blame’s footsteps is his Stall-trained stablemate Apart. Owned and bred by Dilschneider, Apart will be making his eighth career start in the Clark and, like Blame, is ridden by Garrett Gomez and based at Keeneland.

The 3-year-old Apart, the 7-2 second choice in Battaglia’s Clark Handicap morning line, brings a three-race win streak into Friday’s race, highlighted by a September victory in the Super Derby (GII) at Louisiana Downs and a three-quarter length win over older rivals in the Ack Ack Handicap (GIII) Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.

Gomez, who was aboard for the Ack Ack win, returns to the saddle aboard Apart, who will carry 118 pounds and break from post position two.

Six other graded stakes winners on dirt are in the field, topped by the 9-year-old veteran Brass Hat, who won the 2006 Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park for one of his six graded stakes victories. Trained by Buff Bradley for his father Fred, Brass Hat ran second to A.P. Arrow in the 2007 Clark.  The homebred Prized gelding brings a record of 10-8-5 in 39 career races and earnings of $2,167,921 into Friday’s race.  Brass Hat’s latest win came in his most recent start, when he rallied from last in a field of 12 to take the $100,000 Sycamore (GIII) at 1 ½ miles on turf at Keeneland.

Brass Hat (15-1) will carry 116 pounds and be ridden by Tony Farina as he tries to join the ranks of such veteran stars as John Henry, The Tin Man, John’s Call and Super Diamond in winning a Grade I stakes race at the advanced racing age of nine.  Brass Hat will break from post position six. Farina will ride Brass Hat as regular jockey Calvin Borel continues his recovery from surgery to repair a broken jaw suffered in a fall last weekend at Lousiana’s Delta Downs.

The other graded stakes winners on dirt in the field are Regal Ransom, Redding Colliery, Demarcation, Duke of Mischief and Win Willy. Stately Victor, who finished eighth in this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) over Polytrack at Keeneland in April. Dubious Miss won the Grade III Ben Ali at Keeneland, also in April.

Godolphin Racing’s Regal Ransom is the 9-2 third choice in Battaglia’s morning line.  The son of Distorted Humor, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, counts the 2009 UAE Derby (GII) at Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba and the Super Derby (GII) among his four career wins, with the latter coming at the expense of runner-up Blame.  But Regal Ransom finished a distant sixth to Tizway as the even-money favorite in the Kelso (GII) at Belmont Park in his most recent start.  Freddie Lenclud will ride at 116 pounds.

The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Redding Colliery won the recent Hawthorne Gold Cup (GII) by three-quarters of a length over Clark rival Giant Oak, who finished fourth to Blame both in last year’s Clark and the 2010 Stephen Foster.  Demarcation won last year’s Ack Ack and was second to Apart in this year’s renewal for Louisville-based trainer Paul McGee.  Duke of Mischief edged Win Willy in this year’s Oaklawn Handicap (GII), while the latter won last year’s Rebel (GIII) at Oaklawn.

The field for the Clark Handicap, from the rail out (with rider, weight and morning line odds), is as follows: Dubious Miss (Robby Albarado, 116 pounds, 15-1), Apart (Gomez, 118, 7-2), Successful Dan (Leparoux, 121, 5-2), Giant Oak (Shaun Bridgmohan, 115, 15-1), Redding Colliery (Anna Napravnik, 117, 10-1), Brass Hat (Farina, 116, 15-1), Stately Victor (Victor Lebron, 116, 10-1), Win Willy (Cliff Berry, 116, 10-1), Regal Ransom (Freddie Lenclud, 116, 9-2), Demarcation (Kent Desormeaux, 116, 12-1) and Duke of Mischief (Eibar Coa, 116, 12-1).

How are your favorite contenders training up to the first Saturday in May?  Check back daily with the Churchill Downs Notes Team for all the latest.

ADVICE / DUNKIRK / JOIN IN THE DANCE – Trainer Todd Pletcher sent his chief Derby threat Dunkirk through a five-panel drill in company at the training center at Palm Meadows in Florida on Saturday morning – and he was tickled with the outcome.

Clockers gave the Unbridled’s Song colt a final time of 1:01.05 for the drill, while his workmate – the 3-year-old stakes-placed Munnings – was given a time of 1:01.25.

“I was very, very pleased with the work,” Pletcher said. “I caught him (Dunkirk) in splits of :12 4/5, :24 4/5, :36 4/5 and 1:01, and I had him galloping out in 1:14 2/5. He started out about a length and a half or two lengths behind the other horse, then he finished up about a half-length ahead. It was a very good move for him.”

The five-time Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s top trainer said he couldn’t be happier with the way his $3.7 million yearling was coming up to Derby 135.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the way things have gone as he’s come up to this race,” Pletcher said. “Everything has fallen into place. Every one of his works has taken place when we wanted it to and they have all come off the way we hoped. He’s coming up to the race right and we’re feeling very good about him. We couldn’t be happier.”

Pletcher said Dunkirk would ship by air from Florida on Tuesday. Pletcher himself was coming to Louisville late Sunday.

Coolmore Lexington Stakes (Grade II) winner Advice galloped a mile and three-eighths at Churchill Downs under exercise rider Kevin Willey shortly after the 8:30 renovation break.

Pletcher’s right-hand man, Mike McCarthy, oversaw the exercise out of their Barn 34 headquarters.

Advice, a son of Chapel Royal, is scheduled to have his final blowout toward his possible Derby start on Monday. To this point, no rider has been assigned to the colt, who is owned by WinStar Farm.

Join in the Dance, expected to be a serious forward factor in Derby 135 if he gets to run, continued his training toward next Saturday’s race with a mile and three-eighths gallop under Willey.

Join in the Dance is currently No. 21 on the graded stakes list and would need one of the horses ahead of him to withdraw prior to the taking of entries on Wednesday if he is to get to dance.

CHOCOLATE CANDY – The big bay colt with the mellow disposition came trackside under exercise rider Lindsey Molina Saturday at 7 a.m., but Chocolate Candy wasn’t in any rush. He stepped into the clearing near the six-furlong chute and stopped to look around. He moved forward a few yards and halted to take it all in again. And then he did it once more before walking through the chute and going about his business.

“He’s such a big, easy goin’ fella,” said Galen May, the right-hand man on the scene for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. “Nothing bothers him. That’s why I like him so much.”

Chocolate Candy took a tour of the paddock, then galloped a solid mile and a half, doing it in his low-key style out in the middle of the track.

Hollendorfer, the king of Northern California racing, had a busy day at Golden Gate Fields where he was going to saddle – among others – Our Partner the San Francisco Mile. He was scheduled to travel to Louisville on Sunday.

DESERT PARTY / REGAL RANSOM – With exercise rider Bob Chapman up, the Godolphin duo of Regal Ransom and Desert Party put in their final works for Kentucky Derby 135.

Regal Ransom was first out shortly after the track opened at 6 a.m. Accompanied by a pony, Regal Ransom backtracked to the front side then galloped to the backstretch where he broke off at the five-eighths pole. Churchill Downs clockers caught Regal Ransom in fractions of :12.40, :23.80, :35, :47 and completing the five furlongs in :59.20 for the fastest clocking of 30 at the distance.

