4.16.2003 Photo By: Lane Gold   Trainer Ron Ellis addressed members of the media outside Barn 41 at Churchill Downs following Atswhatimtalknbout's half-mile work on Apr. 16.

Atswhatimtalknbout Drills Half-Mile At Churchill Downs In :49 3/5
By: John Gaver III

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Apr. 16, 2003) - B. Wayne Hughes and Biscuit Stables, LLC's Atswhatimtalknbout had his first breeze over the main track at Churchill Downs and his first timed work in blinkers on Wednesday, Apr. 16, as the son of A.P. Indy drilled an easy half-mile under Raul Vizcarrondo for trainer Ron Ellis.

Churchill Downs clockers caught the dark bay colt in :49 3/5 over a "fast" surface on an unseasonably warm spring morning in Louisville. Hughes witnessed the work from the grandstand with Ellis.

Atswhatimatalknbout entered the track shortly after the renovation break at approximately 8:00 a.m. (EDT) at the gap where the one-mile chute meets the main track being led by his groom, Jose Limon. The colt made a good appearance physically, showing no outward signs on his coat of a skin rash that developed before his disappointing fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby (GI) on Apr. 5.

Limon gave the robust colt, who was tossing his head vigorously, a couple of turns and then he trotted off the "wrong way" (clockwise) under Vizcarrondo before settling into a jog entering the clubhouse turn. Atswhatimtalknbout looked happy when galloping back the "right way", as he was moving fluidly and had his necked bowed.

The colt pulled up well within himself with his ears pricked and was not blowing hard as he exited the track and was led back to Barn 41 by Limon, who caught the colt dutifully at the gap.

"We're feeling the track out, me and him," said Ellis, who caught his charge in: :49 2/5. "The rider said he started to get in gear near the wire."

Atswhatimtalknbout didn't drink much water and was not breathing hard back at the barn - an indication that the work didn't take much out of him - as he was cooled out by his hot walker, Roberto Vargas, who had the colt equipped with a lip-chain.

Though he was wearing with blinkers, the cup was minimal, and Ellis said the colt, who had galloped in the hood twice before working in it today, was trying to look around the cup when he first wore the piece of equipment. The colt was looking around a bit and gawking when he was on the track this morning.

"When he starts off he looks around," said Ellis. "He a good-feeling horse."

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