Trainer John Ward had the son of Pulpit working 5 furlongs in 1:00 1/5 over the fast track, galloping out a strong 6 furlongs under regular exercise rider Danny Ramsey. "It pretty much was like a 6-furlong work," Ward said. "He did it in hand, and he came out good and happy, which is all we were looking for. All the jocks and their agents stopped by afterward to see how he was doing. So far, he's done everything well, and as long as we get good weather for his works we're on our way."

Sky Mesa suffered a wrenched ankle on the eve of last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and has had a couple of setbacks this year. But Ward, and his wife Donna, feel the colt is finally where they want him. "He looks just grand," Ward said. "We're looking to get two more works in him before the Dwyer."