LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Brad Cox’s Kentucky Derby contingent was reduced by one Sunday morning when Caddo River was withdrawn from Derby consideration.

Winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn and most recently second there in the Arkansas Derby, Caddo River breezed here at Churchill on Friday but was found Saturday afternoon to have an elevated temperature, Cox said. On Sunday morning, Caddo River’s bloodwork came back showing signs of an infection and the decision was made to skip the Derby.

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Cloudy 
Temp: 53 
Main Track: Muddy 
Turf: Good

Before trainer Steve Asmussen sent his two Kentucky Oaks runners, Clairiere and Pauline’s Pearl, out to work at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning, one of Asmussen’s two Kentucky Derby hopefuls, Midnight Bourbon, had a spirited gallop under exercise rider Wilson Fabian.

His tail tied while training over a wet track, Midnight Bourbon galloped about 1 3/4 miles, Asmussen said. Going down the backstretch the first time, Midnight Bourbon increased his tempo, going at nearly a two-minute-lick clip.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Top California jockey Flavien Prat has ridden Hot Rod Charlie once, finishing fifth as the 2-1 favorite in a maiden race on turf at Del Mar last September.

A lot has changed since then for Hot Rod Charlie.

This month, Prat has been reacquainted with Hot Rod Charlie in workouts, just in time to renew the partnership in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1.

On Saturday at Santa Anita, Prat was aboard Hot Rod Charlie for a six-furlong workout in 1:13.60 less than an hour before post time.

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Weather: Cloudy
Track: Fast 
Temp: 52

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Those trainers who decided to roll the dice and stick with the original plan to work their Kentucky Derby and Oaks prospects on Saturday at Churchill Downs, even in the wake of a gloomy forecast, were rewarded with a fast track throughout the morning as the inevitable showers did not arrive until a couple of hours after training ended.

Get Her Number, a Grade 1 winner in 2020 who was fourth in the Arkansas Derby on April 10, will pass on the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs next Saturday.

Trainer Peter Miller said late Saturday morning that he was not entirely satisfied with the colt’s five-furlong workout in 1:02.20 at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in California earlier in the day.

“He worked good, but not great,” Miller said. “My gut tells me we should pass. My gut says don’t do it.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - When it was mentioned to trainer Chad Brown that Highly Motivated was starting to get some buzz on the backstretch at Churchill Downs leading into next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer was all smiles.

“If you’re talking about a horse having a good chance, it’s a conversation I want to be in rather than someone talking about a horse that’s not training well,” Brown said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The connections for Brooklyn Strong have indicated a desire to run in the Kentucky Derby if their New York-bred gelding can make it into the field by Tuesday.

With the defection of Get Her Number on Saturday afternoon, Brooklyn Strong, with 10 qualifying points, moves up to 21st on the list of horses still under consideration for the Derby. He would need one defection between Saturday and Tuesday morning's draw to make the body of the field. Starrininmydreams is now 22nd on the list.

Junior Alvarado will be out at least a week and Pablo Fragoso is out indefinitely due to injuries suffered by the two jockeys in a spill Thursday at Belmont Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Rock Your World solidified his role as legitimate Kentucky Derby contender with a solid five-furlong team work Saturday morning at Santa Anita, the colt’s final work before leaving for Kentucky.

Winner of the Santa Anita Derby by more than four lengths in just his third start for trainer John Sadler, undefeated Rock Your World worked in company after the 6:30 a.m. break Saturday, under exercise rider Cerapio Figueroa.