Regal Ransom galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.40 and pulled up seven-eighths in 1:27 over a track labeled “fast.”

Desert Party came out without a pony after the renovation break and worked in :59.60, second-fastest of the morning. Fractions for the work were :12.60, :24.60, :36.40 and :48.20 with a six-furlong out time of 1:12.40 and up seven-eighths in 1:25.80.

Chapman, who has been wearing a finger watch for 10 years when working horses, had Desert Party covering the final quarter mile in :22.91.

“They both worked nicely this morning,” trainer Saeed bin Suroor said. “They are really in good form here and that is a good sign. They will walk tomorrow, jog Monday and then gallop up to the race. They both may go to the gate and paddock one time next week.

“Regal Ransom goes out with a pony because he is always keen in the morning. Desert Party is a more laid back and relaxed and always easy to train.”

The works were the second for each at Churchill Downs. Regal Ransom worked five furlongs in :59.80 and Desert Party 1:00.20 last Saturday.

Desert Party and Regal Ransom will represent the sixth and seven Kentucky Derby starters for Godolphin. They had three starts in Dubai before shipping to Churchill Downs and only one of the stable’s previous starters had had more: Curule, who had four starts in Dubai in 2000 before running seventh here.

“They are fit and ready to go,” bin Suroor said in explaining why this year may be different than in previous Derby attempts. “There will be no excuses for our horses.”

Alan Garcia will have the Derby riding assignment on Regal Ransom and Ramon Dominguez is on Desert Party.
    
FLAT OUT – Oxbow Racing's Flat Out was taken to Lexington's Hagyard-Davis Equine Clinic on Friday afternoon and underwent a precautionary scan Saturday morning.

“He's fit and there is no problem,” trainer Charles “Scooter” Dickey said. He said the owners just wanted the scan as a precaution to make sure the heel bruise he suffered in the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 16 is not redeveloping.

Flat Out is scheduled to return to Churchill Downs early Sunday morning in hopes of making it on the track before training hours are over.

He is currently 22nd on the graded earnings list and needs a couple of defections in order to make the field for Derby 135.

FLYING PRIVATE – Robert Baker and William Mack's Flying Private galloped under exercise rider Taylor Carty. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Flying Private would likely work Monday or Tuesday depending on weather. Robby Albarado has the Derby riding assignment on Flying Private.

FRIESAN FIRE – Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm’s Friesan Fire made his first appearance on the track at Churchill Downs, galloping a mile and a half under trainer Larry Jones after the renovation break.

“Everything is good here,” Jones said. “I like the way he handled his first day here.”

Friesan Fire enters the Kentucky Derby on a three-race win streak, having taken the LeComte (Grade III), Risen Star (Grade III) and Louisiana Derby (Grade II) at Fair Grounds this winter. Friesan Fire had been stabled at Keeneland for a month before shipping to Churchill Downs on Friday afternoon.

Gabriel Saez, who has been aboard for Friesan Fire’s past three victories, has the Derby riding assignment and is scheduled to work Friesan Fire on Monday morning after the renovation break.
Friesan Fire worked three times at Keeneland.

GENERAL QUARTERS – Toyota Blue Grass (Grade I) winner General Quarters galloped 1 ½ miles just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday, tugging at exercise rider Julie Sheets. Today’s routine will become ”routine” for the Sky Mesa colt, who had what is expected to be his final Derby 135 workout on Thursday.

Owner-trainer Tom McCarthy said General Quarters will gallop up to the Derby in all likelihood.

General Quarters was calm and composed walking to and from the track, led by hand by McCarthy, a retired Louisville teacher and principal who has become the Derby darling of 2009. On Friday night McCarthy was featured on ABC World News with Charles Gibson as the newscast’s “Person of the Week.”

“The phone has been ringing off the hook in all honesty,” McCarthy said of his recent fame. “Old friends, people I haven’t heard from in years, they’re all calling. It’s great, but it has not changed me. I just go on every day and keep doing what I do. Hope springs eternal. Everybody who trains horses hopes someday to be here. We’re going to enjoy it.”

General Quarters likely will become the most famous one-horse stable in America over the next seven days. But he won’t fly solo for long. McCarthy said he has a 3-year-old filly, Miss Sunshine, ready to come to the track this summer after the Derby hub-bub subsides.

HOLD ME BACK – WinStar Farm’s Hold Me Back went twice around under assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy before the renovation break.

Trainer Bill Mott said the winner of the Lane’s End (Grade II) would work “maybe Sunday; maybe Monday.”

Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning rider Kent Desormeaux will have the riding assignment next Saturday.
Hold Me Back has a record of three wins and a runner-up finish in four starts on synthetic surfaces. In his lone dirt try, Hold Me Back ran fifth in the Grade II Remsen.

“He was a big, tall, light 2-year-old who needed time to fill out,” said Elliott Walden, vice president and racing manager for WinStar. “His Ragozin number in the Remsen was the same he ran at Keeneland (in an allowance win).

“It would be reasonable to question that (his ability on dirt). But I am more confident in him than one would have just by looking at the past performances.”

I WANT REVENGE – Wood Memorial (Grade I) winner I Want Revenge galloped two miles Saturday morning with regular exercise rider Joe Deegan aboard.

Bobby Troeger, assistant to trainer Jeff Mullins, supervised the exercise. He said that Mullins was en route from California and was expected to arrive in Louisville at 7 p.m. Saturday.

I Want Revenge, a Stephen Got Even colt, has been working on Tuesdays the past month, and is expected to have his final Derby breeze this Tuesday. He’s worked twice at Churchill Downs, a 1:01.60 breeze on April 21, and a :50 half-mile on April 14.

MINE THAT BIRD – Last year’s Canadian champion 2-year-old Mine That Bird logged two miles Saturday morning, jogging a quarter-mile before galloping 1 ¾ miles under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa.

“He looks like he’s getting over the ground a little better than yesterday and better than the day before,” trainer Chip Woolley said “That’s what we’re hoping to see – him getting better each day until next Saturday.”

The son of Birdstone will breeze five furlongs Monday (approximately 8:50 a.m.) with Calvin Borel in the irons. Woolley said that he never has had Borel aboard one of his horses in a race, but that the rider of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense makes a lot of sense.

“We just weighed our options of riders out there and kept coming back to him,” Woolley said. “I’ve always liked him and thought he’d fit this horse. He’s patient and that’s the trip we’re likely to get if we’re to do any good in the Derby.”

Woolley has spent much of his training career with Quarter Horses, but said the increased chances to run Thoroughbreds in slots-rich New Mexico was part of the reason his stable has branched out in breeds in recent years. Plus, he said, “The Quarter Horse game can be awfully tough. You do everything right; but one bad break, and you’re done. It’s different with Thoroughbred racing. Look at I Want Revenge in the Wood. He stumbled, but still had a chance to run to his ability. In Quarter Horse racing, he would have been done in at the start.”

MR. HOT STUFF – WinStar Farm’s Mr. Hot Stuff, third in a pair of graded stakes at Santa Anita in his most recent starts, will put in his final Kentucky Derby drill Sunday morning at the Los Angeles track.

