Rousing Sermon, who was only named a confirmed starter in the Kentucky Derby on Thursday, worked seven furlongs at Hollywood Park on Saturday in 1:27.20.

Working alone under exercise rider Marco Ramirez, Rousing Sermon galloped out a mile in 1:41, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. Assistant trainer Dan Ward timed the final quarter-mile of Rousing Sermon’s workout in 23.80 seconds. Hollywood Park clockers timed Rousing Sermon through the first half-mile in 50.80 seconds. For the final three furlongs, he was timed in 36.40 seconds.

LOUISVILLE. Ky. - Kent Desormeaux has had two Kentucky Derby rides since he won the race for the third time in 2008 with favored Big Brown, those mounts being Hold Me Back (12th at 12-1 in 2009) and Paddy O’Prado (third at 12-1 in 2010). The 42-year-old Hall of Fame jockey said he strongly believes his mount in the upcoming Derby, Dullahan, is as “live as they come” and that he would be greatly humbled if he were to join revered company by winning a fourth Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The most noteworthy Kentucky Derby news on Saturday came out of the unlikeliest of locations. Down at Calder Race Course in south Florida, the connections of Trinniberg confirmed their intentions to run in the Derby, and potential starter Reveron dropped out of the race due to an injury sustained during a routine morning workout.   

Nothing’s harder in these frantic times, when the media has become not only pervasive but social as well, than catching one’s breath. Okay, maybe there is a period of relative calm well past midnight, when the dogs are sleeping and the tweets are just beginning to dribble in from Western Europe. Then comes the dawn, and the onslaught begins anew, rendering even the most diligent blog jockeys behind before they start, the information piling as high along with the demand for its immediate digestion.

Those pesky April showers predicted for the weekend moved up workouts for horses seeking May flowers, specifically roses. With inclement weather looming in both Kentucky and Florida, the trainers of Union Rags, Gemologist, and El Padrino both decided to work their horses on Friday as final preparations grew ever closer for the Kentucky Derby on May 5 at Churchill Downs.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Todd Pletcher pulled an audible with his prospective Kentucky Derby starters Gemologist and El Padrino early Friday morning, making the decision to work both 3-year-olds after the renovation break at the Palm Meadows training center with the possibility of heavy rains predicted for the local area beginning later that afternoon and continuing throughout the weekend. Both Gemologist and El Padrino had been scheduled to work at Palm Meadows on Sunday.

Countdown to the Crown returns for a seventh season online as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 6 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.

A 68-year-old man from New York has won the chance to place a $100,000 win bet on the Kentucky Derby on May 5 at Churchill Downs, Churchill announced on Thursday.

The man, Joel Einhorn, won the chance through a contest sponsored by Churchill, NBC Sports, and CNBC. He said that he has been a racing fan since 1960, when he saw Kelso win an allowance race at Aqueduct.

"I've been an owner, a spectator, and a handicapper for over 50 years," Einhorn said in a statement distributed by Churchill. "This is the fruition of a lifetime dream."

Rousing Sermon, third in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on April 1, will start in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Owned by breeders Larry and Marianne Williams of Idaho, Rousing Sermon has won 2 of 9 starts and $404,000. He won the California Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita last October and was second in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park last December.

Hollendorfer said a closer such as Rousing Sermon could be helped by a quick pace in the Kentucky Derby.

On Thursday, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin got his first look at Alpha on the track since his runner-up finish in the Wood Memorial on April 7 and was satisfied with what he saw in the colt’s 1 1/8-mile gallop over Belmont Park’s main track.

Alpha missed about four days of training after developing an infection from cuts suffered in the shin of his left foreleg, incurred during the running of the Wood, in which he was beaten a neck by Gemologist.