Arkansas Derby Winner Private Emblem Heads Group of New Kentucky Derby Arrivals at Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 14, 2002) - James Cassels and Bob Zollars' Private Emblem, a 4 ½-length winner in Saturday's Arkansas Derby (Grade II) at Oaklawn Park, arrived at Churchill Downs late Sunday morning to continue his preparations for the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

The Steve Asmussen-trained son of Our Emblem was accompanied on a flight from Arkansas by stablemate Windward Passage. Team Valor's son of Captain Bodgit finished in a dead-heat for third in the Arkansas Derby despite a very wide trip. Windward Passage will also be pointed to the Kentucky Derby.

"They shipped great," said Scott Blasi, the assistant trainer who oversees Asmussen's Churchill Downs operation. "It's good to have all the big guns here."

Asmussen's Churchill Downs barn is also home to another outstanding 3-year-old in Louisiana Derby (GII) runner-up and Lecomte Stakes winner Easyfromthegitgo, who will run in the Coolmore Lexington (GII) at Keeneland on April 20.

Also arriving at Churchill Downs on Sunday was Ocean Sound, who finished third to Harlan's Holiday and Booklet in Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) at Keeneland. Trainer James Cassidy shipped the Irish-bred colt by van from the Lexington track.

Other Kentucky Derby contenders on the grounds include Harlan's Holiday, Request For Parole, Easy Grades and War Emblem. Perfect Drift is stabled at Churchill Downs' Trackside Louisville training center.

Notes: Trainer Ken McPeek said that Toyota Blue Grass winner Harlan's Holiday was "doing great" on the morning after his Toyota Blue Grass victory. McPeek also said that Ashland (GI) winner and Kentucky Oaks (GI) contender Take Charge Lady would probably work at midweek...Easyfromthegitgo is scheduled to work on Tuesday in his final major training move for the Coolmore Lexington...Trainer Steve Margolis said that John Battaglia Memorial winner Request For Parole would probably work on Wednesday. Margolis decided to bypass the Toyota Blue Grass and is training the colt up to the Kentucky Derby.

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