Kentucky Derby Worktab (April 9th, 2008)

Multiple Group 1 winner TOMCITO (Street Cry [Ire]), who finished third in the Florida Derby (G1) in his United States racing debut, traveled to Churchill Downs on Wednesday to get a feel for the track prior to a possible start in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 3.

The Peruvian import traveled by van from trainer Dante Zanelli's base at Keeneland and worked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 on a fast track under Manfredy Guzman, who is a former jockey in Peru.

Churchill Downs clockers caught Tomcito in fractions of :13 2/5, :26 1/5, :38 and :50. Tomcito galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 2/5. The move ranked fifth among 18 works at the distance.

Zanelli said he actually worked Tomcito six furlongs and he caught the colt in a time of 1:14 3/5, but was pleased with the trial regardless of the official clocking.

"We wanted him to just recognize the track and know where the finish line was," Zanelli said. "We wanted to do an easy three-quarters, and that's exactly what he did. He finished strong -- he finished 11-and-three the last eighth and he galloped out well. He's really moving forward big time. He's improving every day and he's doing it really well."

Tomcito has been mentioned as a candidate for the $325,000 Lexington S. (G2) on April 19 at Keeneland, but Zanelli said he is taking a "wait and see" approach on that race. He would prefer not to run again prior to the Kentucky Derby, but Tomcito might not have sufficient earnings in graded stakes races to make the maximum 20-horse field in the Derby.

"We're going wait and see what happens this weekend (in Derby prep races)," Zanelli said. "We'll have to do what we have to do, but we think the five weeks between the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby would work for us. He is professional, he knows what to do and he has experience from last year."

Zanelli said Tomcito would remain at Keeneland until shortly before the Derby.

"We'll come back and breeze next week up there (at Churchill Downs)," Zanelli added. "At this point, I think we'll stay put (at Keeneland) until the last few days."

Unlike his Kentucky Derby rivals, Tomcito has already run and won at the Kentucky Derby distance of a mile and a quarter and the Belmont S. (G1) distance of a mile and a half. He has graded stakes earnings of $151,292.