Final Comments
Our final report will go in post position order. Conditions were fast until the rennovation when we had some rain which turned the track sloppy for the final three trainees of the morning Pioneer Of The Nile, Friesan Fire, and Summer Bird.
1-WEST SIDE BERNIE----stuck on the rail and is one of the lighter made colts in the field---routine gallop today.
2-MUSKET MAN---has looked just so so most of the week.
3-MR HOT STUFF---nice energy, flesh and coat but he looks like a kid in a candy store the way he behaves.
4-ADVICE---wouldnt slow down start to finish galloping a mile and a half in the dark.
5--HOLD ME BACK----composed with neck arched taking it in the right way with a light gallop--CO CHOICE OFF A.M. WORK.
6--FRIESAN FIRE--calmed down today which is a positive--looked well.
7-PAPA CLEM--Gary told me prework--I want 22 flat--he got 21.4 with a 46.2 out time--the trainer has to be happy!!!!
8-MINE THAT BIRD--healthy and galloped the right way.
9-JOIN IN THE DANCE--on the muscle while a bit wet under the saddle--think he will be winging Saturday near lead.
10-REGAL RANSOM--galloped a mile with the pony-still takes it real easy in the a.m..
11-CHOCOLATE CANDY--not as hot as yesterday but still a bit wet in coat--o.k. movement wise.
13-I WANT REVENGE--stood in gate-a tad anxious but all and all-same hes been last couple days--READY.
15-DUNKIRK--still just so so on appearance while moving over the ground fine enough.
17-SUMMER BIRD--continues to enjoy wetter surface---timing right for Derby day forecast????
19-DESERT PARTY---did nothing wrong in light gallop.
Wednesday - April 29, 2009
As reported yesterday the track turned to sloppy for training today and we have one in and one out to report as well. Win Willy will not run and Nowhere To Hide will enter the gate for the 135th running of the Derby. The latter was the last to train today going a mile with the pony looking healthy for a mile gallop. The first on the track was Advice and he is still running thru the bridle as he was real hard to pull up in the dark on the backside completing his gallop. Next, Summer Bird had an improved appearance in both the flesh and coat as well as the way he seemed to enjoy the wet track movement wise. Flying Private was missed by yours truly while in the dark. Can’t be good?????
Regal Ransom chose to jog a mile. Dunkirk posted up in front of me at the 1/8 pole and was a bit anxious fresh off the plane although he moved well over the slop. We will watch him closer tomorrow for his last serious gallop. Hold Me Back continues to exude class and readiness all the way around as he galloped 2 miles. Desert Party had boots on and chose to take it real light this a.m. Westside Bernie skipped over the wet track a bit better then the dry ones we have had all week. Atomic Rain was soaked but again lets give him a day I guess. Musket Man still just looks just so so. General Quarters is same he’s been---fit and finishes the right way once he warms up.Tuesday - April 28, 2009
For the 1st time since we arrived on Saturday the weather has taken a turn to wet and isn't supposed to change anytime real soon for the next few days. This really didn’t affect anything on the track as it stayed fast for the most part during the training hours of the Derby contenders. One addition for yesterdays report was a 5/8's drill for Take The Points and Todd Pletcher's grey who is now in the Derby if he chooses to run. The workout was fine as the stride, time and movement of the colt allowed him to dispose of his stable mate inside the 1/8 pole with a comfortable winning margin of 2 lengths near the wire. As for today, Regal Ransom the leading graded stakes earner of the field was 1st out and galloped an energetic mile with a noseband and martingale on to contain the high spirited runner once he was let loose from the pony. Next, his stable mate Desert Party exuded class with his neck arched and 2 rear legs off the ground momentarily as he was let loose for his routine gallop.Papa Clem made his 1st appearance since his final breeze a healthy one with nothing out of place for his gallop. General Quarters continues to add to the intrigue as he does appear ready to finish the right way with some extra size and dimension to him that he has developed at the right time. I was present at Churchill when he broke his maiden for a tag and I only wish I had a picture to flash the amount of body and weight he has put on since the summer.
Musket Man looks just so so again. Hold Me Back appears well named as he required that from his rider to be contained as he is razor sharp still today. Westside Bernie appeared to be a bit sluggish at times but he is made of iron as I saw him train for the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita without taking much down time at all. He is well put together physically. Mr Hot Stuff was ponied for a mile jog on the fence and his ears were pricked with plenty of bounce to him right off the plane. The final worker for the Derby was I Want Revenge and he went a 1/2 in 47.1 with a final 1/4 of 23.2. Joe Talamo was the pilot and he didn’t ask the colt at all at any point which pleased his trainer Jeff Mullins who was right down from me timing the workout. The only missing piece now is Dunkirk who arrives on the grounds at lunchtime. We will try to catch as much of him in the next couple days as possible but I have been told that there wont be much for us to see so if you like this colt I would say stick with him as he is a major fit off his races. Derby Draw is tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. local time.
Monday - April 27, 2009
It was a busy morning today at Churchill Downs and fortunately a freak accident which interrupted the bulk of the scheduled workers has actually had an almost miraculous ending as the 2 horses that went down have reportedly returned o.k. so far.