“He’ll go five eighths with one of our exercise riders up,” said his trainer, Eoin Harty, via phone, from a working trip in Chicago. “We’ll work him tomorrow and he’ll fly out Monday. I’ll be flying to Louisville Sunday afternoon.”

Mr. Hot Stuff, a son of Tiznow, is still missing a jockey for Derby 135 after his regular rider, Corey Nakatani, chose to jump ship and ride Square Eddie.

“We don’t have a rider yet,” Harty said, “but we’ve got lots of time to get one. We will. You can be sure of that."

MUSKET MAN – The Yonaguska colt Musket Man had his final Kentucky Derby breeze Saturday morning, and the move was a little more exciting than trainer Derek Ryan would have liked.

“A horse crossed in front of him when he broke off,” Ryan said, “and that got him a little excited. Then, near the eighth pole, some guy going the wrong way of the track ducked over toward the rail. A little excitement, but no big deal. Nothing happened.”

With Derby jockey Eibar Coa aboard, Musket Man broke off at the 5 ½-furlong pole and breezed straight through the wire to the 15/16ths pole. He was credited with a move of five furlongs in 1:01.60, out the six furlongs in 1:14.80.

“It was a good work, just what we wanted,” Ryan said. “I didn’t want him to do too much a week before the race.”

This was the second time Musket Man had worked over the Churchill Downs strip. The Illinois Derby winner breezed six furlongs in 1:13 flat last Saturday.

“I was happy with him today, and I know Coa was more impressed this morning than he was last week,” Ryan said.

“I was happy with him this morning,” Coa said. “He was more aggressive than usual, I think because that horse crossed in front of us when we broke off. He’s usually a very quiet horse.”

Musket Man has now won stakes at a mile and a sixteenth and a mile and an eighth his past two starts. Ryan, who is participating in his first Derby, has no doubts the colt can get a mile and a quarter.

“I’ve been hearing about his distance limitations since October,” the trainer said. “So far he’s handled every track and every distance. He’s improved off his last start each time, and each race he gets a little better.”

Coa rode Musket Man for the first time in the Illinois Derby and has been impressed since.

“He’s an easy horse to ride,” Coa said. “He’ll sit behind horses and wait. He runs better with a target. He’ll have plenty of targets Saturday.”

Ryan purchased Musket Man for $15,000 as a yearling from the Keeneland September Sale in 2007 on behalf of owners Eric Fein and Vic Carlson.

PAPA CLEM – Arkansas Derby (Grade II) winner Papa Clem worked seven furlongs in 1:29.20 Saturday just after the renovation break in what could be his final major preparation for Derby 135. Trainer Gary Stute said that the Bo Hirsch home-bred could blow out a quarter-mile in the final day or two before the Derby “if he’s biting and kicking.”

“The main goal was just to get him tired,” Stute said of Saturday’s drill, which went in splits of :12.60, :24.80, :37.00, :49.60, 1:02.40 and 1:15.40. “He broke off kind of fast and got a little ‘late’.”

Exercise rider Mundo Gonzalez was aboard for the workout and had a few anxious moments at the gap as Papa Clem bucked before heading onto the track and also was stirred up on the front side.

“With him,” Stute said, “I always take him with a pony. He gets to feeling pretty good.”

Fitness should not be a question with Papa Clem, who has rattled off four consecutive route races (three in stakes company) since the opening of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. But while the first three of those races went in moderate paces with easy trips for Papa Clem, Stute said the Arkansas Derby (Grade II) provided the most education.

“He had trouble on the first turn and got dirt in his face,” Stute said of the Oaklawn experience. “Everything wasn’t just handed to him. He had to work for it.”

Papa Clem will walk the shedrow next two days and is expected to return to the track Tuesday morning. Rafael Bejarano will be in from California for the mount Saturday.

PIONEEROF THE NILE – Looking an absolute picture on a sunny and warm Kentucky morning, the dark son of Empire Maker went trackside under exercise rider George Alvarez immediately after the morning renovation break at 8:30. Assistant trainer Jim Barnes astride his pony led Pioneerof the Nile on a backtrack to the frontside, then let him do his thing – and do it he did.

Galloping well out in the middle of the track, the Zayat Stables’ homebred was strong, then stronger, going through his mile and a half exercise, finishing up just as well as he started in an impressive display or readiness for his upcoming 10-furlong task.

“He’s doing good,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert, the man who just had his ticket punched to racing’s Hall of Fame. “He likes it here. In fact, I think he might like this track more than he does Santa Anita (where he is a three-time graded stakes winner this year). He seems to lower his head and stride out even better here.

“But he’s in a tough race with some nice horses and we’ll need some luck. Twenty horses; anything can happen. We’ll need some luck.”

Pioneerof the Nile, a winner of five of his eight starts and $1,234,200, is scheduled to have his final Derby work Monday morning.

QUALITY ROAD – Florida Derby (Grade I) winner Quality Road jogged 1 ¾ miles at Belmont Park, just one day after a second quarter crack appeared. Quality Road’s latest malady appeared in his right front hoof, adding to the quarter rack he suffered in his right hind hoof after his signature win at Gulfstream Park on March 28.

“Jogging is obviously a lot easier on the horse in all ways, respiration-wise and on the legs, than galloping is,” trainer James Jerkens said of the reduced workload this morning. “It’s not quite as good of a conditioner … but it was all we could do to be on the safe side. He came back and the crack was dry and (there was) no blood seeping from it. We’re planning on patching him at 7 o’clock tomorrow morning and galloping him at about 9:20 after the second harrow break.”

According to the NYRA Press Office notes, noted hoof specialist Ian McKinlay reported, “There was no blood and he’s sound. He’s feeling good and I couldn’t be happier.”

McKinlay “laced” the half-inch quarter crack Friday and treated it with antiseptic and a “hoof toughener,” Jerkens said.

Jerkens addressed a national media teleconference Saturday morning and said the Kentucky Derby still remains in Quality Road’s crosshairs. “The way things are going, I’m pretty confident,” Jerkens said, then admitted, “I’m usually negative about everything by nature.”

If Quality Road gallops sound on Sunday, he’ll advance on to a serious workout Monday. “Tomorrow is the big day in finding out where we’re going,” Jerkens said, adding that the acrylic patch will be tested for pressure by the gallop.

Quality Road last worked five furlongs April 10 in 1:02.19 at Belmont, but Jerkens said more will need to be done to be Derby-ready.

“That was quite a while ago and we’ll definitely have to do something by Monday to be prepared,” he said. “A mile-and-a-quarter against the best horses in the country, you don’t want to be going in short of conditioning. That’s for sure.”

Jerkens said the quarter-crack problems may have more to do with pedigree and Quality Road’s build than anything. “For a horse his size,” Jerkens said, “(his feet) in comparison to the rest of him, are a little on the small side. His (hoof) walls are kind of thin.”

He said Quality Road’s three-quarter sister, Kobla Road, was a quarter-crack nightmare. “We had a horrible time with her. We were forever patching quarter-cracks up.” Her racing career had to be cut short and now is a broodmare.

While the quarter crack remains a serious concern, Jerkens said, “He hasn’t been weight-bearing sore on it.”

Quality Road will ship to Churchill Downs Tuesday if all goes well over the next two days.

