Survivalist Breezes Sharp 5 Furlongs, But Will Pass on Derby

Ogden Mills Phipps' Gotham (gr. III) winner Survivalist breezed five furlongs in :59 3/5 at Belmont Park Monday morning, but trainer Shug McGaughey said he has decided not to run the colt in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and will point instead to the Withers Stakes (gr. II).

"He worked good, but I don't think I'm going to run in the Derby," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "I haven't spoken to the Phippses yet, but I'd like to just wait and run him in the Withers."

The one-mile Withers will be run at Aqueduct April 30.

Survivalist, who finished a well-beaten second to Bellamy Road in the Wood Memorial (gr. I), had turned in a disappointing half-mile work in :51 3/5 last week.

At Churchill Downs Monday, trainer Bobby Frankel made a last-minute decision to get in a half-mile work for High Limit before the bad weather moves in tomorrow. But, moments before the work, he decided instead to give the son of Maria's Mon a stiff gallop and let him come home the last quarter mile. Clockers caught High Limit coming home in :25.

Frankel said he would work High Limit in company over the weekend, possibly with Ghostzapper.

In other works Monday, Closing Argument, third in the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), breezed four furlongs in :49 1/5 on the training track at Keeneland for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, and at Churchill Downs, Derby Trial Stakes candidate Don't Get Mad worked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 for trainer Ron Ellis.

Afleet Alex is scheduled to work at Churchill Downs Tuesday with jockey Jeremy Rose aboard.

And in the biggest work of the morning, Giacomo, fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), drilled seven furlongs in 1:23 4/5 at Hollywood Park. Also at Hollywood Wilko, the third-place finisher in the Santa Anita Derby, worked seven furlongs in 1:26 4/5.

Meanwhile at Santa Anita, Santa Anita Derby winner Buzzard's Bay worked six furlongs in 1:12 flat.