Kentucky Derby Worktab (April 15th, 2008)

Multiple Group 1 winner TOMCITO (Street Cry [Ire]) worked four furlongs out of the gate in a bullet :46 3/5 over Keeneland's Polytrack on Tuesday. The move, with Manfreddy Guzman up, was the fastest of 35 works at the distance. The bay colt is expected to make his next start in Saturday's $325,000 Lexington S. (G2) in advance of a possible start in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1).

The gate drill was designed to get Tomcito into the race earlier, according to trainer Dante Zanelli. In his U.S. racing debut, Tomcito was the last of 12 before finishing a non-threatening third in the nine-furlong Florida Derby (G1) on March 29 at Gulfstream Park.

"He had worked out of the gate before his Grade 1 win at a mile and a quarter in Peru," Zanelli said. "He was close to the pace that day and he won by 10 (9 3/4 lengths)."

It was the second work in Kentucky for Tomcito. He worked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 on April 9 at Churchill Downs in order to get a feel for the track.

Tomcito has accumulated $151,292 in graded stakes earnings, a figure that would not be among the top 20 horses who are being pointed to the Kentucky Derby. The Run for the Roses is limited to a maximum field of 20 horses based on earnings in graded stakes races.

"I think even if he finishes third (in the Lexington and earns $32,500), I will be all right," Zanelli said. "I am not worried. I think I have the horse to beat. He is getting better and better and he is not even blowing (after the work)."