SQUARE EDDIE – Square Eddie was out for a very easy jog once around the Churchill oval Saturday morning at 6:30. Exercise rider Tony Romero did the honors, moving easily alongside a big pony.

“Nice and easy today,” said assistant trainer Leandro Mora, who is holding down the fort until chief trainer Doug O’Neill makes the scene. “He’s going to work tomorrow morning after the break, so we want him fresh for that.”

Square Eddie announced his return to the racing wars with a swooping move to the front in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes on April 18 at Keeneland, only to fall back and finish third behind winner Advice. That start was the first in three months for the Smart Strike colt, who last year won the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (Grade I) at Keeneland and then finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade I) at Santa Anita.

Square Eddie is scheduled to work Sunday morning. Mora wasn’t sure whether or not his new rider, Corey Nakatani, would be coming from California for the exercise.

Mora noted further that Square Eddie’s conditioning for his comeback has been supplemented by “swimming” on an equine treadmill.

“His work routine wouldn’t have been enough to get him ready for this race on his own,” he stated. “The swimming has been a big help. In fact, we’re going back over to Keeneland with him this afternoon and let him ‘swim’ for 45 minutes or so. We’ll try to keep that up during the week, but it may be that we won’t be able to take him out of here (because of security concerns) as we get closer to the race. But we’ll keep ‘swimming’ him as long as we can. He loves it.”

Mora, a veteran of the Southern California racing scene, remembered another case of a “swimming” Derby horse.

“I was at Hollywood Park back in 1983 when David Cross Jr., had Sunny’s Halo. He’s only had a few races prepping for the Derby and a lot of people didn’t think he could be ready. But I saw David ‘swim’ that horse for 40 straight days at the old pool and treadmill they had there and I knew he was going to be fit. And he was.”

Sunny’s Halo, with only two 3-year-old prep races coming into Kentucky Derby 109, was always prominent under Eddie Delahoussaye and drew clear to win by two lengths.

SUMMER BIRD – The lightly raced colt by Birdstone who had his final major Derby work on Friday here (6 furlongs in 1:15.80) just walked under the shedrow Saturday morning.

Trainer Tim Ice and jockey Chris Rosier were off to Lone Star Park in Texas, where the trainer has three horses entered, including Catmantoo in the Texas Mile Stakes and Affirmed Truth in the Richmond Hills Stakes.

Both trainer and rider are due back in Louisville on Sunday. Before Ice left at 6:30 he had a chance to take in the pre-dawn work of Godolphin’s Regal Ransom.

WEST SIDE BERNIE – West Side Bernie had his final Kentucky Derby breeze Saturday morning, drilling a half-mile over the fast main track in :48.20 with jockey Stewart Elliott aboard.

“I told ‘Stew’ to go in :48, so it was just what I wanted,” trainer Kelly Breen said of the move. “Better a fifth slower than a second too fast.

“The track has been kind of dull, so I think that was a very good work. And ‘Stew’ told me that he had a lot of horse left when he passed the wire. So I was happy he stayed well within himself today, instead of leaving his race on the track.

“He got something out of the work without knocking himself out. The time was as close to the plan as you can get, so I’m happy.”

Breen, who will be saddling his first Kentucky Derby starter, said that West Side Bernie will gallop up to the race now.

This was the first recorded breeze West Side Bernie has put in since he drilled a half in :48.80 at Palm Meadows on March 12. He went on to run second in the Wood Memorial (Grade I) on April 4.

“I want to have a sharp horse in the Derby,” Breen said. “That’s why he worked a half-mile.”

Elliott, who won the Derby aboard Smarty Jones in 2004, said he thought the work was perfect.

“He went just like we wanted him to,” the rider said. “A very good work.”

And was the rider happy to be back at Churchill Downs?

“Thrilled,” he said. “It’s great to have a horse in the Derby.”

Breen gave $50,000 for West Side Bernie at the Keeneland September yearling sale in 2007 on behalf of George and Lori Hall.

WIN WILLY – Win Willy, a son of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos jogged a mile and galloped a mile Saturday morning with exercise rider Elias Lopez aboard.

Luis Moldonado, who is caring for the horse at Churchill Downs, said that trainer Mac Robertson is due in Monday or Tuesday to supervise final preparations for Win Willy, who won the Rebel Stakes and then ran fourth in the Arkansas Derby. Cliff Berry, who was aboard in those races, will again be the rider next Saturday.

Moldonado said that Robertson was in the process of moving his entire string of some 60 horses from Oaklawn Park to Canterbury Downs, his summer headquarters.

Follow your Kentucky Derby 135 favorites on www.churchilldowns.com, and get the rundown on how the contenders are training up to the first Saturday in May!

ADVICE / DUNKIRK / JOIN IN THE DANCE – Two of the three Todd Pletcher Kentucky Derby hopefuls galloped Friday morning at Churchill Downs.

Tampa Bay Derby (Grade III) runner-up Join in the Dance galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Kevin Willey. With $90,000 in graded earnings, Join in the Dance would need one defection for the list of possible Kentucky Derby starters to gain a spot in the starting gate.

Willey was out in the next set on WinStar Farm’s Advice, galloping a mile and a half. Advice won the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (Grade II) last Saturday.

Dunkirk, owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, is stabled at Palm Meadows in Florida and scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday, the same day as Pletcher. Edgar Prado has the mount on Dunkirk.

CHOCOLATE CANDY – El Camino Real Derby (Grade III) winner Chocolate Candy visited the paddock and galloped a mile and half under exercise rider Lindsey Molina shortly after the track opened for training at 6 a.m.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is scheduled back in Louisville on Saturday to saddle Rendezvous in the Derby Trial (Grade III). Chocolate Candy, owned by the Sid and Jenny Craig Trust, is scheduled to work Monday or Tuesday.  Mike Smith has the Derby riding assignment.

DESERT PARTY / REGAL RANSOM – The Godolphin duo of Desert Party and Regal Ransom galloped a mile and a quarter each before the renovation break with exercise rider Bob Chapman handling both activities.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said both colts would work Saturday morning with Regal Ransom going out at 6 a.m. and Desert Party after the break at 8:30. Chapman will handle both five-furlong works.

Ramon Dominguez will ride Desert Party in Kentucky Derby 135 and Regal Ransom will be piloted by Alan Garcia.

FLAT OUT – Oxbow Racing’s Flat Out had an easy day and just walked the shedrow in Barn 48.  Trainer Charles “Scooter” Dickey still has not named a jockey and has not yet decided when Flat Out will work next.

Flat Out is 22nd on the graded earnings list and needs a couple of defections to make the field for Derby 135.

FLYING PRIVATE – Robert Baker and William Mack’s Flying Private galloped an unspecified distance according to trainer D. Wayne Lukas.  Lukas says how far he went “doesn’t matter.”  Exercise rider Taylor Carty was aboard.

Flying Private is scheduled to work unday or Monday according to Lukas. Robby Albarado has the Derby riding assignment.

FRIESAN FIRE – Louisiana Derby (Grade II) winner Friesan Fire arrived at Churchill Downs shortly after 3 p.m. (EDT) following a van ride from Lexington’s Keeneland Race Course.

