High Limit, Greeley's Galaxy Complete Derby Preparations

By Ron Mitchell, Pete Spanos, and
Amy Whitfield
Two contenders for Saturday's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) – Illinois Derby (gr. II) winner Greeley's Galaxy and Louisiana Derby (gr. II) victor High Limit -- went through their final paces following the track maintenance break at Churchill Downs Wednesday.

Greeley's Galaxy, who will be supplemented to the Derby at a cost of $200,000 by owner B. Wayne Hughes, breezed five-eighths of a mile in 1:01 3/5.

A son of Mr. Greeley trained by 83-year-old Warren Stute, Greeley's Galaxy has won three in a row since finishing sixth in his career debut.

Stute said the work could "have been a little faster, but it was allright." Before the workout, Stute told exercise rider Mikki Fincher he wanted a "minute if he could." Asked if the colt is fit, Stute said "He had better be."

"He felt fabulous," Fincher said. "The track was a little deep and he finished very well."

Gary and Mary West's High Limit, winner of his first three career starts before finishing second in the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I), zipped a half-mile in :48 1/5 with Jose Cuevas aboard. Trained by Bobby Frankel, High Limit is a 3-year-old son of Maria's Mon.

"He worked fine," Frankel said. "I wanted him to go between :48 and :49 and that's what he did."

Frankel said the colt will walk Thursday, jog once and gallop rest of the week.

The two workouts were the highlight of Wednesday's morning activities at the Louisville, Ky. track.

Later in the day, Derby entries will be taken at the racing office and a draw is to be conducted to determine the order in which Derby post positions will be selected by the connections of the Derby horses. The post position draw begins at 5 p.m. and televised live on ESPN.