Derby News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 10, 2006) - With owners Bruce Lunsford and Lansdon Robbins III looking on, Kentucky Derby (Grade I) contender First Samurai completed his major preparation for Saturday's $750,000-added Toyota Blue Grass (GI) with a strong half-mile workout on Monday at Churchill Downs.

Jockey Rafael Bejarano was in the irons for the first time aboard the son of Giant's Causeway as he covered four furlongs over a "fast" track in :48.20, a move that ranked fourth of 26 on the day on a surface that was not yielding dazzling times. The Frank Brothers-trained First Samurai worked in the company of stablemate and broke off behind that workmate at the half-mile pole. He blew past his work partner in the stretch and galloped out strongly after passing the wire.

First Samurai covered the first quarter in :24.80, closed out the final quarter in :23.40 and galloped out five furlongs 1:00.80 - a time that would have tied as the fourth-fastest move of the day at that distance.

"He went really good - really, really good," said Bejarano. "He was well in hand. He was really comfortable, switched leads on the turn and felt really, really relaxed. He worked very easy."

Brothers viewed most of the work from atop his pony after he accompanied the workmate to the half-mile pole and was pleased with what he saw.

"I knew he went pretty good the last three-sixteenths and he galloped out strong," said Brothers. "That was the most important thing."

Brothers said First Samarai worked in the company of other horses frequently during his winter training at Gulfstream Park.

"The only reason I did that today is that I wanted to get him slowed down the first part of it there," he said. "He's a good work horse, but I wanted Rafael to see that he could sit behind a horse and to make sure that he was slowed down. I told him to let him finish up down the lane. He's a lot better with another horse - especially if you don't know him."

With that major piece of work out of the way, Brothers will now focus on Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass, a 1 1/8-mile test that has been key Kentucky Derby prep through the years. Brothers saddled Claiborne Farm's Pulpit to win the race in 1997 and is anxious to see how First Samurai handles his biggest pre-Derby test on Saturday.

"I've been happy with the horse all winter, thank God, and since he's come up here he's done well," Brothers said. "That's all a trainer can say it that you're happy with your horse and he's doing well. It's just a question of if you have good racing luck and if he's good enough. But, so far, everything's been good."

First Samurai brings a record of 5-1-1 in seven races and earnings of $892,575 into the Toyota Blue Grass. His victory total includes a win via disqualification in the Fountain of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream Park in his most recent start.

BLUEGRASS CAT WELL AFTER SUNDAY WORK - WinStar Farm LLC's Bluegrass Cat, a son of Storm Cat that is expected to be a major contender in Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass (GI) at Keeneland, was reported by trainer Todd Pletcher to be doing well on the day after a Sunday work at Churchill Downs.

Bluegrass Cat covered five furlongs over a "fast" track in 1:01.40.

"I thought he came out of the work excellent and I thought he worked real well," Pletcher said. "Not that this really applies to the Blue Grass, but I think he really likes this track."

Pletcher said he decided to send Bluegrass Cat to his Churchill Downs barn rather than join his 40-horse string at Keeneland because he hoped to have more consistency in the colt's training in the days before the Bluegrass and, if all goes well, in the weeks leading up to the Derby.

"This track, I think, tends to hold up water better than the main track at Keeneland, so I just felt like we'd get a little more consistent training schedule over here," Pletcher said. "Hopefully after the Blue Grass he's going to be back here and pointing for the next one."

Pletcher said Bluegrass Cat would travel by van to Keeneland on Thursday to school in the paddock at the Lexington track. He said that Bluegrass Cat would stay at Keeneland through Saturday's race.

Bluegrass Cat will try to make amends for a disappointing loss to Deputy Glitters in his most recent start in the Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs. The colt lost a shoe during the running of that race. His career record stands at 4-1-0 in six races with earnings of $323,700.

Meanwhile, Pletcher said that Keyed Entry, third behind Bob and John and Jazil in Saturday's Wood Memorial (GI) at Aqueduct, would arrive at Churchill Downs on April 17 - although the colt's Kentucky Derby status is unclear at this point.

"At the end of the day, I don't think he ran that bad a race," Pletcher said. "Maybe with some adjustments - slowing him down a little bit, (running on) a different surface - who knows? I think he at least ran well enough, and has run well enough every start in his life, that we should at least be here to see how he trains over the racetrack and see how he's doing, and not make a decision, prematurely, one way or another."

He said that My Golden Song, seventh to Sweetnorthernsaint in the Illinois Derby (GII), was officially off of the Kentucky Derby trail. But he still hopes to run Aaron and Marie Jones' Sunriver, the third-place finisher in the Florida Derby (GI), in the "Run for the Roses." His biggest concern at this point about Sunriver, a full brother to 2004 Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Ashado, is whether he would have sufficient earnings in graded stakes races to make the Derby field if more than the maximum 20 horses enter.

"I thought he ran well enough in the Florida Derby, he's an improving horse, and I think he'll appreciate this racetrack," said Pletcher. "We're obviously watching the earnings status closely and, I would say, that sometime after the 15th of April, I've got to make a decision on whether we're going to roll the dice and train him up to the Derby or if I'm going to have to take a look at the Lexington."

Keeneland's $325,000-added Coolmore Lexington (GII) is scheduled for April 22 - two weeks before Derby Day. The Coolmore Lexington will be run at 1 1/16-miles.

Another Pletcher-trained 3-year-old that could re-enter the Derby picture is Rushaway winner High Cotton. He traveled to Oaklawn Park on Monday to run in Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby (GII).

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) - Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Summerly, the 2005 Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner, breezed four furlongs in :52 for trainer Steve Asmussen…Honeybee winner Ermine, a contender for the 2006 Kentucky Oaks (GI), breezed five furlongs for trainer Ronny Werner in 1:02.60…Patriot Act breezed three furlongs in :38.20…Canadian Turf Cup (GI) winner English Channel breezed four furlongs for trainer Todd Pletcher in :49.60…Pletcher's Tropical Park Oaks winner J'ray breezed four furlongs in :48…Swale (GII) runner-up Noonmark breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80.

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