Trained by Larry Jones for Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm, Friesan Fire is scheduled to be ridden in the Kentucky Derby 135 by Gabriel Saez.  Friesan Fire will be stabled in Barn 45.

GENERAL QUARTERS – Owner-trainer Tom McCarthy reported all was well with General Quarters on Friday morning, a day after the colt worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 under exercise rider Julie Sheets.

Julien Leparoux, who has ridden in the past two Kentucky Derbies, has the call on General Quarters.

HOLD ME BACK – WinStar Farm’s Hold Me Back galloped a mile and a half under assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy before the renovation break Friday morning.

“And Twinkie had a good gallop, too, if anyone is asking,” trainer Bill Mott said with a chuckle, referring to his pony.

Mott is looking at Sunday or Monday as the final work for Hold Me Back, who will attempt to make Kent Desormeaux the first jockey in 26 years to ride back-to-back Kentucky Derby winners. Eddie Delahoussaye last turned the trick in 1982-83 with Gato Del Sol and Sunny’s Halo.

I WANT REVENGE – Wood Memorial (Grade I) winner I Want Revenge started the day with a paddock schooling session and then galloped a mile and a half under Joe Deegan.

Owned by IEAH Stables, David Lanzman and Puglisi Racing, I Want Revenge is scheduled to have his third work at Churchill Downs on Tuesday with jockey Joe Talamo slated to be aboard as he has been for the first two.

Trainer Jeff Mullins is scheduled to return to Louisville from his Southern California base on Saturday.

MINE THAT BIRD – Double Eagle Ranch and Bueno Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird jogged a half-mile and then galloped a mile and half before the renovation break under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa.

“He looked sharp this morning,” trainer Chip Woolley said. “He will work Monday morning, a little after the break, around 8:50.”

Calvin Borel will have a get-acquainted session that morning on Mine That Bird, who comes into the Kentucky Derby off a fourth-place finish in the March 29 Sunland Derby.

MUSKET MAN – Eric Fein and Vic Carlson’s Musket Man galloped a mile and five-eighths under Salvador Dominguez early Friday morning and was scheduled for his final pre-Derby work on Saturday.

“When (Eibar) Coa gets here in the morning, we’ll work,” trainer Derek Ryan said.

Coa was aboard for Musket Man’s victory in the Grade II Illinois Derby on April 4 in his most recent start.

PAPA CLEM – Bo Hirsch’s Papa Clem galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break under exercise rider Mundo Gonzalez. Gonzalez is scheduled to be aboard for Papa Clem’s work Saturday morning.

“Mundo gallops for me in California and I was thinking that if we do good here and go on to Pimlico, I’d like to have my regular guy who gets on him,” trainer Gary Stute said.

Stute got an extra starter to watch over on Thursday when Kitty in the Bag arrived from Southern California to run in next Thursday’s Kentucky Juvenile (Grade III), the first graded stakes race of the year for 2-year-olds. Stute’s father, veteran California trainer Mel Stute, trains Kitty in the Bag, who won her debut by 3-1/4 lengths going two furlongs at Santa Anita on April 1.

“Dad’s coming in Sunday,” Stute said.

Mel Stute has trained two Kentucky Derby starters: Bold ‘n Rulling, who ran sixth in 1980 and Snow Chief, who ran in 11th in 1986 and came back two weeks later to win the Preakness (Grade I).  Rafael Bejarano has the riding assignment on Papa Clem.

PIONEEROF THE NILE – Zayat Stables’ Pioneerof the Nile galloped a mile and a half after the renovation break with exercise rider George Alvarez up.

Trainer Bob Baffert has Monday penciled in as the next work day for Pioneerof the Nile, who will be ridden in the Derby by Garrett Gomez.

SQUARE EDDIE – J. Paul Reddam’s Square Eddie was on the track before 7 a.m. Friday for a mile and a half gallop under exercise rider Tony Romero.

Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill, was asked how the gallop looked to him.

“Pretty damn good,” Mora said with a smile.

Corey Nakatani is scheduled to ride Square Eddie, who is slated to have his final pre-Derby work Sunday with O’Neill expected to be on hand.

“We are working all three that morning,” Mora said, alluding to Claimboxdotcom, O’Neill and Sarno’s Informed, a candidate for next Friday’s Grade III Alysheba, and Reddam and Mark Schlesinger’s Modification, who is nominated to next Friday’s Grade II Louisville Distaff and the Grade I Humana Distaff scheduled for Derby Day.

SUMMER BIRD – K.K. and Vilasini Jayaraman’s Summer Bird, working after the renovation break with jockey Chris Rosier up, worked six furlongs in 1:15.80 from the five-eighths pole to the seven-eighths.

Summer Bird stood quietly in the six-furlong gap waiting for the track to reopen. The chestnut son of Birdstone then went about his business with Churchill Downs clockers recording fractions of :12.80, :25.20, :37.20, :49.40, 1:02.60 and out seven furlongs in 1:29.60 over a track rated as “fast”.

“I am happy as I can be with it,” Rosier said. “He was relaxed and calm all the way through.”

Trainer Tim Ice, who will heading to Lone Star Park on Saturday with Rosier and coming back Sunday, liked the work.

“I got him in 1:15 and 3, but he doesn’t work much by himself,” Ice said. “He needs something in front of him.

“He is a deep closer and he picked it up nice and galloped out strong. He gets better the longer he goes.”

Ice said Summer Bird would walk Saturday, jog Sunday morning and gallop into the race “with a two-minute clip down the lane on Wednesday, which is the same thing he did before the Arkansas Derby.” Summer Bird ran third in the Arkansas Derby, coming from 15 lengths back to finish 1 ¼ lengths behind Papa Clem in only his third start.

“We expected good things out of him, but didn’t expect as much of a jump right off the bat,” said Ice, who has saddled horses at Churchill Downs before as an assistant. “It’s a whole new experience having one for yourself for the Derby. There is no other race like it.”

WEST SIDE BERNIE – George and Lori Hall’s West Side Bernie galloped a mile and five-eighths before the renovation break with trainer Kelly Breen up.

Breen plans to work West Side Bernie after the break Saturday morning and hoes to have jockey Stewart Elliott aboard for the work.

WIN WILLY – Jer-Mar Stable’s Win Willy walked the shedrow at Barn 45, a day after arriving from Oaklawn Park where he finished fourth in the Grade II Arkansas Derby in his most recent start.

Cliff Berry is scheduled to ride Win Willy in the Derby for trainer Mac Robertson.

Follow the progress of your favorite Kentucky Derby contender through the Churchill Downs Notes Team, bringing you daily updates on the horses preparing for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2.

ADVICE / DUNKIRK / JOIN IN THE DANCE - WinStar Farm's Advice, winner of the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (Grade II) last Saturday, had his first trip over the Churchill Downs track Thursday morning, galloping under exercise rider Kevin Willey.

Advice had arrived at Churchill Downs from Keeneland on Wednesday, along with Join in the Dance, owned by Jake Ballis, Rashard Lewis, et al. Join in the Dance, fifth in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I), galloped with Willey up.

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Dunkirk is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on April 28 along with trainer Todd Pletcher. Edgar Prado has the mount on Dunkirk.

