Consolidator works at Churchill Downs

Consolidator will return to the site of his maiden win in the Derby (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner CONSOLIDATOR (Storm Cat) worked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 over a muddy track at Churchill Downs on Wednesday for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The move was the co-second fastest of 12 works at the distance. The chestnut colt was timed in fractions of :12 2/5, :24 2/5, :36 2/5, :48 4/5 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:15 4/5 under exercise rider Stacy Maker. “I thought it was good,” Lukas said. “The track is a little bit like peanut butter this morning. It was a little bit sticky, so I think the work was a little bit more significant. “It was pretty much what we wanted, a good strong gallop out. At this point we are just trying to maintain the energy level.” Consolidator, who will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano in the Kentucky Derby (G1), comes off a dull fifth-place finish in the Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland. “I think the Blue Grass is a throw-out for everybody — Consolidator, SUN KING (Charismatic). I think you can throw it out for (the winner) BANDINI (Fusaichi Pegasus),” Lukas said. “I don’t think the Blue Grass equates to anything. You see horses all the time do well in the Blue Grass or horses that do well at Keeneland in the third or fourth race on the card and come over here and you can’t find them. You see horses that run back and come over here and win, so I don’t put any stock in the Blue Grass.”

Stablemate GOING WILD (Golden Missile), who exits a distant fifth-place
effort in last Saturday’s Lexington S. (G2) at Keeneland, galloped under
exercise rider Derek Smith.

“I am going to rely on 25 years of experience and hope that maybe I am OK,”
Lukas said. “I am not going to try to sell him to you, because I think that
would be impossible, but I think that he will make some noise in there. He likes
this racetrack and he is a nice horse. I know I am not wrong there. I’ve got two
bad (races) on him that will just drive the odds up, but three of the four I won
here had big odds.”

In his first three starts this year, Going Wild won the San Miguel S. and
Sham S. before finishing second in the Santa Catalina S. (G2). No rider has been
confirmed for the colt, who, like Consolidator, is owned by Robert and Beverly
Lewis.

“I am still looking at the rider situation,” Lukas said. “It’s going to be a
hungry, young kid.”

In other Kentucky Derby news:

Four horses are scheduled to breeze at Churchill Downs on Thursday.

Trainer Nick Zito said Sun King would go to the track at around 6:45 a.m.
(EDT), and ANDROMEDA’S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus) probably would go after the
break, weather permitting.

“If he (Andromeda’s Hero) does not work tomorrow, he will stay here and work
Friday and then go back (to Keeneland),” Zito said.

The forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of rain in Louisville for both
Thursday and Friday.

Illinois Derby (G2) winner GREELEY’S GALAXY (Mr. Greeley) is scheduled to
work, most likely after the renovation break. Trainer Warren Stute is slated to
arrive in Louisville from his California base Wednesday night.

Four-time two-turn stakes winner GREATER GOOD (Intidab), fifth in the
Arkansas Derby (G2) last out, is scheduled to work six furlongs on Thursday for
conditioner Bob Holthus.