Derby hopefuls schedule final major moves before Run for the Roses

Hector Ramos had his hands full trying to restrain an eager Uncle Mo (Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs)

Trainer Todd Pletcher’s two hopefuls for next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby
(G1) galloped 1 1/2 miles each after the renovation break at Churchill
Downs on Thursday.

Champion UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie) returned to
the track under Hector Ramos for the first time since working five
furlongs in company in 1:01 4/5 early Tuesday morning. The 2010 Eclipse Award
winner and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) under the Twin Spires last fall is scheduled to work again Sunday or Monday.

Stablemate and Gotham S. (G3) victor STAY THIRSTY (Bernardini), who was
partnered by Fernando Espinoza during Thursday’s exercise, is penciled in for a
Sunday work.

John Velazquez
has the Derby assignment on Uncle Mo and Ramon Dominguez is slated to
ride Stay Thirsty.

ARCHARCHARCH (Arch) galloped
in company on Thursday over a track labeled as “fast” after the renovation
break, and is set to have a workmate for a scheduled five-furlong work after
Friday’s renovation break.

A rainbow graced the Twin Spires on Thursday following days of stormy weather (Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs)

Tampa Bay Derby (G2) scorer WATCH ME GO (West Acre) made
his first visit to the track at Churchill Downs on Thursday morning, galloping 1
1/2 miles under exercise rider Louie Feliciano after the renovation
break. The dark bay colt arrived from Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday
afternoon, and trainer Kathleen O’Connell is scheduled to arrive in
Louisville Friday night with a work scheduled for Saturday or Sunday.

ANIMAL KINGDOM (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) was scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs from Keeneland on Thursday
afternoon. The Spiral S. (G3) winner will be stabled in Barn 22 and is scheduled to
work Saturday for trainer Graham Motion.

Motion also trains Wood Memorial (G1) winner TOBY’S CORNER (Bellamy Road),
who is set to work Sunday at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland and
ship to Churchill Downs on Monday. Robby Albarado has the Derby mount on Animal Kingdom and
Eddie Castro on Toby’s Corner.

DECISIVE MOMENT (With Distinction), winner of the Jean Lafitte S. and second
in both the Spiral and Delta Downs Jackpot S. (G3), is scheduled to work Friday
at Churchill Downs.

Shackleford will be going for his first stakes win in the Derby (Matt Wooley/EquiSport Photos)

SHACKLEFORD (Forestry), a head second in the Florida Derby (G1), is set to
work on Saturday for trainer Dale Romans.

Miguel Carranza,
assistant to trainer Jeff Bonde, indicated TWICE THE APPEAL (Successful Appeal) would
work Friday
or Saturday with three-time Derby winning rider Calvin Borel scheduled to
be aboard for the move. Borel will ride the Sunland Derby (G3) hero in Derby
137.

Trainer Mike Maker plans to work Blue Grass (G1) runner-up TWINSPIRED
(Harlan’s Holiday) on Saturday at Trackside Louisville and then bring him to
Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

BRILLIANT SPEED (Dynaformer), winner of the Blue Grass at Keeneland, is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Friday.
Trained by Tom Albertrani, the dark bay is scheduled train over the synthetic
Polytrack surface at Keeneland on Friday morning and will
make the trip from the Lexington track to Churchill Downs during the afternoon.

Archarcharch was on the muscle Thursday (Matt Wooley/EquiSport Photos)

Joe Ferrer, agent for Rafael Bejarano, said he has a tentative call on Robert
Lewis S. (G2) winner ANTHONY’S CROSS (Indian Charlie) — if he gets in.
Anthony’s Cross currently ranks 22nd on the list of probables in order of
earnings and needs two in front of him to defect in the field limited to 20.

Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling recording artist Jordin Sparks will sing
the national anthem prior to the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

Sparks, a 21-year-old native of Phoenix, Arizona, will sing “The
Star-Spangled Banner” around 5:10 p.m. (EDT) following the running of the
Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1). The performance will be carried live on NBC
Sports’ coverage of Kentucky Derby 137 which airs 4-7 p.m.

Sparks has released two albums since her “American Idol” win at age 17. Her
self-titled debut and sophomore albums, “Battlefield,” feature such chart-topping hits as “Tattoo,” “No Air,” “Battlefield” and “One
Step at a Time” and have sold more than 1.6 million copies worldwide. Sparks has
received American Music, People’s Choice and Teen Choice awards as well as
Grammy and multiple MTV VMA nominations. She also has toured extensively with
Alicia Keys, the Jonas Brothers and Britney Spears, and in 2010 did her first
headlining tour.