Repole Stable’s UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie) and STAY THIRSTY (Bernardini)
“Both seemed very well (this morning),” Pletcher said later at his Barn 34
The duo just got some easy exercise the day following their tandem
In a correction from Sunday’s notes, Kentucky Derby (G1) rider John Velazquez
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Exercise rider Carlos Correa took Robert LaPenta’s DIALED IN (Mineshaft) to
the track at 7.a.m. Monday for a long gallop over the sloppy surface at
Churchill Downs.
“He galloped a pretty long way, went around twice there,” trainer Nick Zito
said during a break in the morning rains. “It was just like this when he went
out, but then God said, ‘Nah, I want him to get wet like the other horses.’ But
he liked it.
“I can’t remember, believe it or not, since I got him galloping on a track
like that. I think that was the first time — this morning — that he galloped
on a wet track. It looked like he did all right.”
The ever-superstitious Zito, who has saddled Strike the Gold (1991) and Go
for Gin (1994) for victories in the Kentucky Derby, has been outwardly and
comfortably confident in Dialed In this spring, although he did make an effort
to knock on wood outside Barn 36 when he talked about his positive feelings
about the colt.
“I’m just confident with a horse like this. To me, he’s a special horse. He
always tries so hard, it’s nice to have a horse like that. You know he’s going
to put in his run,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “I’m always confident when I
have a horse like this – confident, but not overconfident.”
“He was a little bit of a butterball. He was a little chunky. Obviously, he
Florida Derby runner-up SHACKLEFORD (Forestry) got back to work Monday
“I thought both of his workouts were just perfect,” Romans said. “They were
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Romans trained horses who placed in all three legs of the 2010 Triple Crown,
including a third on Kentucky Derby Day with Paddy O’Prado (El Prado [Ire]), a
second in the Preakness (G1) with First Dude (Stephen Got Even), and a third in
the Belmont (G1), also with First Dude.
“This horse, Shackleford, reminds me a lot of Paddy O’Prado last year, who
peaked at the right time,” Romans said. “He couldn’t be doing any better.”
Jesus Castanon will have his first Kentucky Derby mount aboard Shackleford.
Harvey Clark and partners’ SOLDAT (War Front) galloped 1 1/4 miles Monday
Sloppy track or not, McLaughlin said Soldat already has appreciated the
“It was 90 degrees on Florida Derby Day and they all got pretty hot that
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“He really picked his head up since coming to this cooler weather. Going from
hot to cool for a horse is like a vitamin shot.”
But McLaughlin won’t shed any tears if the track turns up sloppy on Saturday
for the Derby.
“We won’t mind the slop, look at what he did on that sloppy track at
Gulfstream,” he said, referring to a 10 3/4-length allowance win in
January. “That won’t bother me on race day, but I’d prefer to train on a fast
track any day.”
Alan Garcia rides Soldat in Derby 137.
The owners were driving to Louisville from Jacksonville, Arkansas, Monday and
The long-range forecast for Derby Day calls for a 30 percent chance of rain
“I would prefer a dry track, but they all have to run on it,” said Court, who
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Archarcharch’s only off-the-board finish in six starts came on a track listed
as “good” in a fourth-place finish in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park on
January 17.
“That day,” Court said, “that track was muddy, sticky and tiring.”
The Kathy Ritvo trainee, who breezed five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 Saturday
“He’s pretty laid back and he’s gotten used to everything. I’m sure there’s
Mucho Macho Man, who captured the Risen Star S. (G2) at Fair Grounds before
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“I’m just blessed and fortunate that he’s doing so well here. We haven’t had
anything to deal with. He loves the mud; he loves the track,” the South
Florida-based trainer said. “He’s been great around here. The weather has been
for him. For me, I don’t like the rain.”
Team Valor International’s ANIMAL KINGDOM (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) returned to
the track Monday morning and jogged a mile over a sloppy course.
Dan Rock, assistant to trainer Graham Motion, sent the Spiral (G3) winner out
a little after 7 a.m. during a short break in the rain. The colt worked six
furlongs Saturday morning in 1:13, and Rock said the colt has come out of the
work in good order.
