Dialed In arrives at Churchill; Archarcharch back to the
track
Robert LaPenta’s DIALED IN (Mineshaft), who is expected to vie for favoritism
Dialed In, who won the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park in his most
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito has saddled two Kentucky Derby winners —
Arriving with Dialed In was Harvey Clarke and partners’ SOLDAT (War Front),
Soldat, who captured the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park on
|
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will be seeking his first Kentucky Derby success
with Soldat, who will be ridden next Saturday by Alan Garcia.
In other Derby doings, Arkansas Derby (G1) winner ARCHARCHARCH (Arch)
returned to the track one day after working a bullet five furlongs in :59 2/5.
On Saturday, he turned in an easy jog once around under jockey Jon Court with
trainer Jinks Fires alongside on a pony.
“He does a lot better if you take him to the track and get him out of his
Owned by Robert Yagos, Archarcharch is scheduled to gallop Sunday morning
This year’s Kentucky Derby will be the first for Fires and Court, but not for
“Earlie is coming in and at last count we have 36 family members coming for
Trainer Juan Arias reported no problems Saturday morning with Just For Fun
“He came out of the work good. He walked today. We’ll bring him back to the
Arias will be aboard for Sunday’s planned gallop aboard his trainee. The
|
“I have a team of exercise riders, but I do like to participate. That’s an
advantage I have as a trainer — that way I can feel it when I ride,” said
Arias, who is Decisive Moment’s only exercise rider. “I’ve been galloping him
every day for six months, no one else. I even breeze him sometimes.”
Repole Stable’s twosome of UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie) and STAY THIRSTY (Bernardini)
went trackside for 1 1/4-mile gallop Saturday at 8:30 during the special
training period following the renovation break. Hector Ramos was in his usual
spot aboard Uncle Mo, while Fernando Espinoza was at the controls for Stay
Thirsty.
Both colts went about their business as expected, setting themselves up for
“They’ll both work tomorrow,” trainer Todd Pletcher said back at his Barn 34
The Kentucky-bred stablemates are both coming off disappointing efforts:
Uncle Mo, last year’s two-year-old champion, is scheduled to be handled by
Also set to work Sunday is George and Lori Hall’s PANTS ON FIRE (Jump Start),
|
“Hopefully it won’t rain too much,” Breen said after the Louisiana Derby (G2)
winner galloped a little less than 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Juan
Pizarro.
“It is mainly a timing thing in that I like to get him on his toes a little
closer (to the race).”
Jockey Rosie Napravnik is scheduled to be aboard for the work.
Trainer Kathleen O’Connell was on hand to watch WATCH ME GO (West Acre)
gallop Saturday, the morning before her Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner is scheduled
to work over the Churchill Downs track.
“He’s got a wonderful way of traveling,” the Florida-based trainer said of
Watch Me Go, who is owned by Gilbert Campbell.
Jockey Freddie Lenclud, who was aboard for Saturday’s morning exercise, is
slated to ride Watch Me Go in Sunday’s workout.
O’Connell said she won’t name a rider for the Derby until Monday.
“We have a couple people on hold, so we’ll wait until Monday,” O’Connell
said.
The late-closing winner of the Blue Grass (G1) was shipped from Keeneland to
“He feels great — couldn’t be happier,” said Blacker, who works for trainer
Blacker said the ideal scenario would be to have the colt have his final
Tom Walters’ SANTIVA (Giant’s Causeway) galloped 1 1/2 miles following the
|
“I couldn’t be happier. He went really well,” trainer Eddie Kenneally said.
Kenneally said the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner, a troubled ninth in the
Blue Grass, is coming up to the race in a good way.
“He couldn’t be doing any better. He’s eating well, looking well, very sound
and healthy,” Kenneally said. “Hopefully the weather stays good.”
Weather will dictate when Santiva has his final pre-Derby breeze, but
Kenneally said the ideal day is Monday. Shaun Bridgmohan has the mount on
Santiva in the Derby.
Zayat Stables’ NEHRO (Mineshaft), a fast-closing runner-up in the Louisiana
Derby (G2) and Arkansas Derby in his past two starts, galloped 1 1/2 miles under
exercise rider Carlos Rosas at 6:15 Saturday morning.
Slated to be ridden by Corey Nakatani in Derby 137, Nehro is scheduled to
work Monday morning.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has watched the colt develop through three
“The thing about him is he’s got a lot of turf pedigree being by War Chant
Victor Espinoza has the mount in the Kentucky Derby.
Across the country at Hollywood Park, Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum and Kevin
|
“I’m going to work him five-eighths tomorrow morning at 8 (PDT) and have him
gallop out three-quarters,” trainer Peter Miller said from his Hollywood Park
barn. “Patrick Valenzuela (who has been named aboard the gelding for his Derby
run) will work him for me. He worked him for me last week.
“Everything is good. He’s going forward just like we planned. It’s getting
exciting.”
Comma to the Top — the name derives from a slang phrase for an apostrophe —
will be the most-seasoned starter in the field for Derby 137 with 13 starts
already under his belt. The speedster has three stakes victories to his credit,
including the CashCall Futurity (G1), and was second, beaten a head, in his most
recent effort, the Santa Anita Derby on April 9.
Also at Hollywood, A D K Racing’s ANTHONY’S CROSS (Indian Charlie) galloped 1
1/2 miles Saturday morning as his connections, including trainer Eoin Harty,
await word that they’ll get a green light to compete in next Saturday’s Kentucky
Derby.
Anthony’s Cross is sitting at No. 21 on the list of potential Derby starters
and needs just a bit of help to make the no-more-than-20-horse field. Harty has
made arrangements to fly his charge to Kentucky on Tuesday and he’s keeping his
fingers crossed until then.
“I’m still waiting to hear,” Harty said Saturday morning. “We’ll hope we get
lucky.”
Anthony’s Cross, a Pennsylvania-bred bay, won the Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) at
Santa Anita in February, then finished fifth in his most recent outing, the
Santa Anita Derby.