Churchill Downs Weather: Cloudy Track: Fast Temp: 43 LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In sharp contrast to the previous several days, action was fast and furious on the Kentucky Derby/Oaks front Friday morning at Churchill Downs, with 10 potential Derby starters and seven Oaks candidates, including three of the likely top five betting choices, getting in their final serious preps. The skies were clear and the temperature had moderated slightly compared to the near-freezing conditions that prevailed earlier in the week, which even produced some light snow early Wednesday morning. And the weather is expected to deteriorate again on Saturday, with as much as a half-inch of rain predicted for the local area, a forecast that prompted several trainers to move their final Derby preps up 24 hours to avoid the possibility of a wet racetrack. The fun started early with trainer Mark Casse sending out Helium shortly after the track opened at 5:15 a.m. to work a maintenance half-mile in 49.70 seconds with jockey Julien Leparoux aboard. Helium readily pulled away from workmate Laker Mamba while clearly wanting to do more, showing plenty of energy into and around the turn. The only other potential Derby worker prior to the renovation break was the stretch-running Keepmeinmind, who showed some surprising speed breaking off five lengths behind his target then slipping up the rail to zip four furlongs in 46.09. He finished under moderate urging before galloping out a full six furlongs in 1:12.59. He will still need some help if he is to break into the Derby lineup from off the also-eligible list. Things really got frenetic during the designated Derby/Oaks training session, with nearly a dozen horses breezing within the allotted 15 minutes immediately after the renovation break. Trainer Todd Pletcher got things started with the familiar pairing of Known Agenda and Sainthood, with Known Agenda working nearest the rail with blinkers and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. The duo matched strides throughout five furlongs in 35.87 and 1:00.79 before continuing on even terms galloping out willingly in 1:13.94, up seven-eighths in 1:27.79. Sainthood seemingly traveled easiest of the team down the lane, with Known Agenda going well but perhaps disappointing his growing legion of supporters by not taking it to the next level in the morning while equipped with blinkers for a second straight week. They were followed shortly thereafter by the Pletcher team of Dynamic One and Prime Factor. Dynamic One gave off good vibes once again, breaking off about 1 1/2 lengths back before coasting home on even terms after four furlongs in 24.01 and 48.07. He then readily drew clear of his mate with another very strong gallop-out, easing up after six furlongs in 1:13.56 while working with blinkers and Jose Ortiz up. Trainer Brad Cox will stick to his original schedule and work Derby favorite Essential Quality along with stablemate Mandaloun on Saturday. But he opted to push Caddo River’s final prep forward one day, sending the speedster out in company with Warrant to work five furlongs from the half in 47.99 and 1:00.81. Caddo River was definitely keyed up while breaking about a length back and outside under jockey Florent Geroux, although he did settle down the lane, sustaining decent energy going out six furlongs around the bend in 1:14.01. Soup and Sandwich was likewise headstrong going to the pole before coming to hand and turning in a maintenance-like half-mile similar to stablemate Helium’s work several hours earlier. Soup and Sandwich breezed an easy half in 24.71 and 50.30 before easily pulling away from partner Peace Achiever, running out five-eighths well off the rail in 1:03.74. The final two Derby works of the morning came immediately after the second renovation break, with Pletcher sending out Bourbonic to breeze an easy half in 24.77 and 49.52 before going out five-eighths in 1:02.89. He was followed almost immediately by Hozier, who went six furlongs from the five-eighths in 37.72 and 1:02.94 under shoving pressure to the wire before getting a couple of right-hand sticks to complete the move into the turn in 1:16.05. After that lackluster work, Hozier was withdrawn from consideration for the Derby. As a result, King Fury is now in the field, with Keepmeinmind, and Starrininmydreams on the also-eligible list. Travel Column impresses Fair Grounds Oaks winner Travel Column was the first and arguably most impressive of all the Oaks fillies to work during the long morning, looking very sharp going five furlongs from the half in 48.15 and 1:00.44 and out in 1:13.29 with Geroux in the saddle alongside an equally strong Australasia. Both were well within themselves to finish before showing big energy on the gallop-out. Malathaat, who may vie for favoritism with Travel Column in the Oaks, also looked good working during the special training session. She proved best of a team alongside mate Ghazaaly, drawing off on the gallop-out after posting a 23.98 and 48.31 half, running out four lengths clear completing five panels in 1:00.78. The undefeated Gazelle winner Search Results was more in maintenance mode Friday for trainer Chad Brown while working alongside no less a mate than Dunbar Road. The duo picked up their pace down the lane and went out into the turn after an easy half in 26.00 and 50.40 and up in 1:02.80. :: Get DRF Clocker Reports for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks cards to access exclusive insights from morning training Cox also sent out the team of stakes winner Adventuring, who is not being considered for the Oaks, and Coach, who is, with Adventuring getting the best of the pairing after five-eighths from the half in 47.56 and 1:00.59. Adventuring was traveling easiest nearest the rail. Ava’s Grace was among the early birds this morning, turning in a second straight maintenance half-mile since arriving locally in 49.20 and out in 1:02.48 while kept off the rail down the lane and into the turn by jockey David Cohen.