Derby hopefuls work

The countdown for the 132nd Kentucky Derby on May 6 began in earnest Monday, three time zones away from Churchill Downs, when four of the race's leading contenders, including probable favorite Brother Derek, turned in seven-furlong workouts at both Santa Anita and Hollywood Park.

At Santa Anita, Brother Derek was given an official time of 1:28.40 by track clockers, who mistakenly took Brother Derek from the seven-furlong pole, even though he had just broken from the pony. Brother Derek did not begin the work in earnest until the 6 1/2-furlong pole and went out an extra sixteenth past the wire, his usual routine. Dan Hendricks, Brother Derek's trainer, caught the Santa Anita Derby winner in a more realistic 1:27.

A little more than an hour later, Bob and John, the Wood Memorial winner, and Point Determined, the Santa Anita Derby runner-up, both worked for trainer Bob Baffert. Bob and John, working alone, was timed in 1:25. Point Determined, who went in company with stablemate Da Stoops, went slightly faster, 1:24.80.

Across town at Hollywood Park, A.P. Warrior was timed in 1:27.40 for trainer John Shirreffs.