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.
Wednesday Work Tab:
High Limit 4f :48.20
Greeley's Galaxy 5f 1:01.60
AFLEET ALEX - Cash is King Stable's Afleet Alex made one trip to the fast Churchill Downs racing surface on a cool, clear Wednesday morning under exercise rider Salomon Diego.
With trainer Tim Ritchey alongside on a pony, Afleet Alex went to the track at 6:50 and jogged a mile, visited the paddock, took some time standing in front of the grandstand and then jogged another mile before returning to the barn at 7:15.
Ritchey was satisfied with the morning's activity, which came a day after the triple graded stakes winner worked a half-mile in :48.40. Ritchey has been doing some scouting of the opposition in the mornings by watching from his tack room the in-house feed of Dawn at the Downs, which shows Derby horses on the track going through their morning paces.
Anybody particularly catch your eye, Tim?
Bellamy Road is an impressive looking individual, Ritchey said of the probable Derby favorite, who won the Wood Memorial (GI) by 17½ lengths in his most recent start.
Although this Derby will be the first for Ritchey and jockey Jeremy Rose, the barn does have a link to the 2002 Derby. Diego's brother, Loren, was the exercise rider for Request For Parole, who ran fifth behind War Emblem for trainer Steve Margolis. Loren Diego also was the exercise rider for 2003 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Cajun Beat, also trained by Margolis.
ANDROMEDA'S HERO / BELLAMY ROAD / HIGH FLY / NOBLE CAUSEWAY / SUN KING - It was a busy morning at trainer Nick Zito's barn, with his four Churchill Downs-based hopefuls going through their daily paces, two owners on hand to check out their charges and a visit from University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino.
Kinsman Stable's Bellamy Road was on the track before 7 to gallop a mile and a half and visit the starting gate under exercise rider Carlos Correa.
The son of Concerto, who will be ridden by Javier Castellano, will be attempting to become the first Derby winner since Sunny's Halo in 1983 to take the Run for the Roses with the benefit of only two prep races as a 3-year-old.
There wasn't anything we could do. Bellamy Road got ready March 12 and the next race was the Wood Memorial on April 9, Zito said. What else can we do? He had two races and won by more than a combined 33 lengths.
The 2005 debut, which came off a five-month layoff following the Breeders' Futurity (GI) at Keeneland when Bellamy Road was trained by Michael Dickinson, produced a 15 3/4-length victory.
Like everybody else, when he won that race, I thought 'this is amazing,' Zito said. In the Wood, we assumed, like everybody else, 'Well, he's not going to win like that.' And he did.
One of the first Zito horses out Wednesday was Sun King, whose owner, Tracy Farmer, was on the scene.
Under Correa, Sun King galloped a mile and a half and visited the paddock. Zito plans a trip to the gate for the son of 1999 Kentucky Derby winner Charismatic in the morning.
Edgar Prado, who has ridden Sun King to victory in two of three starts in 2005, has the Derby call.
Zito's 1-2 Florida Derby finishers, High Fly and Noble Causeway, respectively, galloped a mile and a half and visited the starting gate. Maxine Correa was on High Fly and Carlos Correa on Noble Causeway. Charlotte Weber of Live Oak Plantation will be attempting a Kentucky Oaks-Derby double that has not been accomplished since Calumet Farm turned the trick in 1951. She was on hand to watch High Fly, whose stablemate In the Gold will run in Friday's Oaks.
High Fly and My Meadowview Farm's Noble Causeway have not raced since their Florida Derby efforts, and come into the Derby off a five-week layoff. No Derby winner has won off that long a layoff since Needles had a six-week break between his Florida and Kentucky Derby triumphs in 1956.
Jerry Bailey has the call on High Fly and Gary Stevens the mount on Noble Causeway.
At Keeneland, Robert LaPenta's Andromeda's Hero galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Megan Smillie. Zito said the Fusaichi Pegasus colt would train at Keeneland in the morning and van to Churchill Downs later in the day.
Rafael Bejarano, who became available when an injury forced the retirement of Consolidator, will ride in his first Kentucky Derby on Andromeda's Hero.
I have won before on him, said Bejarano, who has posted eight victories over the first three days of the Churchill Downs meet. He looked really good the last time (in the Arkansas Derby when ridden by Corey Nakatani). After the wire he was by every horse and he needed a little more distance. I think this is the time for this horse. I know this colt. I think he has a good shot.
