LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After a relatively quiet week, activity picked up to a frenetic pace at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning with four Kentucky Derby hopefuls working within a five-minute span immediately after the renovation break. Overall, seven of the prospective 20-horse Derby field breezed around the country on Saturday, including Hansen at the nearby Trackside training center, Alpha at Belmont Park, and Done Talking at Laurel Park.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A desire to avoid the unpredictable spring weather in Kentucky has kept a fair share of Derby horses away from Churchill Downs so far this year, and this weekend, plus the results next week, might tell the tale over who made the better choice.

A significant rainstorm was forecast for the weekend here at Churchill Downs, most notably Saturday, when Union Rags headed the list of Derby horses scheduled to work. His trainer, Michael Matz, said Friday morning he was willing to wait a day until Sunday, but he was hoping to go full speed ahead Saturday morning.

[bc_video_id:250209:]LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Union Rags made his grand entrance on the Churchill Downs stage Friday morning, eliciting a few oohs and aahs from the crowd as he performed a routine gallop during the special Derby-Oaks training session immediately after the renovation break.

Union Rags’s first appearance in Louisville since his runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile highlighted the local Kentucky Derby activity report while on the West Coast, I’ll Have Another made big news with a somewhat unorthodox six-furlong work at Hollywood Park.

The 21st century horseplayer trying to handicap the Kentucky Derby is equipped with tools that were almost unimaginable 25 years ago – unlimited replays of every prep race, lifetime past performances of every entrant with sophisticated speed figures, comprehensive coverage and videos of every entrant’s morning gallops and workouts, and detailed discussion and analysis of

Trinniberg, the likely pacesetter in this year’s Kentucky Derby, arrived at Churchill Downs shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday following a 16 1/2 hour van ride from Miami.

Owner Shivnanda Parbhoo, who drove the van, said the trip was uneventful and that Trinniberg walked “very strong and looked very healthy” on Friday morning. He is scheduled to visit the track for the first time on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The first appearance at Churchill Downs of Union Rags and a somewhat unorthodox six-furlong work by I’ll Have Another at Hollywood Park highlighted Friday’s Kentucky Derby activity report across the country.

Union Rags looked very impressive during a routine gallop under regular exercise Peter Brette after the renovation on a cold, crisp morning at Churchill Downs. Union Rags is scheduled to have his final Derby work, weather permitting, on Saturday.

Countdown to the Crown returns for a seventh season online as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 6 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Derby buzz has been fairly light this past week, but that’s what happens when less than half the prospective field has made it through the Churchill Downs stable gate. A little pick-me-up is on order, however, and not just in the form of fashionably late arrivals and busier mornings: Churchill will begin its 39-day spring meet and Derby week Saturday with a nighttime program that promises to kick things up a few needed notches.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Union Rags, one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby, arrived at Churchill Downs shortly before 2 p.m. on Thursday and was bedded down in barn 42, stall 10, the same stall from which Barbaro won the 2006 Kentucky Derby. Union Rags, like Barbaro, is trained by Michael Matz.

LOUISVLLE, Ky. – Thursday was a another day of relative inactivity on the Kentucky Derby watch here at Churchill Downs, where early morning showers gave way to sunshine and warm temperatures by the time the special Derby-Oaks training session began at 8:30 a.m. Only seven potential Derby starters trained, including likely favorite Bodemeister, who merely jogged one mile the wrong way accompanied by a pony on his first day back to the track following Tuesday’s five-furlong breeze.