BAFFERT PAIR BREEZES IN COMPANY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS - Trainer Bob Baffert worked his pair of contenders for Kentucky Derby 130 (Grade I) together on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs and the efforts of both colts left a smile on the face of the three-time Derby winner. James McIngvale's Wimbledon and Mike Pegram's Preachinatthebar worked five furlongs in company over a "fast" surface, with Wimbledon turning in the most impressive effort in a visually impressive work. The two gray colts broke off together on the backstretch with Preachinatthebar, ridden by jockey Sal Gonzalez, Jr., to the inside. The 3-year-old duo were still side-by-side at the head of the stretch, but exercise rider Dana Barnes turned Wimbledon loose at that point and he lengthened his stride and easily pulled away from his workmate. Wimbledon was some five lengths in front of his stablemate when he hit the finish line.

Wimbledon covered the five furlongs in a sharp :58.40 and Preachinatthebar finished well to complete the distance in :59.40. Wimbledon's breeze ranked first among 59 at the distance. Preachinatthebar's work ranked as the day's fifth-best.

"I feel a lot better about them after this morning," said Baffert. "Usually I can tell if they have a chance by the way they work over this track. But they've got to stay like that and continue on, and we've got to have a lot of good luck with them. We've still got a few days to go."

Both colts were coming off poor races that had disappointed Baffert, but his spirits were quickly buoyed by the good efforts in their first serious works on the track over which the 130th Kentucky Derby will be run two weeks from today. Wimbledon, winner of the Louisiana Derby (GII), had finished a dull fifth in the Santa Anita Derby on April 3, while Preachinatthebar, winner of the San Felipe (GII), had faded to seventh and was beaten more than 30 lengths in last week's Toyota Blue Grass (GI) at Keeneland.

Baffert was especially pleased with the work by Wimbledon and the way in which the imposing son of Wild Again moved over the Churchill Downs track.

"He was really reaching," said Baffert. "He really liked the surface. You could tell he took a liking to it and that's the whole thing - the key to this race. I really don't know how they're going to handle it until I work them over this track."

The trainer's instructions to Gonzalez aboard Preachinatthebar were to give the son of Baffert's 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm a "maintenance" work and let him get a feel for the surface. "Preachinatthebar's next work will be much better," Baffert said. "I told him to just sort of cruise and don't worry about the other horse. But the other horse (Wimbledon) seemed to be enjoying it pretty much, so that was a good sign."

The setbacks suffered by Wimbledon and Preachinatthebar in their final Kentucky Derby preps had puzzled Baffert, but his spirits were lifted after Saturday's works.

"They were a devastating feeling for me, especially Wimbledon," said Baffert. "But he really doesn't like Santa Anita. He never did like that track and that's why I took him to Louisiana. He was a different horse there and this track was a lot like the Louisiana track today. He's never worked like that in California, so I was pretty excited about the work."

The work left Baffert second-guessing himself about Wimbledon's preparations for the Santa Anita Derby, but the memory of that disappointing run could clearly be wiped away by continued progress in the colt's training at Churchill Downs.

"I trained him wrong for the Santa Anita Derby," said Baffert. "I was very apprehensive in my training because I knew he'd gotten in and I'm so afraid of hurting these horses. I'm trying to get to the Derby in one piece and I thought that if I can just get through the Santa Anita Derby, I'll get down here and I'll tighten the screws on him and we'll be ready to go. So that's what we were doing today."

Baffert said he had not decided what the work schedule for Wimbledon and Preachinatthebar would be in the days remaining before Derby 130.

Wimbledon brings a career record of 2-3-0 in seven races and earnings of $430,980 into Derby 130. Preachinatthebar has compiled a record of 2-0-2 in eight races and earnings of $202,588.

ACTION THIS DAY/MINISTER ERIC - Trainer Richard Mandella sent 2003 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) winner Action This Day out for a mile and a quarter gallop Saturday morning before the renovation break under exercise rider Paul Nilluang. Minister Eric, winner of an allowance race Wednesday at Keeneland, walked the shedrow.

"I just wanted them to get used to things and settled in with an easy day," said Mandella of the duo that arrived from Keeneland at noon Friday. "Eric just ran the other day, so he just walked today."

