Bob and John leads trio of California workers for Derby

Last updated: 4/30/06 8:25 PM

Bob and John will ship to Churchill on Tuesday with stablemate Point Determined
(Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

On Sunday, three California-based Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders turned in
their final major drills for Saturday’s “Run for the Roses.” Bob Baffert sent
out two of them, Wood Memorial S. (G1) winner BOB AND JOHN (Seeking the Gold)
and Santa Anita Derby (G1) runner-up POINT DETERMINED (Point Given).

Bob and John blazed six furlongs in a bullet 1:11 2/5 on a fast track at
Santa Anita, posting the fastest of nine works at the distance. Garrett Gomez
will be aboard the Stonerside Stable homebred in the Derby.

His stablemate, Point Determined, worked five-eighths in company in :59 4/5,
third-best of 40 moves. Rafael Bejarano will have the Derby mount.

Across town at Hollywood Park, San Felipe S. (G2) victor A. P. WARRIOR (A.P.
Indy) exercised six panels on a fast track in 1:13 4/5. The John Shirreffs pupil
was most recently third in the Santa Anita Derby. Corey Nakatani will once again
be in the saddle in Derby 132.

“He broke off about five lengths behind a filly and passed her easily,”
exercise rider Ramon Guerra said. “If Nakatani moves when he should in Kentucky,
he should bring the roses back.”

“We hope A. P. Warrior can win the Derby,” Shirreffs said, “but I can’t
compare him with Giacomo (Holy Bull) (who won last year’s Derby).”

All three California workers are scheduled to travel to Louisville, Kentucky,
on Tuesday.

In other Kentucky Derby developments:

Three Derby contenders will likely work on Monday and could be joined by a
fourth.

Santa Anita Derby winner BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark), the likely Kentucky Derby
favorite, could work at Churchill Downs, depending on weather conditions. Derby
rider Alex Solis will arrive in Louisville early Monday and remain for the rest
of the week, according to trainer Dan Hendricks.

“If we’re all right on the weather, we’ll work,” Hendricks said. “If not, we
can go Tuesday or Wednesday.”

Also at Churchill, horseman Steve Asmussen is scheduled to work his Derby
pair, PRIVATE VOW (Broken Vow) and STORM TREASURE (Storm Boot). A multiple Grade
2 winner as a juvenile, Private Vow is exiting a third-place finish in the
Arkansas Derby (G2). Storm Treasure closed for a distant second in the Blue
Grass S. (G1) last time out.

At Belmont Park, undefeated Lexington S. (G2) victor SHOWING UP (Strategic
Mission) is slated to breeze for conditioner Barclay Tagg.