McPeek puts Noble's Promise at 50-50 for Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Ken McPeek said Tuesday morning that Noble's Promise, second on the graded earnings list and a potential key domino in who does and doesn't make the field for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, is "maybe 50-50 to make the race."

Noble's Promise colt emerged from his fifth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby with cuts and scrapes and a lung infection. The Cuvee colt has $738,000 in graded earnings, second only to Lookin At Lucky on a lengthy list that extends far beyond the 20-horse cutoff point.

"He went to my farm [Magdalena] in Lexington [on Monday], and he'll stay there until we bring him over to Churchill Downs very early Thursday morning," said McPeek. "He'll gallop after the break Thursday, and if all goes smooth, he'll work on the 20th or 21st.

"The cuts are a non-issue; we're already taking care of them. His status for the Derby will depend a lot on how he works and how he scopes after."