CHURCHILL DOWNS Wednesday, April 24 Weather: Clear Temperature: 54 Track: Fast LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Despite some overnight showers, the racetrack was in tip-top shape and it was business as usual Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs. That was good news for locally based horsemen and even more so for the camp of U.A.E. Derby winner Forever Young, who was able to get in his first local work as scheduled for the Kentucky Derby shortly after the opening renovation break. The undefeated Forever Young is being considered by many as a potential alternative to logical Derby favorites Fierceness and Sierra Leone. But those hoping to see something spectacular from the Japanese invader to validate their opinion will have to await another day in light of his efforts this morning – a slow six furlongs in 1:19.68 in company with an unraced 3-year-old from the barn of trainer Dale Romans. With his regular rider, Ryusei Sakai, in the saddle, Forever Young left the three-quarter pole about a length behind his target but quickly dropped five lengths behind before completing a pedestrian opening quarter at little better than a two-minute-mile pace, in 14.84 seconds. Forever Young continued to cruise along at a snail-like pace around the turn while gradually edging closer after a 55.91 half-mile split, at which point Sakai angled him over to the inner rail, finally setting him down and asking for his best from the three-sixteenths pole to the wire. Forever Young responded with a final quarter in 23.77 before easing up again entering the clubhouse turn. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports It was hard to get much of a read on this guy from Wednesday’s work and I would expect to see a lot more after trainer Yoshito Yahagi arrives in town next Tuesday to supervise a final and hopefully more serious Derby drill, which is likely to come Wednesday. That would put him on a similar schedule as last year’s leading Japanese hopeful Derma Sotogake, who turned in an eye-catching final drill just three days out from the race only to finish sixth after a somewhat eventful trip. Otherwise, it was a pretty routine morning on the local front once again with Encino, Mystik Dan, and Domestic Product among those who caught the eye. Encino has not yet been confirmed a Derby starter by trainer Brad Cox but is giving off all the right signs exiting his victory in the Lexington Stakes April 13 at Keeneland Among the Oaks contenders who looked good Wednesday were Just F Y I, 48 hours removed from a very impressive five-furlong work here Monday, and Ways and Means, who appears to be sitting on her best yet from the looks of her most recent trials at Payson Park. :: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!  The lone Oaks work on Wednesday came at Gulfstream Park, where Power Squeeze breezed four furlongs in 49.00, per track clockers, in company with the Grade 2 winner Olivia Darling. Power Squeeze ultimately pulled about six lengths clear of her older and vastly more seasoned mate while galloping out a full mile in 1:42. Power Squeeze upset the odds-on Ways and Means, who did fall victim to a rough trip, when the pair last met in the Gulfstream Park Oaks. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.