ANDROMEDA'S HERO / BELLAMY ROAD / HIGH FLY / NOBLE CAUSEWAY / SUN KING - On the morning after three of his Kentucky Derby hopefuls worked, trainer Nick Zito headed east to Keeneland to oversee morning preparations for the 25 horses he has stabled there.
Robert LaPenta's Andromeda's Hero galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Megan Smillie at Keeneland. Zito said that Rafael Bejarano, who was scheduled to ride the sidelined Consolidator, would ride Andromeda's Hero.
Tracy Farmer's Sun King galloped a mile and a quarter before the renovation break with exercise rider Carlos Correa up. Sun King, who will be ridden by Edgar Prado, comes into Derby 131 off a fourth-place finish behind Bandini in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI).
Reynaldo Abreu, Zito's assistant at Churchill Downs, said that the barn's three Derby prospects came out of Sunday works in good order and walked the shedrow Monday morning.
Kinsman Stable's Bellamy Road, the likely Kentucky Derby favorite off his record-breaking 17 ½-length victory in the Wood Memorial (GI), worked in 1:00.40 on Sunday, tied for the fourth-fastest of 58 works at the distance. Javier Castellano has the Derby mount. Live Oak Plantation's High Fly and My Meadowview Farm's Noble Causeway, the 1-2 finishers, respectively, in the Florida Derby (GI), worked in 1:00.40 and 1:00, respectively. Two-time Kentucky Derby winner Jerry Bailey has the call on High Fly, and three-time Derby winner Gary Stevens the assignment on Noble Causeway.
BANDINI / COIN SILVER / FLOWER ALLEY - The Todd Pletcher-trained Coin Silver had his final tune-up for the Derby Monday morning, while Bandini and Flower Alley had an easy morning after their Sunday breezes. With Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. in the irons, Coin Silver breezed five furlongs in 1:01, going in company with Illinois Derby runner-up Monarch Lane, who was clocked in 1:02.
"The clockers had Coin Silver in 1:01, and I caught him in a minute and four (fifths)," Pletcher said, "but it was just what we wanted, somewhere between 1:00 and 1:01. He went very well. When he pulled away from Monarch Lane he got a little idle for a bit, but then picked it up again at the end."
The Peachtree Stable color bearer won the Lexington Stakes just nine days ago for his first career stakes victory, and is coming back on short rest.
"I would like to have more time between his races," Pletcher said, "but Coin Silver didn't deserve to be in the Derby until he won the Lexington.
"We didn't want to do too much with him today, but he's a big strong horse who eats up every day, and he came back from the race full of himself, so I also didn't want to underdo his training either. We're just looking to keep him happy and on edge."
Pat Valenzuela will get his first look at Coin Silver when he climbs aboard on Derby day.
Bandini, owned by Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, and Flower Alley, who runs in the colors of Melnyk Racing Stables, had a relaxing morning after Sunday workouts. Both horses were on the track looking fresh and lively.
"They both jogged a little, and then went to the paddock for schooling," Pletcher said. "They'll be schooling at the gate and in the paddock several more times."
Bandini, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes last out, drilled five furlongs in 1:00.80 Sunday, while Flower Alley went the same distance in 1:00.60. John Velazquez has the mount on Bandini in the Derby, and Jorge Chavez rides Flower Alley.
BUZZARDS BAY - Fog City Stable's Buzzards Bay, surprise winner of the Santa Anita Derby, tuned up for his engagement in Saturday's 131st running of the Kentucky Derby with a bullet six-furlong workout in 1:11.40 this morning at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
With regular jockey Mark Guidry in the saddle for trainer Jeff Mullins, Buzzards Bay was accompanied in his drill by stablemate Florida Keys, with exercise rider Joe Vaca aboard.
"The work was excellent," said Mullins. "Buzzards Bay broke off about four lengths behind Florida Keys and hooked up with him at the three-eighths. There was a horse in front of them going a half. Mark did a good job, just took him to the outside on the turn - he was in the three path pretty much all the way - and went on from there. He's a good work horse when he has a target.
"He came back good. We scoped him and he scoped clean."
Mullins timed Buzzards Bay in slightly faster time than the clockers, catching his horse in 1:11 flat and galloping on out to the seven-furlong pole in 1:26 flat. Florida Keys received a time of 1:12.60 from the Santa Anita clockers.
Mullins said Buzzards Bay will walk Tuesday and then be shipped to Churchill Downs Wednesday.