CHOCOLATE CANDY - Triple stakes winner Chocolate Candy took one loop around the paddock and then jogged a mile on Thursday morning at Churchill Downs with exercise rider Lindsey Molina up.

Owned by the Sid and Jenny Craig Trust, Chocolate Candy enters Kentucky Derby 135 off a runner-up finish to Pioneerof the Nile in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby. Prior to that, the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee had won the El Camino Real Derby (Grade III) and the California Derby.

Hollendorfer is scheduled to return to Louisville on Saturday with the colt's final pre-Derby work slated for Monday or Tuesday. Mike Smith has the riding assignment.

DESERT PARTY / REGAL RANSOM - Trainer Saeed bin Suroor announced Thursday morning that Alan Garcia would ride Regal Ransom in Kentucky Derby 135 and Ramon Dominguez would have the mount on Desert Party for Godolphin.

"Alan is staying on the horse he rode in Dubai," bin Suroor said of the rider who won the UAE Derby (Grade II) by a half-length over Desert Party. "We have two very good riders."

Bin Suroor had not seen his two Derby hopefuls since they left Dubai for Churchill Downs, arriving here on April 9.

"I was surprised at how well they looked," bin Suroor said. "Sometimes horses don't travel well, but they look happy and in good condition. They look better to me than they did in Dubai."

Exercise rider Bob Chapman handled morning duties on both colts. First out was Desert Party, who galloped a mile and a quarter, and then Regal Ransom visited the starting gate and then galloped a mile and a quarter.

"Both of them will work Saturday and Bob will handle both works," bin Suroor said.

Godolphin is returning to the Derby for the first time since Essence of Dubai ran ninth in 2002. Previous Godolphin starters were Worldly Manner (seventh in 1999), China Visit and Curule (sixth and seventh, respectively in 2000) and Express Tour (eighth in 2001).

"We are hoping for good fortune this time," bin Suroor said. "I feel like we have better horses this time than we have had in the past. This is a tough race to win."

FLAT OUT - Oxbow Racing's Flat Out was "feeling good" Thursday morning according to trainer Charles "Scooter" Dickey.  He galloped 1 ¾ miles with exercise rider and assistant trainer Walter Aguilar in the irons.

Dickey says he hopes to name a rider for Flat Out within the "next few days".  He wants that rider to be aboard for Flat Out's final work which will be Sunday, Monday or Tuesday.

Flat Out is 22nd on the graded earnings list and will need a couple of defections in order to make the field for Derby 135.

FLYING PRIVATE - Robert Baker and William Mack's Flying Private jogged two miles with exercise rider Taylor Carty aboard.  Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Flying Private will put in his final work on Monday or Tuesday.  Robby Albarado has the mount for Derby 135.

FRIESAN FIRE - Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm's Friesan Fire is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs from Keeneland on Friday afternoon.  Trained by Larry Jones and scheduled to be ridden in the Kentucky Derby by Gabriel Saez, Friesan Fire will be housed in Barn 45.

GENERAL QUARTERS - Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I) winner General Quarters turned in his final work for Kentucky Derby 135 by covering five furlongs in 1:01.80 under exercise rider Julie Sheets.

Working at 7 o'clock, General Quarters recorded fractions of :12.60, :24.20, :36.60, :48.80 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.20 according to Churchill Downs clockers. The move was the 13th fastest of 30 at the distance.

"I was looking for between 1:01 and 1:02, so this was perfect," owner-trainer Tom McCarthy said. "I wanted a nice, steady work, and that is what I got. I did not want anything like his work before the Blue Grass (:58.20 on April 4). I am happy with the work."

Sheets, who has been General Quarters' regular morning partner since the colt arrived here last month, said, "He went nice and easy, very comfortable."

McCarthy said General Quarters would walk on Friday.

HOLD ME BACK - WinStar Farm's Hold Me Back "made two rounds" of the track with assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy up according to trainer Bill Mott.

Winner of the Lane's End (Grade II) and runner-up to General Quarters in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I) in his most recent start, Hold Me Back had arrived at Churchill Downs on Wednesday from Keeneland.

Mott said that Hold Me Back would work Sunday or Monday. Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning rider Kent Desormeaux has the mount.

I WANT REVENGE - Wood Memorial (Grade I) winner I Want Revenge galloped a mile and a half under Joe Deegan shortly after the racetrack opened for training.

Bobby Troeger, assistant to trainer Jeff Mullins, said I Want Revenge would visit the paddock on Friday as part of his morning activity.

Joe Talamo has the mount on I Want Revenge, who is owned by IEAH Stables, David Lanzman and Puglisi Racing. I Want Revenge is scheduled for his final pre-Derby work on Tuesday.

MINE THAT BIRD - Double Eagle Ranch and Bueno Suerte Equine's Mine That Bird jogged a half-mile and then galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa before the renovation break.

"He looked sharp this morning, came back bucking and play and he doesn't do that at home," trainer Chip Woolley said.

Calvin Borel has the Derby riding assignment and is scheduled to work Mine That Bird on Monday.

MR. HOT STUFF - WinStar Farm's Mr. Hot Stuff, third in the Santa Anita Derby, is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Monday following a flight from southern California.  The son of Tiznow will work for trainer Eoin Harty on Sunday over the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita.

Mr. Hot Stuff does not have a confirmed rider at this point, but Harty said there's no rush to make that assignment.

"We'll just wait and see what happens," he said.  "Unfortunately, or fortunately, something could happen to one of the other horses and a rider will come available.  There are plenty of riders out there, so we'll deal with that one when we come to it."

MUSKET MAN - Illinois Derby (Grade II) winner Musket Man galloped 2 ¼ miles under exercise rider Salvador Dominguez early Thursday morning.

"He two-minute licked the second time around," trainer Derek Ryan said of Musket Man, who is owned by Eric Fein and Vic Carlson. Eibar Coa, who was aboard for the Illinois Derby victory, has the Kentucky Derby riding assignment.

Musket Man is scheduled to have his final pre-Derby work on Saturday.

PAPA CLEM - Bo Hirsch's Papa Clem galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break with exercise rider Nate Quinonez up.

"He'll gallop a mile and a half in the morning and then work Saturday," trainer Gary Stute said.

Rafael Bejarano has the Kentucky Derby riding assignment.

PIONEEROF THE NILE - Zayat Stables' Pioneerof the Nile stood in the starting gate and jogged once around with exercise rider George Alvarez up.

Trained by three-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert, Pioneerof the Nile will be ridden by Garrett Gomez next Saturday. Winner of four consecutive starts, Pioneerof the Nile is scheduled for his final pre-Derby work on Monday or Tuesday.

SQUARE EDDIE - J. Paul Reddam's Square Eddie visited the paddock and then galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Tony Romero.

Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O'Neill, said more paddock schooling would be on tap for Square Eddie, whose final pre-Derby work is slated for Saturday or Sunday.

Corey Nakatani has the riding assignment on Square Eddie for Kentucky Derby 135.

SUMMER BIRD - Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman's Summer Bird galloped a mile and a half under jockey Chris Rosier after the renovation break.

Third in the Grade II Arkansas Derby in only his third start, Summer Bird is scheduled to work six furlongs after the break Friday morning with Rosier up for trainer Tim Ice.

