Warrior Hopes To Regain Majestic Form in Derby Trial

MAJESTIC WARRIOR (A.P. Indy), winless since a scintillating 2 1/4-length victory in the Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga, will attempt to return to his winning ways in Saturday's $100,000 Derby Trial S. at Churchill Downs. The opening-day feature will feature 10 sophomores, and the 7 1/2-furlong distance might favor Majestic Warrior, who captured the Hopeful over seven furlongs. Seventh when returning to the races in the Louisiana Derby (G2), the Bill Mott-trained colt exits a non-threatening sixth in the Florida Derby (G1). He'll cut back to one turn and get a new rider in Robby Albarado.

Swale S. (G2) hero EATON'S GIFT (Johannesburg) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) third-placer KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse) are very capable of challenging for the win. Neither ran well over the Polytrack at Keeneland last out, finishing third and fourth, respectively, in the Lafayette S., but both ran big on the dirt two starts back. Eaton's Gift captured the 6 1/2-furlong Swale by 3 1/2 lengths for Dale Romans, and Kodiak Kowboy recorded a sharp six-length score in an allowance/optional claiming event at Oaklawn Park. Conditioned by Steve Asmussen, Kodiak Kowboy also accounted for the Bashford Manor S. (G3) last summer at Churchill.

TURF WAR (Dixie Union), a dead-heat winner of the lucrative Delta Jackpot Juvenile (G3) in December, will seek a bit of redemption following a couple of disappointing efforts this year. Unplaced in the Southwest S. (G3) and Lane's End S. (G2), the Mark Casse runner will attempt to rebound with Patrick Husbands up.

Asmussen is also responsible for the unbeaten ZULU MAGIC (Johannesburg), who will make his stakes debut following an allowance/optional claiming win in his 2008 opener, and reigning Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Todd Pletcher well send out the undefeated FUJITA (Lion Hearted), who will test stakes waters following a couple of victories at Gulfstream. The Dallas Stuart-trained MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno), a smart allowance winner two starts back at Fair Grounds, ran well in a couple of starts at Churchill last year and also merits consideration.

The complete field, in post order with jockeys, is Eaton's Gift, Tracy Hebert; LEMON SPICE (Langfuhr), Miguel Mena; Fujita, Calvin Borel; Kodiak Kowboy, Corey Lanerie; Majestic Warrior; Macho Again, Julien Leparoux; DA' TARA (Tiznow), Larry Melancon; IRON WORKS PIKE (Five Star Day), Jamie Theriot; Turf War; and Zulu Magic, Jesus Castanon.

Stakes winners Eaton's Gift, Kodiak Kowboy, Majestic Warrior and Turf War will all carry 123 pounds. The rest tote 117.