However, many workers had to wait on the sidelines and in the paddock until the sirens were turned off and the track was cleared.
Here is how the training unfolded today. Musket Man galloped in the dark and went just so so. Regal Ransom jogged 1 mile with the pony going the wrong way and looked real energetic and fresh. I Want Revenge galloped terrific and will have his last prep tomorrow morning as the only one left to work for this years Derby. Desert Party had his rear legs airborn to begin his routine and is obviously full of himself out of his strong drill a couple days ago. Hold Me Back galloped a mile meaning that Bill Mott gives him no day off after his drill yesterday---we will call this positive. General Quarters has a peculiar way of going but he did finish the last 3 furlongs of his gallop in swift fashion. Summer Bird had a real light jog. Westside Bernie jogged a 1/2 mile then galloped a full mile with the right tempo. Chocolate Candy was missed by most as he went right in the heat of the chaos with the sirens blaring off in the air but lets just say he is same as hes been overall with an official time of 59.1. Join The Dance worked with Angel Cordero aboard also during the chaos so only caught a glimpse of what looked like a steady tempo finish with the time of 100.1
Flying Private seemed all out with Robby Albarado aboard to beat his stablemate in 47.2 as we saw his head up a bit as well inside the 1/8 pole. Advice made the mistake of breaking behind the brilliant filly Rachel Alexandra and all he could do was take dirt in his face but did manage a 47.1 time with a decent gallop out. Win Willy worked steady in 102 without any mistakes except hitting the wrong lead under the wire. Friesan Fire smoked early and appeared all out to get a blistering 57.4 time which wasnt followed by much of a gallop out time. So lets just say mixed signals. Pioneer Of The Nile cruised in 48.1 for the last 1/2 of a 101 5/8's drill with Joe Steiner aboard and the gallop out time was a big 113.1. Pioneer continues to do all it takes to win this years Derby.
As far as the Oaks goes, lets just say that Rachel Alexandra looks more freakish by the day as she went 110.2 and that was her gallop out time after only working a 1/2 in 46.2. She looks as brilliant as a horse can look!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday - April 26, 2009
This years 135th running of the Kentucky Derby is in our opinion "wide open" !!!!! Activity on the track this morning was brisk with a mixture of workers, gallopers and joggers. Summer Bird jogged 2 miles with boots on and left no real impression as he was in a crawl on the outer rail. Advice galloped strongly. I Want Revenge galloped a strong 2 miles. Pioneer Of The Nile galloped in smart fashion before the rennovation break. Chocolate Candy schooled in the paddock then galloped looking a little better then yesterday. Mine That Bird galloped evenly. Win Willy schooled in the gate getting a bit anxious and hot but galloped out well to go a strong mile. Friesan Fire galloped around right after the rennovation in real light fashion. General Quarters galloped.
Hold Me Back worked 5/8's with Kent D. in the saddle and toyed with his stablemate Flying Warrior going the last 3/8's in 35.2 the right way. Square Eddie went a light 1/2 in 50.1 with the out time of 103.3 and Doug Oneill was in the stands to view the work with his brother Dennis. For the Oaks-----Rachel Alexandra brings chills to anyone who lays eyes on her right now and Gabbys Golden Gal looks to give her a threat off a solid 5/8's with a huge head low gallop out in 100.2. We have a huge next couple of days and will be on the scene when the track opens here at Churchill Downs on Monday morning at 6:00 a.m.
Saturday - April 25, 2009
Perhaps the only thing missing from legendary Churchill Downs today on my 1st day back to Louisville in a year to the day was the voice of my friend Luke making the announcements as he so cordially did on a daily basis under the Twin Spires year after year.
Mark Johnson is now behind the microphone and his first couple of calls were spot on here today so he is off to the right start as the new announcer for 2009 and beyond. We were on hand this morning for all the Derby and Oaks contenders who trained for their respective races during training hours beginning at 6:00 a.m. The action is starting to heat up with the contenders so lets hope we have arrived in time to help ya all Case The Race come Friday and Saturday. First, Rachael Alexandra looks nothing short of brilliant on the track and best wishes trying to beat her in the Oaks. Gabbys Golden Gal will try to do just that for Bob Baffert as she might be ready for the race of her life based on her body language over the track today. Now, for your Kentucky Derby candidates who worked and galloped today, based on all the variables that go into a huge workout lets say that the Dubai shippers both kind of stole the show here Saturday morning. Regal Ransom went in the cover of darkness making it a bit difficult to fully see his finish visually but lets say that 59.1 on a tiring track finishing with high energy was perhaps the 2nd best work of the day only to be eclipsed by Desert Party who worked a couple of hours later. The latter was brillaint timewise as he went the last 1/4 in 22.2 on my watch and it will be a surprise if we see a faster finish for 5/8's completed also in 59 flat. We have busy mornings ahead of us for the upcoming week and look forward to trying to point the arrow up and down for all handicappers out there on the remaining contenders who are all lined up to work and school in the paddock in the next few days.