Kentucky Derby 131 | 2005 |
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Kentucky Derby 131 Work Tab
Today's Derby Works
Afleet Alex breezed five furlongs in :59 at CD (Track: Fast)
Wednesday, April 27 - Consolidator at CD
Thursday, April 28 - Sun King at Churchill Downs; Greater Good at Churchill Downs; Greeley's Galaxy at Churchill Downs

Afleet Alex Sizzles In Churchill Downs Work
* Flower Alley Dons Blinkers For Gallop
* Andromeda's Hero To Travel To Churchill For Work

AFLEET ALEX - Cash is King Stable's Afleet Alex continued his forward preparations of the 131st Kentucky Derby by working five furlongs in :59 flat over a "fast" track Tuesday morning after the renovation break.With Derby rider Jeremy Rose up, Afleet Alex came on the tracka little after 8:30 and jogged briefly in the mile chute and then oncearound the track accompanied by trainer Tim Ritchey on a pony. When the work commenced, Afleet Alex recorded fractions of 12.40, 24, 35.40, 46.60 and 59, with an out time for six furlongs of 1:12.40. The move was the fastest of 29 at the distance.

"The work was good. Everything was exactly like we wanted it," Ritchey said. "He started out easy and finished up strong. He came out of it well, cooled out well, no problems."

Afleet Alex arrived at Churchill Downs on April 20 on the heels of his victory in the Arkansas Derby (GII).

"He has done well here," said Ritchey, who never has started a horse at Churchill Downs. "He settled in well and has gone to the track every day and handled the track well. I don't anticipate any problems." Rose, who never has ridden in the Kentucky Derby, was also pleased.

"It was perfect. He always works well," said Rose, who headed to Delaware Park after the work, where he will ride the first two days of the meet Saturday and Sunday and then return to Louisville Sunday night and stay through the Derby. "Every track we have been to, he has handled it just as well. I think he will run on pretty much whatever you put him on. He is just one of those horses that is athletic and likes to run."

Rose was asked if Afleet Alex is the best horse he has ever been on.

"Easily. He's the fastest and the coolest," Rose said. "He's got his own personality, just like a person. The nice thing about him is whenever a hole opens up, we can be in and out of there before anybody knows about it."

Ritchey said Afleet Alex would walk the shedrow Wednesday "probably, unless he is bouncing around the barn and if he is then we'll take him out and jog him at least once around just to keep him loose. But normally, he'll walk the day after he works, he will go back to the track the following day, jog and probably gallop lightly and just resume his normal twice-a-day pattern from there on. We may work him again Monday or Tuesday of next week. It would be a lot easier kind of work, start out even slower and just ask him to finish the last quarter of a mile. That's a long stretch. He has to get used to finishing the whole way down that stretch."

ANDROMEDA'S HERO/BELLAMY ROAD/HIGH FLY/NOBLE CAUSEWAY/ SUN KING - Trainer Nick Zito's four Churchill Downs-based Kentucky Derby hopefuls galloped 1 ½ miles, while at Keeneland, Robert LaPenta's Andromeda's Hero galloped on the main track with exercise rider Megan Smillie up. Zito plans to bring Andrameda's Hero to Louisville to work Thursday or Friday depending on the weather. No Derby rider has been confirmed for Andromeda's Hero. Tracy Farmer's Sun King, who is scheduled to work Thursday, had Carlos Correa aboard for his morning exercise. Carlos Correa also handled the morning duties on Kinsman Stable's Bellamy Road and My Meadowview Farm's Noble Causeway. Maxine Correa was up on the Live Oak Plantation's High Fly. The aforementioned trio is scheduled to work Saturday, weather permitting.

BANDINI/COIN SILVER/FLOWER ALLEY - Melnyk Racing Stable's Flower Alley galloped 1 ½ miles after the renovation break with exercise rider Michelle Nihei up. The Distorted Humor colt, who will be piloted by Jorge Chavez in Derby 131, was equipped in blinkers, as has been the norm the past few days.

"We just want him to get accustomed to them, because he is going to run in them for the first time in the Derby," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "He's a little unfocused and we want to get him zoned in."

Peachtree Stable's Coin Silver, winner of last Saturday's Coolmore Lexington Stakes (GII), walked the shedrow and is scheduled to return to the track in the morning. No rider has been confirmed on Coin Silver.

Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Bandini walked the shedrow.

CONSOLIDATOR/GOING WILD - Bob and Beverly Lewis' two Kentucky Derby hopefuls galloped Tuesday morning. Stacy Maker was on Consolidator and Derek Smith was on Going Wild, who returned to the track for the first time since finishing fifth in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (GII) last Saturday. Consolidator may work Wednesday.

DON'T GET MAD - An expected starter in Saturday's $100,000-added Derby Trial, the son of Stephen Got Even breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 over a "fast" track on Monday. Trainer Paul J. McGee, who is overseeing the colt's training at Churchill Downs for his California-based brother-in-law Ron Ellis, said Don't Get Mad came out of yesterday's work in good order. Don't Get Mad is scheduled to gallop a mile tomorrow and 1 ½ miles on Thursday and Friday in preparation for a start in Saturday's one-mile Trial. A good effort in that race could make the B.Wayne Hughes-owned colt a "possible" starter in the Kentucky Derby (GI). Ellis is due to arrive in Louisville Wednesday evening.

GREATER GOOD - Triple graded stakes winner Greater Good galloped 1 ½ miles before the renovation break with exercise rider Betsy Couch up. The Lewis Lakin-owned son of Intidab is scheduled to work six furlongs at 7 a.m. Thursday with Derby rider John McKee up for trainer Bob Holthus.

GREELEY'S GALAXY - B. Wayne Hughes' Greeley's Galaxy visited the paddock and then galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Mikki Fincher before the renovation break.

Trainer Warren Stute is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Wednesday night with a work planned for Thursday morning. HIGH LIMIT - Gary and Mary West's High Limit galloped after the renovation break with exercise rider Jose Cuevas up.

WILKO - Came out of yesterday's seven-furlong breeze at Hollywood Park in good order says trainer Craig Dollase. Tentative plans for the son of Awesome Again is to work on Saturday and board a flight bound for Churchill Downs the following day with strong gallops up to race day.

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