Decisive Moment’s trainer is quick to point out that he is no relation to the
“People want to make me Juan Arias II, but I don’t want to be second. I want
Arias, though, admitted that he wouldn’t mind if Decisive Moment followed in
The South Florida-based trainer reported that the Just For Fun Stable’s
“He loved it. I wish on race day it would be the same way,” he said. “He’s
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Kerwin Clark will ride Decisive Moment in the Derby.
George and Lori Hall’s PANTS ON FIRE (Jump Start) did not visit the track one
day after breezing a half-mile in :47 4/5. However, trainer Kelly Breen relayed
that the Louisiana Derby winner came out of his work in good order.
“He looks good, he’s eating good, and when I showed up this morning he was
resting well,” Breen said. “He’s up and around now and doing well.”
Pants on Fire will return to galloping during the Derby-Oaks training session
Tuesday.
TWICE THE APPEAL (Successful Appeal) and SWAY AWAY (Afleet Alex), the two
colts trained by Jeff Bonde, walked the shedrow for a second day following
six-furlong works on Saturday.
Twice the Appeal, who earned his way into the 137th Kentucky Derby with a
tally in the Sunland Derby (G3) in March, covered the distance in 1:15 3/5,
while Sway Away, who is not yet guaranteed a spot in Saturday’s starting gate,
went the six panels in 1:14.
Bonde’s assistant trainer, Miguel Carranza, confirmed that the double walk
days were standard procedure in their barn.
“That’s the way he (Bonde) likes to do it,” Carranza said at Barn 42 Monday
morning. “We’ll take them back to the track tomorrow.”
Sway Away is No. 23 on the list of eligibles for the prestigious race that
only allows for 20 runners. Entries for the Run for the Roses will be taken
Wednesday.
Calvin Borel has the call on Twice the Appeal, while Martin Garcia would be
aboard Sway Away if he gets to enter.
Twinspired will van across town to Churchill Downs on Tuesday after training
“He came out of the Blue Grass fine and the horse doesn’t think he lost,
“I don’t think there are a lot of similarities between Twinspired and Stately
Maker remains hopeful that DERBY KITTEN (Kitten’s Joy) can draw into the
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“If Derby Kitten draws into the race, it’s because someone unfortunately had
to come out,” Maker said. “So we’d obviously look at the rider that became
available if something were to happen as one consideration.”
Derby Kitten also galloped 1 1/2 miles on Monday at Trackside Training
Center.
The three Derby contenders not yet in Kentucky — TOBY’S CORNER (Bellamy
Road), COMMA TO THE TOP (Bwana Charlie) and MASTER OF HOUNDS (Kingmambo) — are
all due to arrive Tuesday.
Dianne D. Cotter’s Wood Memorial (G1) winner Toby’s Corner jogged at the Fair
Hill Training Center in Elkton, Maryland, one day worked six furlongs in 1:15 on
the Tapeta surface. He is scheduled to van to Churchill Downs on Tuesday.
Trainer Peter Miller reported that his CashCall Futurity (G1) winner Comma to
the Top looked “super” Monday morning at Hollywood Park following his
five-furlong drill Sunday that he accomplished in 1:00 2/5.
“He’s doing great,” Miller said. “We just walked him today and he’s got his
plane at 4 tomorrow morning (PDT).”
Miller indicated that he’d be flying Monday afternoon from Los Angeles and
planned to be on board at Churchill when Comma to the Top makes the scene,
probably early Tuesday afternoon.
California-based Patrick Valenzuela – one of four of this year’s Derby riders
who has won the race previously – has the call on Comma to the Top.
Mrs. John Magnier’s Master of Hounds is scheduled to arrive in Louisville
between 8 and 8:30 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday and van to Churchill Downs with an arrival
time at the quarantine section of Barn 45 between 9 and 9:30 a.m.
The Irish-based colt, trained by Aidan O’Brien, finished second in Dubai’s $2
million U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) on March 26, in his only start of 2011. Master of
Hounds visited Churchill Downs last fall for the Breeders’ Cup World
Championships, where he finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2).
Master of Hounds will be ridden by Garrett Gomez.