ELMONT, N.Y. – When it comes to the Kentucky Derby, no news is bad news as far as trainer Mark Hennig is concerned.

Hennig is the trainer of Bourbon War, who would need four defections to make it into the body of the Kentucky Derby field.

If the Derby isn’t the next race, the Peter Pan at Belmont Park on May 11 or the Preakness at Pimlico on May 18 most likely will be, and on Thursday, Hennig sent out Bourbon War for a half-mile workout in 48.52 seconds over the Belmont main track.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Due largely to revenues from the slots-like historical racing machines at the nearby Derby City Gaming facility owned by Churchill Downs Inc., purses at the 38-day Churchill spring meet will be at record levels.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Three-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown was at Churchill Downs during training hours Thursday, having disbanded a 32-horse stable at Keeneland, assimilating 18 horses into Churchill, and sending most everything else back to his main base at Belmont Park.

Brown said he is likely “here for the duration” through Kentucky Derby weekend (May 3-4), with the superstar turf horses Bricks and Mortar and Newspaperofrecord being among his focus.

“They both settled in really well and are coming up to their races the right way,” said Brown.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. has a Kentucky Derby mount to look forward to in Plus Que Parfait, but before the May 4 classic he has some business to attend to at Oaklawn Park.

Santana, who at 25 has established himself as the track’s most dominant rider since Pat Day, is chasing his seventh straight title in Arkansas. Day won 12 from 1983 through 1994.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Chipolata, who won a second-level allowance at Aqueduct on April 11 for trainer Christophe Clement, likely will make her next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay at Belmont on May 4.

In her allowance win, Chipolata’s first start off a 5 1/2-month layoff, she rallied from last of five behind a slow pace to win by 1 1/4 lengths over the favored War Cabinet.

“I liked it very much,” Clement said. “I thought she was impressive. I thought the competition was fair, not great. She ran well, showed a good turn of foot.”

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Christophe Clement was considering using Saturday’s $125,000 Elusive Quality at Belmont Park as a prep for Disco Partner to get to the Grade 1 Jaipur here on June 8. But the combination of the race being too close to his most recent start and Friday’s forecast for rain likely making for less-than-firm turf on Saturday prompted Clement to hold him out of that race.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bellafina, the top points earner and solid favorite, is scheduled to be sent through her final pre-race work for the Kentucky Oaks on Friday at Santa Anita prior to being flown Monday to Churchill Downs.

Trainer Simon Callaghan, speaking this week from the Ocala sale in Florida, said Bellafina will have a five-furlong solo work with jockey Flavien Prat aboard.

“She’s doing great, and we’re very happy with her,” Callaghan said. “She worked well last week, and we like where she’s at.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bulletin, the speedy colt who won the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint here last fall, will be looking to remain unbeaten when he breaks from the rail as a heavy favorite Saturday night when Churchill Downs opens its spring meet with a 10-race card that starts at 6 p.m. Eastern.

Churchill Downs Weather: Clear Temp: 58 Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With only eight of the 20 top points earners for this year’s Kentucky Derby on the grounds, things have been relatively quiet the past couple of mornings during the special 15-minute window set aside daily at Churchill Downs for prospective Derby and Kentucky Oaks runners.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita looks like a good time to try the longshot Birdie Gold in a lucrative two-turn stakes on dirt.

The $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes is run at 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares and has not drawn two of the tougher runners in the division – Secret Spice and Marley’s Freedom, who were first and second in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 30.