Kentucky Derby Worktab

Undefeated Florida Derby (G1) winner BIG BROWN (Boundary) drilled five furlongs in :58 3/5 under exercise rider Michelle Nevin at Palm Meadows on Thursday in his final major workout prior the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 3 at Churchill Downs. The Richard Dutrow Jr. trainee is the probable favorite for the 1 1/4-mile classic, which is expected to draw a full 20-horse field.

"He did exactly what we wanted him to do," said Dutrow, who conditions Big Brown for IEAH Stables and others. "He did it the right way, looked real good and did it in racehorse time while well within himself. He went about his business in a smooth and ordinary way."

Dutrow was unconcerned with the rapid clocking.

"Right now, I'm not concerned in any way," he said. "We needed to turn his head loose a little in the lane, because we've kept him covered up in his last couple of breezes. I told Michelle to let him out just a little notch in the stretch, she did just that, the colt took the bit, and just carried her to the wire. With the race 10 days away, this is what we needed and wanted."

Big Brown is tentatively scheduled to be flown from his Florida base to Churchill Downs on Monday and should arrive there by about 5 p.m. (EDT). From there, he'll likely have an easy three-furlong breeze over Churchill's main track two days prior to the Derby.

At Churchill Downs, Fountain of Youth S. (G2) winner COOL COAL MAN (Mineshaft) worked four furlongs on a fast track in :47 2/5 in company with three-year-old maiden Chris Got Even (Stephen Got Even), who was clocked in the same time. It was the second-fastest of 35 moves at the distance.

Megan Smillie was aboard Cool Coal Man and Julien Leparoux, who will ride Cool Coal Man in the Derby, was on Chris Got Even.
The duo came out after the renovation break, and were timed in fractions of :11 3/5, :23 2/5 and :35 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:02 3/5.

"I was very happy. He was galloping along the right way," trainer Nick Zito said. "You always worry about the breeze before the Derby, but they were really comfortable. I worked him with a really nice maiden, Chris Got Even, and he won't be a maiden for long. He is going to run Derby Day. He's a pretty nice colt.

"I just wanted Julien to see his horse, which is why I had him work the other horse," Zito continued. "Basically, I just wanted him to get alongside him and see what kind of horse he's got instead of being on top of him. Plus, Megan gets on him all the time and I didn't want to change anything."

Cool Coal Man followed a similar work pattern before his half-length victory in the Fountain of Youth, working a half-mile in :47 1/5 nine days before the race.

"He's not a big, giant horse. He's perfectly built, but not really big," Zito said. "I don't think many horses can boast his record as far as conditioning goes. Nobody has three mile-and-an-eighth races, so I don't want to overdo it. I don't want to underdo it. I'd rather have him gallop all week into the Derby."

The Zito-trained ANAK NAKAL (Victory Gallop), who galloped 1 1/2 miles under Heather Stark before the renovation break, is scheduled to work Friday.

"He's not a really big horse either and this will be his last work," Zito said. "I am not training anybody else's horses, but I have seen a few that are running in the Derby and if I had those, maybe I would do it differently. Obviously, I have a sixth sense for some reason and God's been good to me and I have to do what I am told to do. I go by feel."

In other Kentucky Derby news:

Lexington S. (G2) winner BEHINDATTHEBAR (Forest Wildcat) remains a possibility for the Run for the Roses, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.

"I've got to talk to the owners and see how everything pans out, but I've been pleased with the way he's training," Pletcher said.
Pletcher is expected to enter MONBA (Maria's Mon) and COWBOY CAL (Giant's Causeway), the one-two finishers in the Blue Grass S. (G1), in Derby 134.

Meanwhile, trainer David Carroll is wondering whether or not DENIS OF CORK (Harlan's Holiday) will make the Derby field when entries are drawn on Wednesday. The bay colt is on the cusp of drawing into the Derby field after finishing fifth in the April 5 Illinois Derby (G2). Denis of Cork has $165,000 in graded stakes earnings.

"I am hearing now that Behindatthebar may run and I am resigned to not getting in," Carroll said. "He's a good horse and I would be proud to lead him over. But if we don't get in, it's nobody's fault but our own. We had our chance and didn't get it done."