Here and there, this and that - recent photographs

Here is a photo variety pack, from here and there, including some of the 2012 Derby-bound runners.

Above:  Kentucky Derby hopeful ALPHA at Palm Meadows, Rob Massey up.  

Above:  Le Bernardin was an impressive 3-year-old winner at Aqueduct on April 7.  The son of - guess who? - is now 2 for 3 for Kiaran McLaughlin.  His future could be le bright.

Above:  Speaking of bright...you've gotta like a handsome horse with yellow tack and a red pom-pom.  Trinniberg's connections are now aiming their colt to the Kentucky Derby.

Above:  Here's another yellow-bridled beauty: the filly Yara, longshot winner of the Davona Dale, is scheduled to run in the Kentucky Oaks.

Above:  It's hard to find a filly more loved by her stable than champion Musical Romance, here with Bill Kaplan, at their home base, Calder....

Above:   ....although, in the same barn, Felicity Waugh is understandably proud of her beautiful 2-race winner Peekablue Sue - who looks extra-racy with one blue eye.   Peekablue Sue is by Spanish Steps.

Above:  Calder is also home to Petunia and Fabio, barn friends at Allan Hunter's barn where they keep the gelding Cockeyed Rooster company.  One of the two - I think Fabio - suffered a broken leg when young.  But has recovered well and, like Petunia, seems a very happy camper.

Above:  Also at Calder, an unusual white-eyed goat named Rebecca spends time looking for food - I mean residing - at Luis Olivares' barn.  Here, she visits with a bucket - containing, surprise, something that she considers food! - near the multiple stakes winning Tackleberry.

Above:  Tahitian Warrior struts in the Aqueduct paddock before the Carter H.  And he and Zenyatta aren't the only strutters out there!  Among other long-striding 'dancers' are Awesome Maria, Lisa's Booby Trap and Aviate.

Above:  Meanwhile, also at Aqueduct, Donnie Von Hemel put the finishing touches on his champion, Caleb's Posse, before the G1 Carter Handicap.

Above:  After the Carter, Nick Zito gave some loving to his wonderfully competitive Grade I Carter winner Jackson Bend.

Above:  Of course, love isn't reserved for Grade I winners.  Heart of Destiny isn't a Grade I winner (yet), but she obviously has a loving fan.  Heart of Destiny is trained by Jimmy Baker.

Above:  At Payson Park near Indiantown, FL, a trainer's stand features names of top residents.  While some names have changed over the years, St. Jovite, Cigar, Easy Goer and Lure remain at the top of the ladder.

Above:  Palm Meadows lends itself to some magnificent mornings.

Above:  Palm Meadows was winter home to Todd Pletcher's Stat, who made for quite a handsome model - along with rider Nick Bush - on an early April morning.

Above:  Union Rags absolutely has 'the look' - here at Palm Meadows earlier this month.

Above/below:  Duck, duck...GOOSE!  The brilliantly fast Peter Walder sprinter Force Freeze barrels down on a goose at Gulfstream Park in late March.  While the rider must have been nervous, Force Freeze stuck to task.  The goose?  It was unhurt - but very, very, very (very) annoyed.  

Above:  The flowers are in full bloom at Keeneland, where Get Stormy - a.k.a. Clyde - jogged yesterday morning with Javier Cabrera.  

Above:  Despite a light and steady rain, Went the Day Well and Crimson China worked in company at Keeneland yesterday.  Went the Day Well is aimed toward the Kentucky Derby.  The Spiral Stakes' winner is owned by Team Valor, trained by Graham Motion and ridden by John Velazquez.  Does that bio sound familiar?

Above:  The grand old campaigner Musketier - who in his last two starts finished first and third in Grade 2 stakes - looks amazing at age 10.  Roger Attfield trains the popular German-bred, photographed at Keeneland yesterday.

Above:  Another horse who is hard to miss is fan favorite Dancinginherdreams, who, under Penny Gardiner, shot a bullet at Churchill Downs this morning - 46.40 for four furlongs.

Above:  Sassy Image and Tammy Fox looked great this morning, too, working 5 furlongs in :59.80.  The 4-year-old filly is scheduled to return in the G1 Humana Distaff, a race she won last year.

Above:  2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace was out before sunrise this morning for a workout in preparation for Churchill Downs' La Troienne.

Above:  Daddy Nose Best, another potential Kentucky Derby starter.  Trained by Steve Asmussen, he won the Sunland and El Camino Real derbies in his last two starts.

Above:  Sabercat, another Asmussen Derby hopeful, most recently ran third in the Arkansas Derby.  In November, he won the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes.

Above:  Unusual bumper sticker at Churchill Downs.