ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Getting back to Woodbine proved to be the tonic for Northern Passion, as the 3-year-old filly, trained by Mark Casse, returned to form with an emphatic victory in this past Sunday’s $150,000 Fury Stakes.

And, just for good measure, Dene Court completed a Casse exactor in the seven-furlong stakes for Ontario-foaled 3-year-old fillies.

“I was very pleased with them,” said Casse, who watched the Fury from his hotel room in Louisville, Ky., where he is preparing Prospective for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Cigar Street, the 3-year-old Street Sense colt who finished a close fourth in the April 1 Louisiana Derby three weeks after a flashy two-turn maiden win at Fair Grounds, is headed to New York next week for a start in the May 12 Peter Pan Stakes, trainer Steve Margolis said. John Velazuez will ride Cigar Street in the Peter Pan, said Margolis.

A partnership of nearly 20 years will reach its zenith on Saturday when Creative Cause runs in the Kentucky Derby for trainer Mike Harrington and owner Heinz Steinmann, both of whom will have their first Derby starter.

“He’s been the greatest man in the world to me,” said Harrington, 71, who first met Steinmann, 80, a ski-resort developer, in the early 1990s. “He gave me $700,000 to go buy a Derby starter. I came home with three horses. How many owners give you a blank check and say, ‘Good luck?’ ”

Trainer Michael Matz was a happy man while standing in his shed row late Monday morning, long after his Union Rags had completed an easy one mile jog and visited the paddock in his first day back to the track since turning in an eye-catching workout at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Steve Asmussen said he is in “a perfect position” in regard to having Hierro, winner of the Derby Trial, as a consideration for the May 19 Preakness.

“We get to watch the Derby and see what happens,” said Asmussen, who will run Sabercat and Daddy Nose Best in the Derby. “Hierro came out of the race in great shape. He’ll work the Monday after Derby and we’ll see where we are with him then.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Chip Woolley has a rooting interest in the Kentucky Derby this year in Take Change Indy, with Calvin Borel riding for trainer Pat Byrne, but that’s not his pick. Woolley, who gave Borel a leg up when Mine That Bird upset the Derby at 50-1 in 2009, arrived here Sunday from New Mexico to “relax and enjoy” all the festivities of Derby week.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Michael Matz was a happy man while standing in his shed row late Monday morning, long after his Union Rags had completed an easy one-mile jog and visited the paddock in his first day back to the track since turning in an eye-catching workout at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Three prospective Kentucky Derby starters, including Santa Anita Derby runner-up Creative Cause, worked following the renovation break over a fast track Monday morning at Churchill Downs.  

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Steve Asmussen provided the early show Monday morning at Churchill Downs, sending out his two Derby hopefuls Sabercat and Daddy Nose Best for easy half-mile works.

Sabercat breezed first, shortly after the track opened at 5:45 a.m., going a half-mile in 48.02 seconds, completing his final quarter in 23.92 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.04 and pulling up six furlongs in 1:15.45.

INGLEWOOD, Calif .- Jockey Mario Gutierrez is bound for the Kentucky Derby next weekend with a stakes win fresh on his mind.

Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park, Gutierrez rode Quiet Oasis to an upset win in the $100,000 Wilshire Handicap for fillies and mares over a mile on turf. Saturday, Gutierrez rides I’ll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby.

Both Quiet Oasis, trained by Ben Cecil, and I’ll Have Another, trained by Doug O’Neill, are owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam.