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 - On a crisp, overcast morning at Churchill Downs, Cash is King Stable's Afleet Alex made two visits to the main track with exercise rider Salomon Diego up. Accompanied by trainer Tim Ritchey on a pony, Afleet Alex hit the track at 6:10 for a two-mile jog. After the renovation break, Afleet Alex returned to the track at 8:35 and jogged a mile before galloping two miles.
The winner of the Arkansas Derby (GII) has been at Churchill Downs since April 20. He worked a bullet five-eighths in :59 on April 26 and Ritchey said Afleet Alex may work next week.
"It depends on the weather," said Ritchey, who never has saddled a Kentucky Derby starter. "If I work, fine. If not, it is no big deal. It would be an easy half if he goes."
Ritchey said he is not sure if he would do any paddock schooling with Afleet Alex, who, with $1,315,800 in earnings, is the top money earner in the prospective field for Derby 131. "I may stand him in the gate sometime next week," Ritchey said, "He has always been real good there."
Jeremy Rose has the Derby mount.
ANDROMEDA'S HERO / BELLAMY ROAD / HIGH FLY / NOBLE CAUSEWAY / SUN KING - "We will try again tomorrow," trainer Nick Zito said of his work plans for Bellamy Road, High Fly and Noble Causeway. "Even if the weather gets bad, I can wait until Monday. Why take a chance?"
Rain that pelted the Louisville area for most of the day and night Friday had left the track muddy and Zito instead had his three scheduled workers gallop a mile and a half. Carlos Correa was on Bellamy Road and Noble Causeway, and Maxine Correa was on High Fly. A fourth Zito Derby hopeful at Churchill Downs,
Sun King, also galloped a mile and a half with Carlos Correa up. Zito said that Andromeda's Hero, who is stabled at Keeneland, galloped this morning under Megan Smillie and that a decision on a Derby rider likely would be made by Monday.
Other riding assignments for the two-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer are Gary Stevens (Noble Causeway), Edgar Prado (Sun King), Jerry Bailey (High Fly) and Javier Castellano (Bellamy Road).
BANDINI - The Blue Grass Stakes winner galloped a mile and three-eighths over the muddy main oval Saturday morning, and trainer Todd Pletcher said the colt will have his final Kentucky Derby drill on Sunday morning. A son of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, Bandini ran away with the Blue Grass Stakes, scoring by six lengths over High Limit.
"That was a monster race," Pletcher said. "Hopefully it wasn't too big."
Bandini, owned by Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, has won three of his five lifetime starts. The Blue Grass was his first stakes victory following a second behind High Fly in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream.
Pletcher said that after Sunday's workout, the high-strung Bandini will gallop every day and have several schooling sessions in the paddock during the week. John Velazquez, who has been aboard in all Bandini's starts this year, will be riding in his seventh Derby. His best finish was a second aboard Invisible Ink in 2001. That was also the best effort for Pletcher, who has sent out seven Kentucky Derby starters, including four in 2000 who finished behind Fusaichi Pegasus. He has three starters for this Derby.
BUZZARDS BAY - Santa Anita Derby upset winner Buzzards Bay jogged a mile and galloped a mile and one-half today at Santa Anita, according to trainer Jeff Mullins.
Buzzards Bay, who earned his way into the 131st Kentucky Derby with a 30-1 surprise in the Santa Anita Derby, is scheduled to breeze six furlongs at Santa Anita Monday morning under Derby rider Mark Guidry. Mullins said the son of Marco Bay will work in company. "He'll have a horse in front of him as a target," said the trainer. Asked how his horse was progressing, Mullins said succinctly, "Excellent." Buzzards Bay is scheduled to be shipped to Churchill Downs on Wednesday.
CLOSING ARGUMENT - Phil and Marcia Cohen's Derby hope galloped a mile and three-eighths over the all-weather training track at Keeneland Saturday morning, and was shipped to Churchill Downs in early afternoon.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said the colt likely will have his final Derby breeze at Churchill Downs on Monday morning. "I'm sure the track will be in great shape by then," McLaughlin said. "Danny Wright will be up for the workout."
The colt by Successful Appeal put himself in the Derby picture by winning the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream in February. Last out, in the Blue Grass stakes, trouble at the start compromised his chances and he finished third, nine lengths behind Bandini.
Cornelio Velasquez, his regular rider, will be riding in his second Derby. He was 11th aboard Scrimshaw in 2003. Closing Argument will mark McLaughlin's Derby debut as a trainer.
