Mine That Bird returned to the worktab with a solid four furlong move in :49 and change at Churchill on July 7th. He galloped out strongly and is on course for the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby on August 1st. He will reunite with Mike Smith for at least his next few outings.

Rachel Alexandra had her first morning activity since her facile Mother Goose tally. Clockers caught the daughter of Medaglia D’Oro in an easy :50 and change over four panels. The work was recorded over the Oklahoma Training track at Saratoga, and her next start is undetermined.
Quality …read more

Calvin Borel abandoned Mine That Bird in favor of Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. He was back aboard the Derby winner in the Belmont, but he may be jumping ship again.
He frequently rides for Ian Wilkes and may have a scheduling conflict if Warrior’s Reward fires a big shot in the Dwyer (G2) this weekend.
If everything goes according to plan, Warrior’s Reward is scheduled to run in the Jim Dandy (G2) on August 1st, the same day Mine That Bird competes in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby. How many chances will Chip Woolley give his …read more

Papa Clem was out for some light exercise at Pimlico on Tuesday morning. The Gary Stute trainee went five furlongs in 1:05.23. He finished a better than expected 4th in the Kentucky Derby, but I have never been a big fan of the Arkansas Derby winner, and he will not be among my top players in the Preakness .

Friesan Fire had to work well to be considered for the Preakness, and the Larry Jones runner did not disappoint with a swift :58.40 move. He was a bit banged up in an adventurous Derby run and needed …read more

Papa Clem did not do enough in his two morning works since arriving in Louisville, so Gary Stute sent him out for a swift three furlong blowout (:34.47). He really needed that stiff move, but I still do not fancy the son of Smart Strike. I thought the Arkansas Derby was weak, and he seems a cut below the best.
Last minute entrant Nowhere To Hide, trained by former Derby winning trainer Nick Zito, had a two furlong move in :25.40. He has finished 4th in all three graded route tries and is overmatched on …read more

A busy Saturday morning at Churchill Downs as the Derby players go through their final moves in advance of the first Saturday in May. Things to look for in Derby works are physical appearance, energy, and the ability to finish strongly. All of the connections will say they are happy, but pay attention to clockers for the real scoop. DRF’s Mike Welsch is on top of things at Churchill, and his daily reports can be found on the Daily Racing Form site.
If you are looking for Derby contender reports, news, and early odds, check out Horse Racing …read more

General Quarters got back on the beam in the Blue Grass Stakes, and the former claimer is the feel good Derby story for 75yo owner/trainer Tom McCarthy.

The General, along with Illinois Derby winner Musket Man, have certainly put the Tampa Bay Downs preps on the map.
Lane’s End hero Hold Me Back rallied for the place in a perfect Derby prep performance, but the Bill Mott runner must still prove he can handle conventional dirt.
Massone did SoCal proud with a show finish, and Terrain put in his usual solid effort to round of the superfecta.
Disappointments included Kentucky Challenge Stakes hero …read more

Ten 3yo’s will line up for Saturday’s Arkansas Derby (G2), and the million dollar pot is a serious bit of change for those still hoping to quality for the Kentucky Derby.

Old Fashioned does not have graded earnings issues, but he suffered his first career loss in the Rebel, and his stamina has looked suspect in both of his ‘09 outings.
The Larry Jones trainee needs to ration his speed if he expects to be a Derby player, and new pilot Terry Thompson will try to get him to relax this time around.
Win Willy shocked the world in …read more

Friesan Fire (104 BSF) was the star of the week with a powerful stalk and pounce win in the Louisiana Derby (G2). He swept the graded 3yo schedule at Fair Grounds.
The son of A. P. Indy, trained by Larry Jones, will either contest the Blue Grass Stakes (April 11th) or train (at Keeneland) up to the Kentucky Derby.
Friesan Fire owns the right running style and pedigree to succeed on the 1st Saturday in May, but is he a Fair Grounds specialist, and did he peak too soon? He’s been kept in steady training, so I cannot blame his connections for …read more

There are no less than four Saturday Derby preps on tap, and each day this week I will preview one, starting with the Louisiana Derby.

I liked Patena in the Lecomte, and he ran on nicely to land the place in his initial try over conventional dirt. My Derby future (pool 1) play was subsequently purchased by IEAH and is now trained by Rick Dutrow, the same connections that brought us Big Brown last year. Well bred $250k Keeneland sales grad drilled a bullet at the Gulf on March 9th and figures to fire a big shot off the layoff under …read more

I Want Revenge uncorked a 113 BSF en route to a romping Gotham Stakes (G3) tally (replay below) while trying conventional dirt for the first time. He showed quality on synthetic, and his connections (Mullins/Talamo) were spot-on in saying he would move up on dirt. He will ship back to his Hollywood Park base before returning to the Big A for the Wood Memorial on April 4th.
Imperial Council ran a quality race to grab the place in his first start around two turns. If you like Shug’s well bred colt, don’t give up on him because the …read more