James Scully's Morning Notes (April 28, 2008)

The grandstand and backside were packed with people on a picture perfect morning at Churchill.

DENIS OF CORK (Harlan's Holiday) is in the field due to Monday's defection of Behindatthebar (Forest Wildcat), and the David Carroll runner once again displayed his affinity for the track this morning, inhaling the ground with seemingly effortless strides. Under a snug hold from Calvin Borel, the bay colt was eager to run before being his cue in the final furlongs, and he really kicked it in down the lane, completing four furlongs in a snappy :48. With only four career starts, Denis of Cork doesn't own the foundation of a typical Derby winner, but that won't stop me from using him. I'm giving him serious consideration based on what I've seen over the past few days.

Dominant Louisiana Derby (G2) winner PYRO (Pulpit) was out early for Steve Asmussen, breezing four furlongs in :49 4/5. Pyro's stock took a tumble with his 10th-place effort over Polytrack in the Blue Grass (G1), but he's got the opportunity to make amends on Saturday. Like most Asmussen horses, the dark bay looked good entering the track, and he appeared keen to  run early before settling into a moderate pace on the far turn. Pyro isn't the most beautiful mover -- he pounds along like a sprinter in a way -- but he made a strong appearance here, putting his head down while accelerating to the wire in deep stretch in excellent fashion. This was a sharp move, and Pyro is a top-class individual on dirt.

Stablemate Z FORTUNE (Siphon [Brz]) also turned in a commendable work in his final Kentucky Derby (G1) tune-up. His final time (:51) was 1 1/5 seconds slower than Pyro, but the gray colt did it the right way, traveling easy during the early part of the workout before finishing up in a professional manner. The Arkansas Derby (G2) runner-up appears to be thriving, and Z Fortune looms as a viable candidate for the exotics at long odds.

BIG TRUCK (Hookandladder) appeared on the muscle entering the track and was into his work early, but the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner didn't sustain his momentum the entire way. He earned the bullet with a five-furlong breeze in :59 2/5, but it's difficult to imagine that he's sitting on a big race Saturday based on this move.

VISIONAIRE (Grand Slam) breezed for Derby winner Michael Matz, covering a half-mile in :48 2/5, but didn't finish up strongly. The chestnut isn't bred for 1 ¼ miles and, while horses outrun their pedigrees from time to time, I wanted to see a strong move from Visionaire before giving him serious consideration. He didn't deliver.

BOB BLACK JACK (Stormy Jack) worked with blinkers, which he'll wear for the first time in the Derby, and he's probably going straight to the lead when the gates open on Saturday. The California-based colt got over the track pretty well in preparation for his first dirt start, extending his legs nicely in upper stretch en route to a final time in :48 3/5, and speed is dangerous. I doubt Bob Black Jack can last the entire way, but I'll use the front runner on the bottom of some exotics.

TALE OF EKATI (Tale of Cat) got a feel for the track for the first time, exercising early in the morning for Barclay Tagg, and he's an impressive-looking individual. We'll get a better gauge of him tomorrow during his final breeze, but the Wood Memorial (G1) doesn't appear to have taken anything out of him. In fact, he looked very fit and was raring to go.