Atswhatimtalknbout - B. Wayne Hughes and Biscuit Stables' Atswhatimtalknbout had a schooling session in the Churchill Downs paddock and then galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Raul Vizcarrando over a fast track after the renovation break Saturday morning.

"He didn't seem to mind it at all," trainer Ron Ellis said of the A.P. Indy colt's visit to the paddock.

Atswhatimtalknbout arrived at Churchill Downs on April 9 after finishing fourth as the favorite in the Santa Anita Derby (GI). His first local work was a 49 3/5 half-mile breeze on April 16.

"He worked a little slow the other day and I am leaning toward working Monday right now," said Ellis, who has never saddled a Kentucky Derby starter. "He may work six or seven (furlongs) or he may go further."

David Flores, who has ridden Atswhatimtalknbout in his five starts, has the call Derby Day. Flores has ridden in five Derbies with his best finish coming in 1997, third-place aboard Free House.

Buddy Gil - Desperado Stables' Buddy Gil was on the track shortly after it opened for training at 5:15 and jogged a mile and galloped a mile and a quarter under Amy Mullins, wife of trainer Jeff Mullins.

Jeff Mullins and three-time Kentucky Derby winning rider Gary Stevens are scheduled to fly to Louisville on Sunday night for a scheduled 6-furlong work Monday morning after the renovation break. Mullins is planning to return to his home base at Santa Anita after the work and then return to Louisville on April 27 and remain all Derby Week.

Buddy Gil, winner of three graded stakes in his past three starts, arrived here April 15. The Eastern Echo gelding jogged Wednesday and galloped Thursday, but did not go to the track Friday.

Buddy Gil is housed in Barn 17, Stall 10, the same spot that housed Tiznow when he won the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic.

Empire Maker/Peace Rules - It was a routine Saturday for the Kentucky Derby contenders in the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel as Juddmonte Farm's Empire Maker and Edmund Gann's Peace Rules galloped 1 3/8 miles. Jose Cuevas was in the irons aboard Empire Maker while Antonio Graell rode Peace Rules.

"They probably will just gallop and maybe work one time (before the Derby), about six or seven days out," said Frankel. "They'll have one work and we'll probably let them open gallop a few days."

The Kentucky Derby is one of the few major prizes in American racing that Frankel has not won and he has long been on record as saying Empire Maker provides his best chance to win the roses. He is looking forward to Derby Day - but insists he's not getting anxious just yet.

"I'm OK," said Frankel. "Obviously I'll be a lot more nervous when I get closer to it and when they load in the gate, but just hopefully everything goes well and I think he'll do it for me."

Another major 3-year-old star in Frankel's barn had more serious work to do as Gann's Midas Eyes breezed a strong six furlongs in preparation for a scheduled start in the $150,000-added Derby Trial (GIII) at Churchill Downs on April 26. The son of Touch Gold, a romping winner in the Swale (GIII) at Gulfstream Park in his only start of the year, covered the distance in 1:12.80 over a "fast" track - the fastest clocking of five works at the distance - with exercise rider Mitsu Nakauchida in the saddle.

"He needed the work," said Frankel. "I got messed up in California when the (Hollywood Park) track was closed one day out there for no reason and it rained the next day and I couldn't train him. He hasn't actually worked for two weeks, but I think with today's work, if he comes out of it OK, he'll be ready for the Trial."

Frankel will be very active in Kentucky Derby week stakes races at Churchill Downs. Other Frankel stars scheduled to run during that week include Gann's You in the Louisville Breeders' Cup (GII), Juddmonte's Sightseek in the Humana Distaff (GI); Juddmonte's Requete and possibly Oak Cliff Stable's Kappa King in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI), and Juddmonte's Heat Haze in the CITGO Distaff Turf Mile (GIII)

Frankel said that Gann's Oaklawn Handicap (GII) and Strub (GII) winner Medaglia d'Oro has suffered an injury that will likely knock him out of the Pimlico Special (GI). He said the 4-year-old colt would now likely be pointed toward the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) at Churchill Downs on June 14.

"He's doing fine," said Frankel. "He jumped on himself in his stall yesterday (Friday) and he ripped part of his foot off. So, hopefully it doesn't take too much time to heal up. I don't think we'll be able to make it to Pimlico, but he'll probably be OK for the Foster."

NOTE TO MEDIA: Trainer Bobby Frankel has requested that media members wait until the end of training hours for interviews regarding his Kentucky Derby contenders and other horses pointed toward Derby Week stakes races at Churchill Downs. Mr. Frankel will meet with print and electronic media roughly 10 minutes after the close of training hours at 9:15 a.m. (EDT).

Fund Of Funds - Illinois Derby (GII) runner-up Fund Of Funds galloped Saturday morning at Aqueduct with assistant trainer Nancy Hickling up. Fund Of Funds had his first work after the Illinois Derby on Wednesday, going a half in 48 2/5.