This will be the second Kentucky Derby starter for Kalarikkal Jayaraman. Racing under the Tiffany Farms banner in 1989, Irish Actor finished seventh behind Sunday Silence. LeRoy Jolley was the trainer of Irish Actor.

WEST SIDE BERNIE - With trainer Kelly Breen up, George and Lori Hall's West Side Bernie galloped a mile and five-eighths before the renovation break.

West Side Bernie is scheduled to work Saturday morning.

Stewart Elliott, winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby aboard Smarty Jones, has the Derby mount on West Side Bernie.   

WIN WILLY - Jer-Mar Stable's Win Willy arrived at Churchill Downs shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday and settled in at Barn 45, Stall 21.

Trained by Mac Robertson, Win Willy is slated to be ridden in the Kentucky Derby by Cliff Berry.

Godolphin’s pair of contenders for the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) – Desert Party and Regal Ransom – turned in sharp works Saturday in their first serious training at Churchill Downs, while Illinois Derby (GII) winner Musket Man worked a strong six furlongs under Derby jockey Eibar Coa.

UAE Derby (GII) winner Regal Ransom turned in one of the best works of the day as he zipped five furlongs over a “fast” track in :59.80 under exercise rider Bob Chapman.  The son of Distorted Humor worked shortly after the track opened for training on the perfect spring morning and carved out fractions of :12/60, :24.20, :35.80 and :48 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.

    Desert Party, winner of last fall’s Sanford (GII) at Saratoga and the UAE 2000 Guineas and runner-up to Regal Ransom in the UAE Derby at Nad Al Sheba, worked just after the mid-session break for track maintenance and breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20.  Chapman was aboard as the son of Street Cry covered the distance in fractions of :12.20, :24.40, :37 and :48.80 and galloped out strongly with six furlongs in 1:13.20.

    “Both of them seemed to grab the track really good,” said Rick Mettee, assistant to Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor.  “This is the first these two have worked over a dirt track since last fall.  Of course they ran over the dirt at Nad Al Sheba, but that’s one reason why Saeed wanted to get them in here earlier.  They’ve been training at the (synthetic) Tapeta track over at Al Quoz and then before they got there they trained over the conventional Polytrack at Keeneland.”\

    Desert Party had some unexpected company on the track as he encountered Nowhere to Hide, the Nick Zito-trained fourth-place finisher in the Risen Star (GIII), Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) and Illinois Derby (GIII), at the head of the stretch and quickly blew past that colt as he split Zito’s colt on the rail and a galloper to the outside.

    “He had some competition there turning for home and that kind of spurred him on a little bit,” said Mettee.  “He grabbed the track fine and galloped out good and we’re really happy with that. He probably isn’t as a good a work horse as the other.  The track might not have been quite as fast as it was early.  That’s what my rider said.”

    Mettee said there has still been no formal decision as to whether both colts will run in the 135th Kentucky Derby on May 2, but said today’s efforts by Regal Ransom and Desert Party could accelerate that decision.

    “I think we wanted to kind of get past this hurdle and see how both of them were doing,” he said.  “Both of them worked good before we left – both of them worked sharp halves.  So this was the next step.  Saeed and Shiekh Mohammed will go over that, and it probably won’t be that long before they make a decision.”

    Mettee said Regal Ransom and Desert Party would have one more work in the days leading up to the Derby.

    “We’re kind of ahead of the game now, so we could go anywhere from Saturday to Tuesday of next week,” he said.  “Depending the weather and the track, we’d just wait and see.”

    Desert Party has a career record of 4-1-0 in six races and has earned $688,467.  Regal Ransom’s record stands at 2-2-0 in five races with earnings of $1,297,200.

    Meanwhile, Eric Fein and Vic Carlson’s Musket Man, the winner of the Illinois Derby (GIII) and Tampa Bay Derby, breezed six furlongs in the company of a stablemate for trainer Derek Ryan.  Coa guided the son of Yonaguska through the distance in 1:13 just after the break for track maintenance.

    Musket Man pulled away from his workmate, the 3-year-old colt Bull Toccet, at the top of the stretch and was about four lengths clear at the finish.  Bull Toccet covered the distance in 1:13.80.

    The work started at the 5 ½ furlong pole and finished up at the 7 ½ pole, and clockers caught Musket Man through his final quarter mile in :24.40.

    “I was pretty happy the way he worked,” said Coa.  “He just sat next to that horse all the way to the eighth pole and when I asked him he really finished up good.  That was what we were looking for today, and he did it the way we wanted to.”

    It was the first work over the track for Musket Man since his arrival at the track on April 5, the day after his victory in the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Park.  

    “It went very well – it couldn’t have been a better work,” said trainer Derek Ryan.   “I always work him in company.  Every work he’s ever had has been in company, because he’s a little bit laid-back on his own and we needed to get a good work in him.”

    Musket Man has won five of six career starts with earnings of $572,600.

BAFFERT RETURNS TO THE CHURCHILL FOR DERBY – Three-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert was back at Barn 33 on Saturday to oversee the training of Zayat Stable’s Pioneerof the Nile in the two weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

    The son of Empire Maker galloped Saturday morning following the break for track maintenance with Baffert looking on.  Baffert last participated in the Kentucky Derby when he saddled three horses in 2006.

    “It’s good to be back,” said Baffert. “You miss having a good horse for it.  But if you don’t have the right horse, you don’t miss it.  It’s not the same – it doesn’t get the juices flowing.  This time, coming here with a horse like this, I feel like I have a good chance to win it, so it’s exciting when you know you have a good horse.”

    Pioneerof the Nile has won four consecutive stakes races, including the Santa Anita Derby in his most recent outing on April 4.  Baffert’s colt has yet to run on traditional dirt – all of his previous races have been on turf or synthetic courses – but Baffert is encouraged that horses that he had beaten in California – such as Wood Memorial (GI) winner I Want Revenge and Arkansas Derby (GII) winner Papa Clem – traveled East and performed well on dirt courses.

    “It’s good that horses that left town to get away from him did well,” he said.  “This horse is improving and I think he should move up on the dirt, but you never know.”

    Baffert said Pioneerof the Nile would work Tuesday or Wednesday.

SUNDAY WORKS – Trainer Gary Stute said Bo Hirsch’s homebred Papa Clem, winner of the Arkansas Derby (GII), would work seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on Sunday.  

    Stute, who was traveling to Louisville on Saturday, said the colt would work close to the break for track maintenance.  

    Also scheduled to work on Sunday is Starlight Partners’ Take the Points, the runner-up in the Sham (GIII) who could enter the Kentucky Derby picture if there are defections from the list of possible starters over the next few days.  Take the Points is trained by Todd Pletcher.

 

After spending the winter on synthetic surfaces in California, Zayat Stables Pioneerof the Nile and the Sid and Jenny Craig Trust’s Chocolate Candy got a feel for the traditional dirt track at Churchill Downs on Friday as they began their first full day at the home of the Kentucky Derby.

    The Bob Baffert-trained Pioneerof the Nile, whose win in the Santa Anita Derby (GI) marked his fourth straight stakes victory, and Chocolate Candy, the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby, both jogged over a “fast” surface after the mid-session break for track maintenance on Friday.  

