Kentucky Derby 131 Notes - Tuesday, April 26

TODAY'S DERBY WORKS
Afleet Alex breezed five furlongs in :59 at CD (Track: Fast) Wednesday, April 27 - Consolidator at CD
Thursday, April 28 - Sun King at Churchill Downs; Greater Good at Churchill Downs; Greeley's Galaxy at Churchill Downs

TUESDAY'S TOP STORIES:
* Afleet Alex Sizzles in Churchill Downs Work
* Flower Alley Dons Blinkers for Gallop
* Andromeda's Hero to Travel to Churchill for Work

AFLEET ALEX - Cash is King Stable's Afleet Alex continued his forward preparations of the 131st Kentucky Derby by working five furlongs in :59 flat over a "fast" track Tuesday morning after the renovation break.

With Derby rider Jeremy Rose up, Afleet Alex came on the track a little after 8:30 and jogged briefly in the mile chute and then once around the track accompanied by trainer Tim Ritchey on a pony.

When the work commenced, Afleet Alex recorded fractions of 12.40, 24, 35.40, 46.60 and 59, with an out time for six furlongs of 1:12.40.

The move was the fastest of 29 at the distance.

"The work was good. Everything was exactly like we wanted it," Ritchey said. "He started out easy and finished up strong. He came out of it well, cooled out well, no problems."

Afleet Alex arrived at Churchill Downs on April 20 on the heels of his victory in the Arkansas Derby (GII).

"He has done well here," said Ritchey, who never has started a horse at Churchill Downs. "He settled in well and has gone to the track every day and handled the track well. I don't anticipate any problems."

Rose, who never has ridden in the Kentucky Derby, was also pleased.

"It was perfect. He always works well," said Rose, who headed to Delaware Park after the work, where he will ride the first two days of the meet Saturday and Sunday and then return to Louisville Sunday night and stay through the Derby.

"Every track we have been to, he has handled it just as well. I think he will run on pretty much whatever you put him on. He is just one of those horses that is athletic and likes to run."

Rose was asked if Afleet Alex is the best horse he has ever been on.

"Easily. He's the fastest and the coolest," Rose said. "He's got his own personality, just like a person.

The nice thing about him is whenever a hole opens up, we can be in and out of there before anybody knows about it."

Ritchey said Afleet Alex would walk the shedrow Wednesday "probably, unless he is bouncing around the barn and if he is then we'll take him out and jog him at least once around just to keep him loose.

But normally, he'll walk the day after he works, he will go back to the track the following day, jog and probably gallop lightly and just resume his normal twice-a-day pattern from there on.

We may work him again Monday or Tuesday of next week. It would be a lot easier kind of work, start out even slower and just ask him to finish the last quarter of a mile. That's a long stretch. He has to get used to finishing the whole way down that stretch."

ANDROMEDA'S HERO/BELLAMY ROAD/HIGH FLY/NOBLE CAUSEWAY/ SUN KING - Trainer Nick Zito's four Churchill Downs-based Kentucky Derby hopefuls galloped 1 ½ miles, while at Keeneland, Robert LaPenta's Andromeda's Hero galloped on the main track with exercise rider Megan Smillie up. Zito plans to bring Andrameda's Hero to Louisville to work Thursday or Friday depending on the weather.

No Derby rider has been confirmed for Andromeda's Hero. Tracy Farmer's Sun King, who is scheduled to work Thursday, had Carlos Correa aboard for his morning exercise. Carlos Correa also handled the morning duties on Kinsman Stable's Bellamy Road and My Meadowview Farm's Noble Causeway. Maxine Correa was up on the Live Oak Plantation's High Fly.

The aforementioned trio is scheduled to work Saturday, weather permitting.

BANDINI/COIN SILVER/FLOWER ALLEY - Melnyk Racing Stable's Flower Alley galloped 1 ½ miles after the renovation break with exercise rider Michelle Nihei up. The Distorted Humor colt, who will be piloted by Jorge Chavez in Derby 131, was equipped in blinkers, as has been the norm the past few days.

"We just want him to get accustomed to them, because he is going to run in them for the first time in the Derby," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "He's a little unfocused and we want to get him zoned in."

Peachtree Stable's Coin Silver, winner of last Saturday's Coolmore Lexington Stakes (GII), walked the shedrow and is scheduled to return to the track in the morning. No rider has been confirmed on Coin Silver. Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Bandini walked the shedrow.

CONSOLIDATOR/GOING WILD - Bob and Beverly Lewis' two Kentucky Derby hopefuls galloped Tuesday morning. Stacy Maker was on Consolidator and Derek Smith was on Going Wild, who returned to the track for the first time since finishing fifth in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (GII) last Saturday. Consolidator may work Wednesday.

DON'T GET MAD - An expected starter in Saturday's $100,000-added Derby Trial, the son of Stephen Got Even breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 over a "fast" track on Monday. Trainer Paul J. McGee, who is overseeing the colt's training at Churchill Downs for his California-based brother-in-law Ron Ellis, said Don't Get Mad came out of yesterday's work in good order.

Don't Get Mad is scheduled to gallop a mile tomorrow and 1 ½ miles on Thursday and Friday in preparation for a start in Saturday's one-mile Trial. A good effort in that race could make the B.Wayne Hughes-owned colt a "possible" starter in the Kentucky Derby (GI). Ellis is due to arrive in Louisville Wednesday evening.