"I have two more breezes planned," trainer Richard Violette said. "The next one will be either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on weather. We are supposed to get some rain here Tuesday.

"He will go three-quarters and that will be the tell-tale as do what we do the following week for Monday or Tuesday, which will just be a maintainence work We plan to ship on Wednesday the 30th." Shaun Bridgmohan, who has ridden the Saint Ballado colt in all five of his starts, has the call for Derby 129 in what would mark the rider's first Derby appearance."

Funny Cide - Robin Smullen, assistant to trainer Barclay Tagg, said the Wood Memorial (GI) runner-up continues in light training and "still on schedule" for his participation in Derby 129.

"He is scheduled to have two breezes," Smullen said from Belmont Park. "He will go a half Tuesday as easily as I can get him to do it. We plan on flying him in April 30th and we will be a couple hours behind him and get there in time for the draw."

Jose Santos, whose last Derby appearance was aboard Lemon Drop Kid in 1999, has the call on Funny Cide, whom he has ridden in all six starts.

Indian Express/Kafwain/Senor Swinger/Domestic Dispute - Three-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert reported that Santa Anita Derby runner-up Indian Express came out of his 1:01 2/5 work of Friday in good order. "That was the first time we worked him without company," Baffert said. "He's a lot like (2002 Belmont winner) Sarava in that he doesn't tip his hand in the mornings."

San Vicente (GII) winner Kafwain galloped under Dana Barnes and Baffert said he was looking toward a Wednesday or Thursday with him.

Senor Swinger also galloped under Barnes. The El Prado colt finished fifth in the Wood Memorial in his first start for Baffert. Domestic Dispute left at mid-morning for Keeneland for his engagement in the Coolmore Lexington Saturday afternoon.

Pat Valenzuela is scheduled to ride Kafwain in the Derby and Tyler Baze has the call on Indian Express.

Offlee Wild - Azalea Stable's son of Wild Again, winner of the Holy Bull (GIII) and third in the Toyota Blue Grass (GI), galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Rob Smith. Trainer T.V. Smith said would walk on Easter Sunday and would return to gallop on Monday. He is expected to breeze on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Outta Here - Bill Currin and Al Eisman's Outta Here galloped Saturday morning at Hollywood Park according to trainer Currin.

Fourth in the UAE Derby, Outta Here had his first work since that race last Wednesday covering 5 furlongs in 59 3/5 at Hollywood Park, the fourth fastest of 63 at the distance.

"He worked very well but the most impressive thing about it was the last three-eighths in 34 3/5," Currin said. "This morning, he galloped like a freight train."

Currin said Outta Here would likely work again Wednesday ay Hollywood Park and plans to ship the colt to Louisville on Sunday, April 27 with a 3/8ths work scheduled Derby Week. Kent Desormeaux, who the 2000 Kentucky Derby aboard Fusaichi Pegasus, has the call.

Sir Cherokee - Trainer Mike Tomlinson said Domino Stud's homebred winner of the Arkansas Derby (GII) has thrived since he returned to his home base at Churchill Downs' Trackside Louisville (formerly Sports Spectrum) training center. The Cherokee Run colt galloped 1 ½-miles Saturday under assistant trainer D.W. Fries in his third trip to the track since his upset win at Oaklawn Park and a van ride to Louisville on the following day.

"Everything has gone well," said Tomlinson. "He has recovered well and is feeling good. He got no bumps or bruises out of the race and we're just pointing him forward. It's been a good ride so far. I hope we can keep it going."

Sir Cherokee won the Arkansas Derby at odds of 55-1, but the win was not a great surprise to Tomlinson, who has always had faith in his colt's ability.

"It wasn't so much as surprise as it was gratifying," he said. "He finally put it all together in one race. He's always shown he had a lot of talent, but getting him to put it all in one run was a big challenge for his. The timing was right."

Tomlinson said Sir Cherokee would have only one work before the May 3 Kentucky Derby. He will get the day off on Easter and return to his regular training schedule on Monday.

"The only time he will breeze will be his pre-race breeze on Tuesday before the Derby," Tomlinson said. "We probably will bring him over to Churchill Downs to gallop him once or twice, but he'll probably have his pre-race breeze right there at the Trackside."

Ten Most Wanted - Illinois Derby (GII) winner Ten Most Wanted got his first test of the Churchill Downs racing surface by galloping a mile under exercise rider Andy Durnin after the renovation break. Ten Most Wanted, who worked a half-mile in 48 2/5 on Wednesday at Keeneland, arrived at Churchill Downs from the Lexington track Friday afternoon.

Aimee Dollase, deputizing for her father Wally, said her dad was scheduled to travel to Louisville on Tuesday night with a work tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.

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