LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 19, 2005) - Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Nick Zito now has jockeys set for all five of his contenders for the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby (Grade I) on Saturday, May 7. Zito completed the job of securing riders when three-time Kentucky Derby winner Gary Stevens committed to ride My Meadowview Farm's (Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Riggio) Noble Causeway, the runner-up in the Florida Derby (GI). Jockey Edgar Prado, who is still looking for his first Derby victory, will remain in the saddle aboard Tracy Farmer's Sun King, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) and fourth in last week's $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (GI) at Keeneland.

"Mr. Riggio and his wife, Marie, are very excited that Gary Stevens will be riding Noble Causeway in the Kentucky Derby," Zito said. "Mr. Farmer feels the same about having Edgar Prado on Sun King for the Derby. It's really good to have our riders lined up."

Zito is bidding to become just the second trainer in history to saddle five starters in the Kentucky Derby. Four-time Derby winner D. Wayne Lukas sent five contenders into the race in 1996 and won the roses with Overbrook Farm's Grindstone.

Jockeys expected to ride Zito-trained horses in the Kentucky Derby are Javier Castellano on Kinsman Farm's Bellamy Road; two-time Derby winner Jerry Bailey aboard Live Oak Plantantion's High Fly; and Corey Nakatani on Robert LaPenta's Andromeda's Hero.

DON'T GET MAD SET FOR DERBY TRIAL, "POSSIBLE FOR DERBY" - An equine flight from California on Tuesday brought B. Wayne Hughes' Don't Get Mad back to Churchill Downs, the track at which he launched his career last fall.

The Ron Ellis-trained son of Stephen Got Even, who appeared to have been knocked off of the Kentucky Derby trail by a disappointing sixth-place finish behind Buzzards Bay in the Santa Anita Derby (GI), is being pointed toward a run in the $100,000 Derby Trial on April 30, the opening day of Churchill Downs' Spring Meet.

Ellis would not discount a run by the colt in the Kentucky Derby a week later should the colt return to form in the one-mile Trial.

"Who knows?," said Ellis, speaking by telephone from Keeneland's 2-year-olds in training sale in Lexington. "For now we're just looking at the one race, because he could always go to the Preakness off that race if he were to win that. But I wouldn't rule anything out until we see how he runs."

Ellis said Don't Get Mad came out of his dull effort in the Santa Anita Derby well, but he remains mystified as to why the colt ran so poorly.

"It was such a dull race that I ran him through a nuclear scan and nothing showed, so I don't know why he ran so flat," said Ellis. "I'm hoping that was just a bad day, but after that I didn't think we could go to the Derby."

Don't Get Mad is unbeaten in two races at Churchill Downs and is back in the barn of his former trainer Paul J. McGee, who is Ellis' brother in law. He finished second in the San Vicente (GII) and third in the San Felipe (GII) at Santa Anita before his poor run in Santa Anita Derby.

Hughes has another Derby 131 contender in Illinois Derby (GII) winner Greeley's Galaxy, who is not nominated to the Derby and Visa Triple Crown and would have to be supplemented to the race at a cost of $200,000.

Even with a strong run in the Derby Trial, Don't Get Mad would seem unlikely to get into the Kentucky Derby field. The Derby is limited to 20 horses with the highest total of graded stakes earnings. This year's Derby Trial,is not a graded event for the first time in several years. Don't Get Mad's graded earnings stand at $60,000, a total that would place him in 21st place on the latest list of graded earnings for Derby 131 hopefuls.

ALUMNI HALL SET FOR BEN ALI -- Trainer Neil Howard indicated that William Farish's Alumni Hall would likely run next in the $150,000 Ben Ali (GIII) on April 28 at Keeneland. In preparation for the 1 1/8 mile race for 4 year olds and up, the 6-year old son of A.P Indy is scheduled to work four furlongs at Churchill Downs either Saturday or Sunday. Alumni Hall is coming off an impressive April 9 allowance win at Keeneland in which he defeated stakes winners Best Minister and Pies Prospect.

"He came out real well", said Howard. "He's been a nice horse. He's very honest and I was very pleased with the outcome." Even though Alumni Hall is a 6-years-old, he's lightly raced with 14 career starts.

"He didn't start till late, but he's healthy now", Howard said. "It took him a long time to get in good shape. He had some nibbling things when he was young and finally all the problems settled down and he's doing good. Patience is the most important ingredient that you need."

Howard has no long range plans for this year's campaign for Alumni Hall, maintaining the horse needs to show him he belongs to enter a Grade I race.

"He really hasn't put up numbers yet that would make you say 'yeah, let's go to the Stephen Foster.'" He said. "We wish we had a barn full like him, but we're not convinced he's a grade I horse. He's a Grade III type of a horse, maybe a Grade II on occasion. That's not to mean he can't become a Grade I horse, but we want to make sure that we're totally confident we're doing the right thing."

Alumni Hall is 6-2-1 with earnings of $293,571.

BARN NOTES - Arkansas Derby (GII) winner Afleet Alex is scheduled to travel by van from Oaklawn Park to Churchill Downs on Wednesday. A representative of trainer Tim Ritchey said that Afleet Alex is expected to arrive at Churchill Downs around 4 p.m. (EDT)...Likely Kentucky Oaks (GI) favorite Sis City arrived at Churchill Downs on Tuesday following a short van ride from Keeneland. The Richard Dutrow, Jr. trained Ashland (GI) winner launched her career at the Louisville track last spring... Trainer Hal Wiggins said that Instant Racing Breeders' Cup Stakes winner Diboll Dilly is possible for the $150,000-added La Troienne Stakes (GIII) at 7½ furlongs on May 5. The 3-year old daughter of Theatrical came back from Saturday's victory at Oaklawn in good order.

"We'll see how the race shapes up", said Wiggins. "If we don't run we'll look for a two other than (allowance race) either on the dirt or turf"

...Trainer Patrick Byrne plans to train John Battaglia Memorial winner Magna Graduate on the turf next Thursday with Gary Stevens up. If all goes well, the $100,000-added Crown Royal American Turf (GIII) on May 6 would be a possibility for the 3-year old son of Honor Grades.

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) - Oneofacat, third in Chou Croute Handicap at the Fair Grounds, worked three furlongs in 35.80, third fastest of 20 at the distance...Going four furlongs were 2004 Open Mind Stakes winner Anna Em in 50.80 and Dixieland Stakes third place finisher Cherokee Path in 48.80. Both are trained by Tom Amoss...Also working four furlongs was multiple stakes winner Ellens Lucky Star in :50...Lunarpal in 50.80... Old Forester, who captured the Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream, worked a half-mile in 51.20...Working five furlongs was Likely Exchange Stakes winner Tempus Fugit in 1:00.40.

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