    The two horses arrived at Churchill Downs early Thursday afternoon.  Chocolate Candy is scheduled to work on Tuesday, April 28 at Churchill Downs with new jockey Mike Smith in the saddle.  Smith, who won the 2005 Kentucky Derby aboard Giacomo, piloted the homebred Candy Ride colt in his last work before his departure from California.  Hollendorfer will accompany Smith to Kentucky for the work.

    Trainer Bob Baffert is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Friday evening and will be at Barn 33 on Saturday to supervise the training of Pioneerof the Nile and Kentucky Oaks (GI) hopeful Gabby’s Golden Gal.

Four Kentucky Derby contenders are scheduled to work at Churchill Downs over the weekend:

• Godolphin’s pair of Kentucky Derby hopefuls will work on Saturday.  UAE Derby winner Regal Ransom is scheduled to work as soon as the track opens at 6 a.m. (all times EDT), while UAE 2000 Guineas winner Desert Party will work just after the maintenance break around 8:30 a.m.
• Illinois Derby (GII) and Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) winner Musket Man will work just after the break with jockey Eibar Coa up.
•  Arkansas Derby (GII) winner Papa Clem will work seven furlongs on Sunday, according to trainer Gary Stute.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time winner of both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, has arrived on the scene with Kentucky Derby hopeful Flying Private and Oaks candidate Be Fair.  Lukas said Flying Private would work “Monday or Tuesday,” and was leaning toward the latter.  Be Fair is set for a Sunday breeze.

    Wood Memorial (GI) winner I Want Revenge is scheduled for a Tuesday work.  

    Three other Kentucky Derby contenders are on the grounds at Churchill Downs.  Toyota Blue Grass (GI) winner General Quarters, Wood Memorial (GI) runner-up West Side Bernie and Smarty Jones winner Flat Out all galloped on Friday.

LEPAROUX TO RIDE TOYOTA BLUE GRASS WINNER GENERAL QUARTERS IN KENTUCKY DERBY 135 -- Four-time Churchill Downs’ riding champion Julien Leparoux has been named to ride owner-trainer Tom McCarthy’s Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade I) winner General Quarters in the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
    McCarthy said Wednesday that the 25-year-old native of Senlis, France would ride his gray son of Sky Mesa in the Derby.  McCarthy named Leparoux to the mount after he became frustrated by a lack of a commitment or communication from jockey Eibar Coa, who rode the colt in the Toyota Blue Grass.  Coa is also the regular jockey aboard Kentucky Derby contender Musket Man, the winner of the Illinois Derby (GII).
    “Julien is a nice, sit-still rider and he’s fairly aggressive,” said McCarthy.  “I think he’d fit this horse very nicely.”
    The 72-year-old McCarthy, a retired educator and former principal at three Louisville high schools, has a long relationship with Steve Bass, Leparoux’s agent and a former student of McCarthy’s at Louisville’s Seneca High School.   Leparoux’s success at Churchill Downs was also a selling point for McCarthy.
    “That’s a big thing,” McCarthy said.  “He’s been riding here and he knows the track.  After I get through talking with him we’ll have a plan we’ll use in the Derby.”
    Leparoux’s riding titles at Churchill Downs include a sensational record-smashing 2008 Fall Meet.  He recorded 63 wins during that session, which broke a record of 55 set in 1984 by Hall of Famer Pat Day, the track’s all-time leading jockey.  During that meet Leparoux also collected seven wins in a single day, which tied a record set by Day.
    General Quarters returned to the track on Wednesday for the first time since his Blue Grass victory.   He galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Julie Sheets.
    McCarthy said General Quarters would probably have just one work between the Toyota Blue Grass and the Kentucky Derby.  His plan is not yet firm, but McCarthy said that he anticipates a work about eight days out from Derby 135.

GOLDOPHIN DUO SET FOR SATURDAY WORKS – Godolphin’s Kentucky Derby duo of UAE Derby (GII) winner Regal Ransom and runner-up Desert Party galloped over a “fast” track at Churchill Downs on Wednesday under the gaze of Rick Mettee, the assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
    “They trained great, both of them,” said Mettee. “They galloped really well. They had jogged for a few days since clearing quarantine and they both seemed to grab the track real nice.”
    The horses cleared quarantine at Churchill Downs on Saturday and are now stabled at Barn 41. 
    Mettee said that Godolphin and bin Suroor had not made a “definitive decision” on whether both horses would run in the May 2 Derby.
    “Both are going to work this weekend and that might help sort things out,” Mettee said.  “No definitive decision has been made, but right now we’re planning on running both.”
    Regarding Godolphin’s rider situation, Mettee said Alan Garcia, who rode Regal Ransom in the UAE Derby, was committed to ride for the stable in the Kentucky Derby.  If both horses are entered in the Derby, the decision would be made then as to which horse Garcia would ride.

WEST SIDE BERNIE JOGS – Wood Memorial (GI) runner-up West Side Bernie jogged on Wednesday at Churchill Downs in his first trip to the track since his pre-dawn arrival at the home of the Kentucky Derby on Monday.
    Trainer Kelly Breen was happy with the way the 3-year-old son of Bernstein looked on the track, but was unsure of the colt’s training schedule for the just over two weeks that remain before the “Run for the Roses.”
    “He had a little bit of a bout with colic when he shipped in here,” said Breen.  “He went to the track today, which is as good a schedule as we thought we’d be on.  I’m not sure if I’m going to breeze him on Sunday or just open gallop him.  I’m going to see how he feels.  I think he’s gotten over it (the colic) and put it past him, but I’m on the cautious side right now.”
    West Side Bernie would be Breen’s first Kentucky Derby starter.  Stewart Elliott, who won the 2004 Kentucky Derby aboard Smarty Jones, was in the saddle aboard West Side Bernie in the Wood Memorial and is scheduled to ride the colt in the Derby.

MUSKET MAN SET FOR SATURDAY WORK – Trainer Derek Ryan said Illinois Derby (GII) and Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) winner Musket Man would work on Saturday, April 18, “weather permitting.” 
Ryan said Musket Man would work just after the renovation break and jockey Eibar Coa would be at Churchill Downs for the move.

DERBY CONTENDERS ON THE GROUNDS – With Tuesday’s arrival of Arkansas Derby (GII) winner Papa Clem, there are seven Kentucky Derby hopefuls on the grounds.  Also here are Wood Memorial (GI) winner and possible favorite I Want Revenge; General Quarters; Musket Man; West Side Bernie; and the Godolphin duo of Desert Party and Regal Ransom.  The 1-2 finishers in the Santa Anita Derby – Pioneerof the Nile and Chocolate Candy – are scheduled to arrive on Thursday, April 16.

KENTUCKY OAKS FAVORITE RACHEL ALEXANRA TO BREEZE ON THURSDAY – L & M Racing’s Rachel Alexandra, winner of the Fantasy (GII) and Fair Grounds Oaks (GII), is set to work on Thursday, April 16 at Churchill Downs.
    Trainer Hal Wiggins said the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro would breeze around 8:30 a.m. (EDT), just after the break for track maintenance.