Vicar's in Trouble, the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner owned by Ken and Sarah K. Ramsey, worked five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 at the Churchill Downs training center April 19 in preparation for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
The work was the co-second fastest of 14 at the distance on a pleasant, sunny Saturday morning.
"He worked very well and was well in hand," said trainer Mike Maker. "He had a nice gallop out which is what we were looking for and everything was perfect."
Maker, who has not hit the board with five Derby starters since 2010, indicated that Vicar's in Trouble would likely breeze again April 26, but it would come over the main Churchill Downs oval.
A 3-year-old Into Mischief colt, Vicar's in Trouble is second on the Derby leaderboard for the May 3 race with 120 points. In addition to his 3 1/2-length romp under Rosie Napravnik in the Louisiana Derby, Vicar's in Trouble won his maiden by 13 lengths and rolled to a 6 3/4-length triumph in the Lecomte Stakes (gr. III).
Bred in Louisiana by Spendthrift Farm, Vicar's in Trouble was an $80,000 purchase at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale.
Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) third-place finisher General a Rod is slated for breeze at Churchill Downs "either Tuesday or Wednesday," according to Maker.
Maker, a five-time training champion at Churchill, could have a third Derby starter in Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) runner-up Harry's Holiday if there are further defections among the current Top 20.
After Cairo Prince (left front ankle) was withdrawn from Derby consideration April 19, Harry's Holiday now stands at No. 21 on the Derby preference list with 20 points and $152,622 in non-restricted stakes earnings.
"We'll see if he gets in," Maker said. "I'll have to talk to the connections and go from there but I'm sure they'll want to run if they can get in. If that's the case then he'll work Saturday at Churchill, too."
Saturday was the first day of exclusive training for Kentucky Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) contenders from 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Gallopers during that window included Chitu , Danza , Medal Count , and Ride on Curlin .
Trainer Todd Pletcher was particularly fond of 41-1 Arkansas Derby (gr. I) surprise Danza.
"I loved the way he trained this morning," Pletcher said. "He looked dynamite out there today. So hopefully the next couple of weeks go as well as the last one did.