Mary and Gary West's unbeaten Kentucky Derby hopeful High Limit, winner of the Louisiana Derby (Grade II) and a contender for the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (GI) at Keeneland on April 16, breezed a strong six furlongs for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel on Tuesday at Churchill Downs.

The son of Maria's Mon used 3-year-old stablemate On The Prowl as a target he completed six furlongs in 1:12.60 over a "fast" track, a work that was easily the fastest of three at the distance. Jockey Joe Deegan was in the saddle for the move, which was the second for High Limit at Churchill Downs since the colt arrived at the track on March 25. On The Prowl covered five furlongs under jockey Larry Melancon in :59.40, a breeze that ranked as the third fastest work of 25 at that distance.

"He's a very generous horse," said Deegan. "He's got a real high cruising speed. We went along at a nice pace. He went three-quarters in 12-and-three and, I guess, five-eighths in :59 - but, I mean, he's galloping doing that. When you ask him, when you drop your hands on him, he'll quicken off that.

"This morning I let him follow Larry the whole way around there and let him eat dirt the whole way. It probably took him the first quarter to come completely out of the bridle, but he was perfect from there on. I let him ease up to Larry at the eighth pole, and at the sixteenth pole I just let him go and he went by him pretty easy."

"I just wanted to get a good work into him," Frankel said. "He's only run once in five months. I worked him before he got here and he went real easy. But now he's got a good work and now it's just a little maintenance work after this."

The Louisiana Derby was the colt's only start for Frankel and his lone outing of the year, but Frankel continues to be pleased with what the lightly raced High Limit is showing him as the Toyota Blue Grass and Kentucky Derby draw near.

"I know there's the experience factor and all of that, but I think if you've got talent it overrides the experience," said Frankel. "I'm just hoping for the best. I don't know how good he is because the horses that he beat in Louisiana didn't run too good in the Florida Derby, so we'll get a better line on him in the Blue Grass. Before you get too excited about him you want to see him beat some horses that are contenders for the Kentucky Derby."

The Kentucky-bred High Limit has earned $402,000 in his three victories.

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) - Alumni Hall breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80...Im A Dixie Girl breezed three-eighths in :36.60...Shadow Cast breezed three furlongs in :37.80...Sister Star breezed four furlongs in :48.20...Anna Em breezed five furlongs in 1:03.20...Diamond Isle breezed five furlongs in 1:02.20...Sister Swank breezed five furlongs in 1:03...Tempus Fugit breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80...Devil Time breezed five furlongs in 1:03.

SATURDAY IS NOMINATION DEADLINE FOR DERBY WEEK STAKES RACES - Nominations for stakes races scheduled for Kentucky Derby Week (April 30-May 7) at Churchill Downs will close at midnight (EDT) on Sat., April 9. The deadline does not affect the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (GI), all of which closed their nomination process several weeks ago.

The Derby Week stakes races include:

* Sat., April 30 --
$100,000-added Derby Trial
* Thurs., May 5 --
$100,000-added Mamzelle,
$100,000-added La Troienne (GIII)
* Fri., May 6 (Kentucky Oaks Day) --
$100,000 Edgewood,
$100,000-added Alysheba,
$100,000-added Aegon Turf Sprint (GIII),
$300,000 Louisville Breeders' Cup (GII),
$100,000-added Crown Royal American Turf (GIII)
* Sat., May 7 (Kentucky Derby Day) --
$200,000-added Churchill Downs Handicap (GII),
100,000-added Three Chimneys Juvenile,
$100,000-added Winnercomm Turf Mile (GIII),
and the $250,000-added Humana Distaff Handicap (GI).

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