BIRDSTONE/THE CLIFF'S EDGE - Trainer Nick Zito's Derby duo galloped a mile and a half before the renovation break with exercise rider Maxine Correa up. It was Birdstone's first day back the track since working 6 furlongs in 1:14 4/5 on Thursday. The Cliff's Edge is scheduled to work five furlongs on Monday. Shane Sellers is slated to ride in the Derby.

BORREGO - Louisiana Derby (GII) and Arkansas Derby (GII) runner-up Borrego galloped a mile and five-eighths under exercise rider Andy Durnin after the renovation break. Trainer Beau Greely is scheduled to arrive in Louisville from his California base Sunday night with a Monday work possible. Victor Espinoza has the call for the Derby.

FRIENDS LAKE - Florida Derby winner Friends Lake worked five furlongs in 1:03 at Payson Park in Florida with exercise rider Amanda Roxborough up. It was the A.P. Indy colt's third Payson work since his Florida Derby victory of March 13.

"He went very well; went out in 1:17, and when he came back, he wouldn't blow out a match," trainer John Kimmel said. "That was a good work for here. Most of the other works were in the 1:05 range, so I would equate his to about a minute elsewhere."

Kimmel said he plans to ship to Churchill Downs on Tuesday with a Wednesday morning arrival.

"He will gallop Thursday and Friday and then breeze Saturday," Kimmel said. "I wanted to get him nice and settled and give him a chance to acclimate before working."

Richard Migliore has the call for the Derby.

MASTER DAVID - Sham Stakes winner Master David jogged a mile and then galloped a mile and three-eighths under exercise rider Jose Cuevas after the renovation break.

PRO PRADO - Mrs. James Winn's Pro Prado galloped 1 3/4 miles under exercise rider Lee Lockwood. Should Pro Prado make the Derby field, John McKee would have the mount.

"We are going to need a defection or two," said trainer Bob Holthus of Pro Prado, who has $105,685 in Graded Earnings, a total that leaves him 22nd on the list of Derby probables. "If we don't get in, we may wait for the Preakness. I wouldn't want to run him back in two weeks (in the Derby Trial)."

Holthus plans to work Pro Prado "either Thursday or Friday, depending on the weather."

If Pro Prado gets in, he would be the third Derby starter for Holthus, who saddled Proper Reality for Mrs. Winn in 1988 for his most recent Derby starter. Pro Prado's dam is Mama's Pro, a daughter of Proper Reality.

"She turned out to be the best of the Proper Realitys," Holthus said.

Pro Prado is the second foal of Mama's Pro, a four-time stakes winner who amassed earnings of $435,805.

READ THE FOOTNOTES - Fountain Of Youth winner Read the Footnotes returned to the track at Palm Meadows under exercise rider Morna McDowall, two days after working a mile in 1:40.

"He is going to have one more breeze at Palm Meadows on Wednesday and then we will ship Friday and work Monday at Churchill," trainer Rick Violette said.

No rider has been confirmed for Read the Footnotes.

ROCK HARD TEN - Trainer Jason Orman sent Rock Hard Ten to the starting gate and them for a mile and a half gallop under former jockey Corey Black.

"We will probably do more schooling because he is a big horse and he doesn't like small spaces, so we want to get him as comfortable as possible," said Orman of Rock Hard Ten, who, if he gets in the Derby field, would be the least experienced starter with just three races.

Orman said Rock Hard Ten may work seven furlongs Sunday morning, either when the track opens for training at 5:15 or after the break at 8:15.

SINISTER G - Lanes End winner Sinister G galloped on the main track at Belmont Park under exercise rider Lou Chiari Saturday morning. Trainer John Toscano plans to work Sinister G on Friday or Saturday and then ship to Churchill Downs on April 28. Paul Toscano has the riding call for the Derby.

TRICKY TABOO - Trainer Edward Frederick said that Lanes End runner-up Tricky Taboo will be pointed for the Preakness or wait until the June 12 Northern Dancer at Churchill Downs if he doesn't make the Derby field because of lack of earned Graded money.

"We will make a decision the middle of next week," said Frederick from the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, where Tricky Taboo is stabled. "If it looks like he will get in, we will come over and school a couple of times and then work the Tuesday before the Derby and stay."

Tricky Taboo galloped Saturday morning under exercise rider Desmond O'Mara.

« Back To Derby Updates