LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There’s lots to admire about Chitu, who is set to run in the Kentucky Derby next Saturday here at Churchill Downs. He has won three times in four starts, his lone loss a second-place finish to another Derby candidate, Candy Boy, in the Robert Lewis. He has successfully stretched his speed - which he used to win his debut going six furlongs last December - as far as 1 1/8 miles, which he did winning his last start, the Sunland Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.-  Finally some real action under the Twin Spires!

Churchill Downs: Weather: Sunny Track: Fast Temperature: 55

After pretty much of a steady diet of routine gallops and jogs here over the past week, five Kentucky Derby hopefuls got the opportunity to stretch their legs and work over a fast Churchill Downs strip on Saturday. All that activity came within about a 12-minute span during the special Derby/Oaks training session after the renovation break at 8:30 a.m.

CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome was an eager colt at the start of a half-mile workout Saturday at Los Alamitos.

The favorite for the Kentucky Derby next Saturday, California Chrome worked a half-mile in 48.20 seconds under regular rider Victor Espinoza. The work could have been much quicker.

When California Chrome broke away from a pony on the backstretch, he was quick into the bridle, forcing Espinoza to take action.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Both the race shape and the pre-race preparation conspired against Candy Boy in his last start, the Santa Anita Derby, but both look to be far more in his favor for the next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, the race for which Candy Boy had his final workout on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Corey Lanerie has ridden in over 25,000 races, winning more than 3,500. He has been the leading rider at Churchill Downs four times, and was voted this year’s winner of the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award.

What he surprisingly hasn’t done is ride in the Kentucky Derby, something he is on course to change next week. Saturday morning he was named the jockey of longshot Harry’s Holiday by trainer Mike Maker, shortly after the rider worked the colt five furlongs in 1:02.60.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert entered two horses in the Derby Trial on the opening-night program Saturday at Churchill Downs, either of whom would be a decisive choice if he ran.

But Baffert has scratched Chitu from the Trial and said early Saturday he “definitely” will run Bayern, who figures as a heavy favorite in the Grade 3, $150,000 Trial, which goes as the eighth of 10 races on a Downs After Dark card that starts at 6 p.m. Eastern.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the prospects of Bayern making the Kentucky Derby next Saturday growing increasingly doubtful, trainer Bob Baffert on Saturday morning said Bayern would run tonight at Churchill Downs in the Derby Trial.

Bayern currently ranks 23rd on the points list for prospective Derby runners, so he would need three horses ranked above him to drop out to make the Derby field.

The Derby Trial does not offer any points toward the Derby.

For the last decade, the Wood Memorial has not been a harbinger of success in the Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The prospect of heavy rain here late Thursday night and into the morning fell well short of some dire early predictions, giving horsemen a “good” racetrack, though tighter than it has been, to train over Friday. The threat of possible adverse weather and track conditions had little to do with the fact none of the 15 potential Kentucky Derby starters stabled on the grounds worked Friday at Churchill Downs. The majority of that activity is scheduled to take place Saturday and Sunday mornings with the forecast calling for clear skies at least into Monday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The Belt Parkway was the conduit for the major activity Friday in preparation for the 140th Kentucky Derby.

One had to navigate the eight-mile stretch of highway – during rush hour no less – from Belmont Park to Aqueduct in order to see the three New York-based 3-year-olds put in their final serious workouts leading up to the Run for the Roses.

At Aqueduct, Withers and Gotham winner Samraat worked a mile in 1:45.91 shortly after 7 a.m. Eastern.