LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The majority of the important work is done, and by mid-morning Wednesday all the Kentucky Derby starters were finally on the grounds following the arrival of trainer Todd Pletcher's pair of Monba and Cowboy Cal from Keeneland. Now all that remains to be done is for trainers to try and maintain their horses' present condition and wait, mostly wait, for post time Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Only 16 minutes passed from the time Big Brown left his stall, trained, and returned to his barn Tuesday morning. But it was more than enough time to understand why trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. is so confident in the undefeated colt heading into Saturday's 134th Kentucky Derby.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Facing the possibility of being excluded from an oversubscribed field, Kentucky Derby hopeful Halo Najib was entered in Friday's Grade 3 Crown Royal American Turf at Churchill Downs. But trainer Dale Romans said Tuesday the colt would be scratched if he gets into the Kentucky Derby field when entries are taken Wednesday.

As of Tuesday, he ranked 21st in graded stakes earnings among likely Kentucky Derby starters. The field is capped at 20, with earnings in graded stakes races being the criteria for entry if more than 20 horses are entered, which is anticipated.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - It was on the first Sunday in October last fall that jockey Corey Nakatani began earnestly dreaming about the first Saturday in May.

In a seven-furlong maiden race at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting, Nakatani rode Colonel John to an easy win by 4 1/2 lengths. At that time, there were 209 days to Saturday's Kentucky Derby. It will not arrive soon enough for Nakatani.

Nakatani has won more than 3,000 races, but Colonel John - who has won the Grade 3 Sham and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby this year - could give him his first Kentucky Derby win.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the majority of the final Derby prep works in the books, Tuesday's appearance of the undefeated Big Brown took center stage during training hours at Churchill Downs. And what an appearance the probable Derby favorite made when he set foot over the Churchill Downs surface for the first time immediately after the renovation break.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After breezing Denis of Cork a half-mile in 48 seconds Monday at Churchill Downs, jockey Calvin Borel was dejected. He was delighted with the workout, but discouraged that the colt seemed in danger of being excluded from a Kentucky Derby field expected to be oversubscribed.

A few hours later, his dismay turned to jubilation upon hearing the news that Behindatthebar, the Lexington Stakes winner, would bypass the Kentucky Derby, clearing the way for Denis of Cork to start.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Another cold morning at Churchill Downs, but fortunately the showers that had been predicted never materialized. That came as a relief to the five trainers who chose to roll the dice and stuck to their original schedules by waiting until Monday to give their Derby horses their final preps.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After a flurry of workouts over the weekend, and the arrival on Monday at Churchill Downs of Big Brown, the likely favorite, just about all the heavy work is done for the 134th Kentucky Derby. Now, the waiting is the hardest part.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - What originally figured to be a relatively quiet morning turned into a pivotal one at Churchill Downs on Sunday. Several trainers, concerned about a forecast calling for possible overnight showers, moved their final Kentucky Derby preps up a day, including Eoin Harty, who sent out Santa Anita Derby winner Colonel John for a key five-furlong drill shortly after the renovation break.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Behindatthebar, the Lexington Stakes winner, will not run in Saturday's Kentucky Derby and instead will point for the Preakness on May 17, trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday.

Behindatthebar's defection will enable Denis of Cork to make it into the Derby field. Entries for the race will be taken and post positions assigned on Wednesday.