High Limit in 'Good' Work at Churchill Downs

By David Schmitz and
Ron Mitchell
Working in company with Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner High Limit zipped six furlongs in 1:13 4/5 at Churchill Downs Thursday morning.

Ghostzapper was timed in 1:00 2/5 for his five-eighths of a mile breeze. Both horses are trained by Bobby Frankel.

"He needed a good work," said Frankel, noting that the son of Maria's Mon only has four career starts as he heads into the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

Owned by Gary and Mary West, High Limit won his first three starts before finishing second to Bandini in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I).

Frankel was pleased with High Limit's effort and his willingness to settle behind his talented workmate.

"The boy that was on him (Joe Deegan) said he felt really good," he said. "He liked the way he worked. He was more relaxed this time and he was very happy with him. "I knew he'd stay with the other horse (Ghostazapper). The other horse was pulling up at the wire, but the other horse is a freak."

High Limit has displayed a tendency to jump the tire tracks left by the starting gate in the stretch in each of his last two races and Frankel had considered outfitting the colt with blinkers in an effort to correct that behavior, but he said that will not happen before the Derby.

"It would be very hard to do right before this race," said Frankel. "If it was normal race, we might try it. I'm not that brave. I think if he has a horse in front of him, he'll pay attention. I think he does it when he gets to the lead too soon. We hope he's dead fit.