Spoke with my buddy today as he was driving home from CD this morning and he said that nearly all the favored contenders galloped nicely over a fast main track Thursday in what will be most likely be their last serious training. Unfortunately, based on the latest weather forecast for Derby weekend you can throw any FAST track form a.m. or p.m. right out the window. Reportedly a ton of moisture due into Louisville area to the tune of even perhaps "5" inches starting at 2 a.m. into that 1st Saturday in May.

Doesn't bother me any because I think this will allow the predominantly sloppy track a.m. workouts to hold up as there was only really one fast track over the last 8 days. In other words, workout form should hold up and that is where alot of my time has been spent during the last week so I think it will be time well spent for us come Saturday. For those wondering about the favorite Lookin At Lucky , the quote was "he got what he needed and is hitting on a dime" for his last serious gallop. We will have full reports for Derby and Oaks starters avaliable the night before each championship card here on Case. By the way, switching gears to oaks Day. Blind Luck looks settled in and loaded for J Hollendorfer who knows how to get it done in the Oaks. We have called her a freak all the way back to early October before she won the Oak Leaf at SA. Hard to believe it was exactly one year ago today that I told all my friends at Casetherace that they were going to see maybe a once in a lifetime performance on Oaks Day from the queen Rachel Alexandra and when you watch the video as she won geared down to a canter in near track record time I can say that she lived up to all expectations and then some. Welcome back Rachel on Friday--hope you return to your brilliance under the Twin Spires on a fantastic day of racing featuring you and a 12 race card. Lights-camera-action time now!!!--Toby Turrell