2010 Kentucky Derby Notes - April 20

BACKTALK – Gold Mark Farm’s Backtalk galloped 1 ½ miles under Maurice Sanchez before the renovation break. It was the first day back to the track for the Tom Amoss trainee who had worked five furlongs in 1:04 on Sunday.


CONVEYANCE/LOOKIN AT LUCKY – Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman’s reigning 2-year-old champion Lookin At Lucky, with Dana Barnes up, and Zabeel Racing International’s Conveyance, with Peter Hutton in the saddle, galloped after the morning renovation break.

The two Bob Baffert trainees are scheduled to work Wednesday morning.

DEAN’S KITTEN/STATELY VICTOR – Trainer Mike Maker sent his two Kentucky Derby hopefuls through routine gallops Tuesday morning at the nearby Trackside Training Center with exercise rider Marvin Jiminez handling the moves in the saddle.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Dean’s Kitten, winner of the Lane’s End (GII) in his most recent start on March 27, is scheduled for his final Kentucky Derby work on Saturday. Maker has not confirmed a rider for Dean’s Kitten.

Jack and Tom Conway’s Stately Victor, upset winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI), also is scheduled to work Saturday. Alan Garcia has the Derby mount.

DUBLIN – Robert Baker and William Mack’s Dublin walked the shedrow at Barn 44 the morning after working a bullet five furlongs in :59.80 under jockey Terry Thompson.

EIGHTYFIVEINAFIFTY – Moirano Lerner and Team Stallion Racing’s Eightyfiveinafifty had an open gallop for the final half-mile of his morning exercise under Nick Santagata.

“He might have gone in :53 or :54 and too slow for the work tab,” Santagata said. “I kept him out in the middle of the track. If you put him down on the rail, he will go too fast.”

Eightyfiveinafifty, trained by Gary Contessa, is hoping to use Saturday’s $200,000-added The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (GIII) as a springboard into the Kentucky Derby the following Saturday.

Ramon Dominguez is scheduled to ride Eightyfiveinafifty in the Derby Trial, but has committed to ride Rule in the Kentucky Derby. That could create a dilemma for the Eightyfiveinafifty camp.

In Santagata, the connections already have a Derby connection.

“I rode in the ’90 Derby, Unbridled’s year,” Santagata said. “I rode a horse called Dr. Bobby A. who ran 12th.”

ENDORSEMENT – WinStar Farm’s Endorsement jogged a mile and galloped a mile under trainer Shannon Ritter shortly after the track opened for training at 5:45.

Ritter made a hasty getaway after the morning exercise to head east to Keeneland where the remainder of her stable is currently housed.

I’ve got three to work over there,” Ritter said.

HOMEBOYKRIS – Lazzinnaro, Bulger, Mandato, Diamond Pride, Tabraue and Sallusto’s Homeboykris arrived at Churchill Downs early Tuesday afternoon after a flight from South Florida.

trained by Rick Dutrow, who saddled Big Brown to win the 2008 Kentucky Derby, the Champagne (GI)-winning Homeboykris is housed in Barn 45.

ICE BOX/JACKSON BEND – Robert LaPenta’s Ice Box galloped after the morning renovation break under Dennis Chavez for trainer Nick Zito.

Zito’s other possible Kentucky Derby starter, Jacks or Better Farm and LaPenta’s Jackson Bend, galloped before the break under Carlos Correa.

SIDNEY’S CANDY – “I was nice and relaxed yesterday knowing my horses are doing so well,” Sadler said after Sidney’s Candy galloped after the renovation break with Alferez up. “I am going to try and enjoy this and have some fun.”

Sidney’s Candy, who worked five furlongs in :59.80 on April 17, is scheduled to work again “Saturday or Sunday, depending on the weather,” Sadler said.

MAKE MUSIC FOR ME – Ellen and Peter Johnson’s Make Music for Me, who worked a half-mile in :46.20 at Keeneland on Monday for the fastest of 17 works at the distance was scheduled to arrive from Lexington early Tuesday afternoon.

Trained by Alexis Barba, Make Music for Me is stabled in Barn 41, Stall 16.

PADDY O’PRADO – Donegal Racing’s Paddy O’Prado galloped over the “fast” Churchill Downs surface under exercise rider Faustino Aguilar as the Toyota Blue Grass (GI) runner-up continued to prepare for a run in the Kentucky Derby.

Louisville-born trainer Dale Romans said Paddy O’Prado is scheduled to work Saturday morning.

SUPER SAVER – WinStar Farm’s Super Saver, who will be ridden in Kentucky Derby 136 by Calvin Borel, galloped after the renovation break under Kevin Willey.

Borel, who won the Kentucky Derby last year on Mine That Bird, is seeking to become the fifth jockey to win back-to-back Derbies and first since Eddie Delahoussaye turned the trick in 1982 and ’83 on Gato Del Sol and Sunny’s Halo (CAN).

Borel, who also won the 2007 Kentucky Derby on Street Sense, would become the fifth jockey with three Kentucky Derby victories should Super Saver prevail next Saturday. Two jockeys (Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack) have won five and Bill Shoemaker won four.

Super Saver is one of five probable Kentucky Derby starters for trainer Todd Pletcher. The other four arrived early Tuesday afternoon on a flight from Florida’s Palm Meadows.  That group included likely the likely Kentucky Derby favorite in Zayat Stables’ Eskendereya, E. Paul Robsham Stables’ Discreetly Mine, Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ Mission Impazible and WinStar Farm’s Rule.