Atswhatimtalknbout rebounded from his dull fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby to run a huge race in the Kentucky Derby. Although he finished fourth again, he was second one jump past the wire. Ellis elected to keep the colt at Churchill Downs, and is scheduled to ship to New York three days before the Belmont.
Atswhatimtalknbout, who closed fastest of all to finish fourth in the Kentucky Derby, is being treated for a bruised foot that could jeopardize his chances of making the 135th Belmont Stakes."He has a little bruise on his right, front inside quarter, and we flew in the blacksmith to put on the same kind of plastic bar shoes he's worn before," trainer Ron Ellis said. "He's missed a few days of training, and tomorrow will be crucial. It all depends on how he travels."He worked really well the other day, and I went home feeling pretty good. But then my brother-in-law (trainer Paul McGee) called and said he's carrying a little bit of heat in his quarter. So we flew in (blacksmith) Wes Champagne, and he put on the bar shoes. They're new, and the plastic gives them a little more give. The last time he put them on, the horse didn't miss a day of training. Wes was on his way to France to shoe some horses for the French Derby, and he'll stop on the way back tomorrow and look at it to see if he has to do any more work. I don't mind missing a couple of days, but he's got another work coming up on Tuesday and I can't afford to miss any more days. I'm optimistic as long as he goes OK tomorrow."
