Now that most of the contenders are stabled at Churchill Downs, I will start posting the workout notes daily. Check back for the latest news.
AFLEET ALEX - Cash is King Stable's Afleet Alex made two trips to the main track at Churchill Downs on a damp Friday morning under exercise rider Salomon Diego.
Trainer Tim Ritchey took the runaway winner of the Arkansas Derby (GII) out for a two-mile jog shortly after the track opened at 6 a.m. (all times Eastern), returning to the barn in a heavy rain. The rain dissipated shortly before the renovation break and when Ritchey returned to the track at 8:40 with Afleet Alex, there were no raindrops to dodge. On the second trip, Afleet Alex jogged a mile and then galloped a mile and an eighth.
Jeremy Rose, who has piloted the Northern Afleet colt in nine of his 10 starts, has the Derby call. Rose is riding the first two days of the Delaware Park meet on Saturday and Sunday and will returen to Louisville Sunday night and remain through the Derby.
ANDROMEDA'S HERO / BELLAMY ROAD / HIGH FLY / NOBLE CAUSEWAY / SUN KING - Trainer Nick Zito waited until the morning rains had subsided to send three of his five Kentucky Derby hopefuls to the track. Kinsman Stable's Bellamy Road, Live Oak Plantation's High Fly and My Meadowview Farm's Noble Causeway galloped a mile and half, with all exercise done before the 8 a.m. renovation break. Carlos Correa was on Bellamy Road and Noble Causeway and Maxine Correa was on High Fly. With more rain in the forecast for Friday, Zito said scheduled works for the trio could be pushed back to Sunday from Saturday. "The way it looks now, Sunday," Zito said.
Zito reported that Robert LaPenta's Andromeda's Hero came out of his Thursday work at Churchill Downs in 1:01.80 in good order and walked the shedrow this morning at Keeneland.
Tracy Farmer's Sun King walked the shedrow at Churchill Downs after working five furlongs in 1:00 on Thursday. No rider has been confirmed for Andromeda's Hero. Other Zito riding assignments for Derby 131 are Gary Stevens (Noble Causeway), Jerry Bailey (High Fly), Edgar Prado (Sun King) and Javier Castellano (Bellamy Road).
BANDINI / COIN SILVER / FLOWER ALLEY - There was no dodging the rain for trainer Todd Pletcher's three Derby hopefuls, all of whom were on the track before the renovation break.
In the first set when the track opened at 6 a.m. were Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Bandini and Peachtree Stable's Coin Silver. Frederic Buscail was on Bandini and Angel Cordero, Jr., on Flower Alley, both going about a mile and three-eighths in the "sloppy" conditions. The Melynk Racing Stable's Flower Alley galloped the same distance under Michelle Nihei.
Stopping by Barn 42 was jockey John Velazquez, who will ride Bandini in Derby 131. Velazquez has piloted Bandini to three victories and a second in four starts in 2005.
"I think the Blue Grass was his best race yet and I think he can do a little more than that," Velazquez said. "I think he has a lot of talent."
Velazquez has been named to ride Dance Away Capote in the Kentucky Oaks the day before Derby 131 and will be shooting for an Oaks-Derby riding double that has not been accomplished since 1993 when Jerry Bailey won the Oaks on Dispute and the Derby on Sea Hero. Given the forecast for more rain Friday, Pletcher said Bandini and Flower Alley likely would work Sunday rather than Saturday with Coin Silver penciled in for Monday.
BUZZARDS BAY - Fog City Stable's Buzzards Bay jogged one mile and galloped a mile and half at Santa Anita. Trainer Jeff Mullins said the Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner would repeat the routine up to a scheduled six-furlong breeze on Monday. The son of Marco Bay is due to board a plane for Louisville on Wednesday.
CLOSING ARGUMENT - Philip and Marcia Cohen's Closing Argument galloped a mile and half at Keeneland. The Successful Appeal colt will board a van for Churchill Downs on Saturday at 1 p.m. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he will gallop and/or work five furlongs on Sunday, weather permitting. Otherwise, the breeze will get pushed back to Monday.
CONSOLIDATOR / GOING WILD - Bob and Beverly Lewis' two Kentucky Derby hopefuls, Consolidator and Going Wild, galloped early Friday morning. Stacy Maker was on Consolidator and Derek Smith on Going Wild. No rider has been confirmed for Going Wild. Rafael Bejarano has the call on Consolidator.
DON'T GET MAD - B. Wayne Hughes' Don't Get Mad put in his preparations for Saturday's Derby Trial by visiting the paddock and galloping a mile and eighth under exercise rider Shane Borel.
"We were disappointed in his last race (a sixth in the Santa Anita Derby). It was kind of flat and we hope to rebound Saturday if the Derby is an option," trainer Ron Ellis said."