GREATER GOOD - Triple graded stakes winner Greater Good galloped 1 ½ miles before the renovation break with exercise rider Betsy Couch up. The Lewis Lakin-owned son of Intidab is scheduled to work six furlongs at 7 a.m. Thursday with Derby rider John McKee up for trainer Bob Holthus.

GREELEY'S GALAXY - B. Wayne Hughes' Greeley's Galaxy visited the paddock and then galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Mikki Fincher before the renovation break. Trainer Warren Stute is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Wednesday night with a work planned for Thursday morning.

HIGH LIMIT - Gary and Mary West's High Limit galloped after the renovation break with exercise rider Jose Cuevas up.

WILKO - Came out of yesterday's seven-furlong breeze at Hollywood Park in good order says trainer Craig Dollase. Tentative plans for the son of Awesome Again is to work on Saturday and board a flight bound for Churchill Downs the following day with strong gallops up to race day.

KENTUCKY OAKS 131 NOTES - April 26, 2005

TUESDAY'S TOP STORY: * O'NEILL RULES SHARP LISA OUT OF KENTUCKY OAKS

DANCE AWAY CAPOTE - Trainer Graham Motion said the daughter of Capote is scheduled to travel by van from Keeneland to Churchill Downs on Thursday. The winner of the Bourbonette Breeders' Cup is set to work on Friday.

IN THE GOLD - The Live Oak Plantation's In the Gold galloped on the Keeneland training track with Jorge Abreu up. Trainer Nick Zito said the winner of the Stonerside Beaumont (GII) would work Thursday or Friday depending on the weather, and that the move may occur over the training track.

MEMORETTE - Betty Currin's Memorette paid her first visit to the Churchill Downs main track at 7:15 Tuesday morning, galloped a mile and a half under Joe Deegan. The California-bred daughter of Memo arrived from Keeneland on Monday, where she placed third in her most recent start, the Ashland (GI) on April 9. Ignacio Correas, assistant to trainer Bill Currin, said the filly probably would work Saturday.

RUGULA - Al and Saundra Kirkwood's Rugula galloped 1 ½ miles with exercise rider Bobby Warren up. Runner-up in her past three starts, Rugula is scheduled to work five furlongs on Friday with regular rider Greta Kuntzweiler up.

RUNWAY MODEL - Naveed Chowhan's daughter of Petionville galloped two miles after the break. Trainer Bernie Flint said the winner of the Darley Alcibiades (GII) and Golden Rod (GII) is scheduled to work five furlongs on Thursday or Friday, weather permitting.

SHARP LISA - Trainer Doug O'Neill said the winner of the Las Virgenes (GI) would not run in the Kentucky Oaks (GI). "We're staying in Southern California," he said. "We're going to give her a little break." The daughter of Dixieland Band is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Fantasy Stakes (GII) at Oaklawn Park on April 15.

SIS CITY - Triple graded stakes winner Sis City returned to the track to jog a mile before the renovation break with exercise rider Michelle Nevin up. The daughter of Slew City Slew had worked six furlongs in 1:14.40 on Sunday.

SUMMERLY - Trainer Steve Asmussen reported all was well with Summerly as the daughter of Summer Squall walked the shedrow a day after working six furlongs in 1:13.40.

WORK TAB (Track: FAST) - Amsterdam Stakes (GII) winner Bwana Charlie breezed four furlongs in 52.60...Cherokee Path, third in Oaklawn's Dixieland Stakes (GIII) went four furlongs in 48.60, the fifth fastest of 52 moves at the distance...Cool Conductor, winner of the Hawthorne Derby (GIII), worked four furlongs in :50 ...Pocahontas Stakes winner Punch Appeal breezed four furlongs in 52.60 for Steve Asmussen... Old Forester, winner of the Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream Park worked four furlongs in 50 flat...Real Dandy, second in the Risen Star Stakes (GII) went four furlongs in 52.40...2004 Cicada Stakes (GIII) winner Bohemian Lady worked five furlongs in 1:01.20...On The Acorn, third in the Bay Meadows Derby (GIII), went five furlongs in 1:04.60...Pro Prado, 13th in last year's "Run for the Roses," worked five furlongs in 1:03.60...Ready's Gal, second in the 2004 Frizette Stakes (GI), worked 1:01.40...Tempus Fugit, winner of the Likely Exchange Stakes at Turfway Park, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40, second fastest of 29 works at the distance...

(Turf: FIRM, Dogs Up) - 2002 Aegon Turf Sprint (GIII) winner Testify breezed four furlongs in 49.60...Taylor's Special Handicap winner Wrzeszcz, breezed four furlongs in 52 flat...Neil Howard sent out Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap winner America Alive and Bayou Breeders' Cup Handicap (GIII) winner Shadow Cast for five furlong works in 1:00.20. They tied for the fastest works of seven at the distance...Open Mind Stakes winner Anna Em went five furlongs in 1:01 flat...Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) runner-up Rush Bay worked five furlongs in 1:00.80... Mardi Gras Handicap winner Warleigh worked five furlongs in 1:02.40.