GOING WILD - The Sham Stakes winner turned in a routine mile and five-eighths gallop this morning, going out before dawn with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas' second set of horses to make their way to the track. Exercise rider Derek Smith was aboard the Bob and Beverly Lewis color-bearer.
Lukas, in search of his fifth Kentucky Derby crown, said that Going Wild heads into Saturday's showdown with a fighting chance.
He's getting better (this week), but of course everyone here tells you that, Lukas said. He won't embarrass us. Lukas expects - and hopes for - a tight, firm, fast racetrack for the Derby.
I think he likes a firmer track, Lukas said. He ran his best races on a firmer track out in California.
The sport's all-time leading trainer in terms of earnings said that Going Wild's sixth-place effort in the Lexington Stakes two weeks ago should be discounted - as should any horse's performance over the Keeneland racetrack, which historically can be feast or famine for many horses. Lukas flatly reasoned, When High Hield won (the Blue Grass Stakes in 2000), I thought he was Secretariat. He comes here and runs 15th.
Jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr. has the mount in the Kentucky Derby.
GREATER GOOD - Lewis Lakin's Greater Good galloped a bit more than a mile and a half before the renovation break with exercise rider Betsy Couch up and was scheduled for a paddock schooling session during the Wednesday afternoon race card.
If he is good this afternoon, he may not go back, trainer Bob Holthus said. I was pleased with him this morning, the way he was relaxed.
Last year when Holthus saddled Pro Prado in the Kentucky Derby, he was asked if any Derby prospect had caught his eye. He named three, including eventual winner Smarty Jones.
The 70-year-old conditioner was posed the same question Wednesday morning.
I have seen two or three, Holthus said. Bellamy Road, (Bobby) Frankel's horse (High Limit), and Afleet Alex. He's a good athlete.
Holthus saw his first Derby in 1956 when Needles won and he estimates he has witnessed about 40 firsthand.
Among his favorites was Secretariat in 1973 (I thought he was one of the best horses I ever saw).
Did any horse really stand out in training and then win the race? Majestic Prince, Holthus said of the 1969 winner.
GREELEY'S GALAXY - With 83-year-old trainer Warren Stute back on the scene, B. Wayne Hughes' Greeley's Galaxy breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 this morning in his last major move prior to Saturday's 131st running of the Kentucky Derby. Mikki Fincher, the colt's regular morning partner, was in the saddle again today.
Asked at the barn his opinion of the workout, Stute said candidly, Fair. He went too slow early because he was under too much hold. I expected faster, but the last half-mile was fine. He finished OK.
He looks good and healthy. I hope he can sit behind the pace early. Kent (Desormeaux) is a good rider and knows what to do.
Desormeaux has been riding in Japan but, according to Stute, he arrived in Louisville Tuesday.
Greeley's Galaxy will walk under the shed Thursday morning and then will be schooled in the paddock between races in the afternoon. He will gallop both Friday and Saturday, Stute said.
Greeley's Galaxy, hero of the Illinois Derby for his third straight victory in four starts, is being supplemented to the Derby at a cost of $200,000.
HIGH LIMIT - Louisiana Derby winner High Limit, representing owners Gary and Mary West in Saturday's 131st Kentucky Derby, completed his major preparation for the race this morning by breezing a half-mile in :48.20 under exercise rider Jose Cuevas.
Trainer Bobby Frankel, seeking his first Derby success, sent the son of Maria's Mon to the track after the renovation break and expressed satisfaction with the result.
It was fine, said Frankel. I wanted between 48 and 49. The horse is doing super.
Frankel was somewhat upset with quotes attributed to High Limit's regular jockey, Ramon Dominguez, in today's edition of the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Dominguez was quoted as saying, He probably doesn't have enough experience to compete at the highest level yet. But I feel like he's capable of getting it done if he runs his race. He's very talented. I want a rider who has confidence in his horse, said Frankel. There might be a new rider on this horse, who knows? I'm going to give him a call. A few minutes later, Frankel softened, saying, Most likely, he will ride.
Dominguez has piloted High Limit in all four of his races, with three victories, the only defeat coming in the Blue Grass Stakes when the colt was beaten six lengths in finishing second to Bandini. I hope the rider can find a comfort zone early and rides a good race, said Frankel.
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From a Churchill Downs press release
