Santa Catarina Works For Baffert
ATSWHATIMTALKNBOUT - B. Wayne Hughes and Biscuit Stables'
Atswhatimtalknbout galloped two miles after the renovation break over a
fast track Sunday morning with exercise rider Raul Vizcarrando up.
Trainer Ron Ellis said the A.P. Indy colt would work Monday
morning after the renovation break going "at least three-quarters and
maybe up to a mile."
Atswhatimtalknbout visited the paddock Saturday morning and
Ellis said he plans another session opening day, April 26, and one more
during Derby Week.
David Flores has the call Derby Day.
BRANCUSI - Michael Tabor's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) runner-up
Brancusi worked five furlongs in :59 at Keeneland over a fast track
according to trainer Patrick Biancone. Regular rider Tony Farina was up.
Biancone said he plans to van Brancusi to Churchill Downs for a Friday
morning work of six or seven furlongs after the renovation break and
then return to Keeneland where he plans to stay until returning to
Churchill the day before Derby 129.
BUDDY GIL - Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Buddy Gil jogged a mile and
then galloped a mile and a quarter under Amy Mullins shortly before 6
o'clock Sunday morning.
Buddy Gil is scheduled to work six furlongs after the renovation
break, which should be about 8:15, Monday morning (EDT) with jockey Gary
Stevens coming in from California for the work.
Stevens, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner, has ridden Buddy
Gil in his past three starts, all victories.
Trainer Jeff Mullins will be on the same flight from California
Sunday night and plans to return to his home base at Santa Anita after
the work and then return next Sunday.
EMPIRE MAKER/PEACE RULES - Trainer Bobby Frankel had his two Kentucky
Derby hopefuls on the track shortly after it opened at 5:15.
"They are both 100 percent," said Frankel after the two galloped
a mile and a half, Empire Maker with Jose Cuevas up and Peace Rules with
Antonio Graell up.
"We will go out about 6:45 tomorrow. We went a little early
today because Empire Maker gets a little antsy in the stall and it gets
lighter earlier at home in California. I think the lights (on the
frontside) bothered him this morning," Frankel said.
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).
EYE OF THE TIGER - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer told Churchill Downs
Director of Stalls Mike Hargrave on Sunday morning that he would be
shipping five horses to Churchill Downs from Keeneland on Thursday or
Friday with Coolmore Lexington runner-up Eye Of The Tiger included.
FUND OF FUNDS - Illinois Derby runner-up Fund Of Funds galloped Sunday
morning at Aqueduct.
"He's doing great and we are looking at a three-quarters work
Tuesday or Wednesday," said trainer Richard Violette.
Fund Of Funds is scheduled to ship to Louisville on April 30.
Shaun Bridgmohan has the call in the Derby.
FUNNY CIDE - Sackatoga Stable's Funny Cide galloped a mile and a half
under Robin Smullen, assistant to trainer Barclay Tagg, at Belmont Park
Sunday morning.
"He is doing great," said Smullen of the Distorted Humor gelding
who is scheduled to ship to Louisville on April 30. "He is scheduled to
work an easy half mile Tuesday."
Jose Santos has the call for the Derby.
INDIAN EXPRESS/KAFWAIN/SENOR SWINGER - Trainer Bob Baffert's three
Kentucky Derby hopefuls galloped Sunday morning at Churchill Downs.
A fourth hopeful, Domestic Dispute, was taken off the Derby trail after
a third-place finish in Saturday's Coolmore Lexington Stakes (GII) at
Keeneland.
"You can't be five-wide all the way around on that track," Baffert said.
"But he was going to have to run tremendous to consider it. I will only
run a horse in the Derby if I think I've got a shot to win."
Baffert has won three Kentucky Derbys and he said Sunday morning that
Indian Express reminds him a bit of 1998 Derby winner Real Quiet.
"He is starting to come around, a lot like Real Quiet did," Baffert
said. "He was sold by the same consignor and he has the same groom that
Real Quiet had, Saul Mancilla."
OFFLEE WILD - Azalea Stable's Offlee Wild spent Easter morning walking
the shedrow under the watchful eye of trainer T.V. Smith.
Smith plans to work the son of Wild Again either Tuesday or
Wednesday.
Robby Albarado has the call for the Derby.
OUTTA HERE - Delta Jackpot winner Outta Here galloped a mile and half at
Hollywood Park Sunday morning under assistant trainer Pat Seeley.
"He galloped very strong," said trainer and co-owner Bill
Currin. "He's probably going to work five-eighths here Thursday and then
ship to Kentucky on Sunday."
Kent Desormeaux has the call for the Derby.
SCRIMSHAW - Bob and Beverly Lewis' Scrimshaw put himself firmly in the
Kentucky Derby picture Saturday with a 3-length victory in the Coolmore
Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.
"He came out of the race excellent," said four-time Kentucky
Derby winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas. "We were back here by 8 last night
and this morning he was rolling around in the sandpit (behind Barn 42)."
Lukas said Scrimshaw would return to the track Wednesday and
that no rider has been confirmed for the Derby.
SIR CHEROKEE - Arkansas Derby winner Sir Cherokee walked the shedrow at
Barn L at the Trackside Training Center for trainer Michael Tomlinson.
Sir Cherokee is scheduled to have one work before Derby 129, set
for Tuesday, April 29.
Terry Thompson has the call in the Derby.
SUPAH BLITZ - Bee Bee Stables and Jacqueline Tortora's Supah Blitz
galloped Sunday morning at Calder Race Course.
"He is doing great. He just worked five-eighths in 1:01 a few
days ago. We are planning to ship up there either the 23rd or 24th,"
said trainer Manny Tortora. "I am trying to get a plane, but we may wind
up vanning him up there, but we are coming."
Supah Blitz would represent Tortora's third Derby starter, the
most recent being Mecke, the sire of Supah Blitz, who finished fifth
behind Thunder Gulch in 1995.
No rider has been confirmed for Supah Blitz.
TEN MOST WANTED - Illinois Derby winner Ten Most Wanted galloped a mile
and a quarter under exercise rider Andy Durnin Sunday morning after the
renovation break.
Trainer Wally Dollase is scheduled to arrive in Louisville
Tuesday night with a work tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.
Pat Day has the Derby call.
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