Gormley and Battle of Midway, the first two finishers in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 8, worked independently at Santa Anita on Saturday in advance of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6.
Bode Miller, an Olympic gold medalist in alpine skiing, is like all those who participate in that sport: a risk taker. Now, Miller is participating in another high-risk endeavor, horse racing, buying a small interest in Spiral Stakes winner Fast and Accurate ahead of the May 6 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Irap and Practical Joke, the one-two finishers in the Blue Grass Stakes on April 8, both turned in their first works since then on Friday at Keeneland, as a flurry of Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks hopefuls worked to beat the rain that was expected that evening and through the weekend.
Battle of Midway, second in the Santa Anita Derby in his last start, has been sold to a partnership of WinStar Farm and Don Alberto Stable and will be ridden in the Kentucky Derby by jockey Flavien Prat.
Trainer Todd Pletcher entered Hedge Fund, whose third-place finish last out in the Sunland Derby looks good enough to make him the probable favorite facing six rivals in Saturday's Illinois Derby at Hawthorne.
McCraken, one of the favorites for the 143rd Kentucky Derby, will have two more breezes prior to the May 6 race after putting in a nice bit of work Tuesday over a fast Churchill track.
Trainer Lynn Whiting, who reached the pinnacle of his profession by saddling Lil E. Tee to win the 1992 Kentucky Derby, died suddenly Wednesday morning from complications of a long-term illness and a recent stroke. He was 77.
With at least a couple of defections expected, some runners outside the top 20 in points are likely to get into the Kentucky Derby field. Meanwhile, Derby riding assignments are firming up.
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