LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The forecast for rain Saturday and into Sunday in the Louisville area caused several trainers to move the all-important final work for their Kentucky Derby hopefuls up 24 hours, creating one of the single busiest Derby prep mornings in race history. A total of 13 potential Derby starters worked, including nine under a light shower following the renovation break.
Work of the day
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It all worked out fine in the end for the connections of Sweetnorthernsaint, but the gelding's final workout for next Saturday's 132nd Kentucky Derby hardly went without a hitch.
When jockey Kent Desormeaux overslept Saturday morning, trainer Michael Trombetta had to go to Plan B. Jockey Calvin Borel, who was scheduled to be on Fleet Valid, a workmate for Sweetnorthernsaint, wound up getting on Sweetnorthernsaint. James Hissam, Borel's agent, lined up Willie Martinez to work Fleet Valid.
On a morning when 12 Kentucky Derby hopefuls put in workouts at Churchill Downs, Barbaro, the undefeated winner of the Florida Derby, and Illinois Derby winner Sweetnorthernsaint, turned in the two most visually impressive moves.
Working before the renovation break, Barbaro worked five furlongs in 59.48 seconds under exercise rider Peter Brette. Trainer Michael Matz was only looking for a half-mile work, but Barbaro, from the half-mile pole, rolled through fractions of 13.06 seconds, 25.06, 35.70, 47.21 and was caught galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.14.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jockey Kent Desormeaux, who was scheduled to work Kentucky Derby contender Sweetnorthernsaint at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning, did not show up for the work.
Sweetnorthernsaint was scheduled to work at 6:30. His trainer, Michael Trombetta, delayed the work until nearly 7 a.m., then finally had Calvin Borel work Sweetnorthernsaint. He was timed in 1:11.79 for six furlongs by Daily Racing Form.
Jim Pegram, Desormeaux's agent, said Desormeaux overslept in his Louisville hotel room.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Brother Derek, the probable favorite for the Kentucky Derby, had his first look around the Churchill Downs track on Friday morning after arriving on Thursday afternoon, and had an easy jog under exercise rider Luis Ortega. Brother Derek looked a little sleepier than usual, and there was a reason for it. His trainer, Dan Hendricks, gave him a shot of the tranquilizer Acepromazine on Friday morning.
Strong first appearance for Barbaro
FRIDAY, APRIL 28
Clear, track fast; 56¦
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky Derby favorite Brother Derek and the undefeated Barbaro got their first feel for the Churchill Downs racetrack Friday after shipping to town the previous afternoon, and they were a study in contrast during their morning routines. The appearance of two of the leading candidates for this year's Derby highlighted Friday's training session, which also featured workouts by three prospective members of the Kentucky Oaks field.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Seaside Retreat just might be the longest shot in the 132nd Kentucky Derby on May 6, but he was the focus of attention when he worked on Thursday morning at Churchill Downs, and not only among his connections.
Mark Casse, the trainer of Seaside Retreat, had said before the drill that his colt's status for the Derby hinged on a satisfactory workout. And after Seaside Retreat worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds under jockey Patrick Husbands, Casse said Seaside Retreat was in.
