2:00 p.m.
A Site to See

An electronic press release arrives in our in box. WinStar Farm announces they have set up a Web site for their Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Colonel John. One of the favorites for Saturday's Kentucky Derby, fans can go inside the WinStar camp for daily information at www.coloneljohn2008.com

Sir, Yes Sir!

 1:10 p.m.
Open Seating

 Its 46 degrees in Louisville on Tuesday; after the first race, there's plenty of open seating outside

 9:20 a.m.
The Dirt on Polytrack

Trainer Nick Zito is holding court with a ring of media members outside his barn. The two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer has two starters for Saturday’s running: Cool Coal Man and Anak Naktal. As outspoken as any other trainer in the game, Zito is talking about the subject of the year: synthetic surfaces.

We have a feeling he’s not a big fan.

Three weeks ago at Keeneland, even-money favorite Pyro, Big Truck, and Cool Coal Man all ran up the track in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) over Polytrack. All three will seek to bounce back in the Derby.

Zito has made his career by being the New York trainer whom the state of Kentucky has embraced. Throughout his great run in the Derby, that started with Strike the Gold in 1991, he has made a point to use Keeneland as steppingstone.

“I took my New York act to Keeneland and they adopted me in Kentucky,” Zito says. “For me not to run there, breaks my heart. But how can I run? I don’t have turf horses. I don’t have horses that like the Polytrack. It’s obvious. But I’ll do good over here (Churchill). I did good in New York and I did good in Florida. I’ll do good where there’s dirt and grass.

“You can’t even make it up – for those horses, not one of them to hit the board. But it’s a good subject. It keeps people talking. Racing needs that. Forget the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby is an event. For the sport in general, you have to talk about things like this. It’s a big issue. You’ve got 200 years of breeding that is going to be affected. They never ran on those kind of surfaces. Right now the Triple Crown is on dirt…and that’s good.” –E.H.

Zito dishs dirt on synthetic surfaces

 8:30 a.m.

Brown Town

 Big Brown takes to the track at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning

 8 a.m.
Ultimate Combo

Right by the main gap on the backstretch the Louisville Thoroughbred Club has set up a fundraising stand selling sausage and biscuits to the crowd on the backstretch. President, founder, and “benevolent dictator” of the club--Manny Cadima—mans the station. Taking a closer look, Manny shows us a bottle of “My Racing Heart" perfume.

Pork sausage and perfume…now that’s the ultimate combo.

We catch the scent from a spritz he puts on a piece of paper. Hey, not bad.

“We hooked with an outfit here in town called the Perfumery,” Manny says. “It’s $60 a bottle. It is also available in the Derby Museum and in the Churchill Downs gift shop.”

Cadima is now joined by Kate Wilt, executive director of My Racing Heart, a charitable foundation for retired racehorses.

“We have the Thoroughbred club, and we have our partnerships, which we call Thoroughbred Racing Nation, and the My Racing Heart Foundation, which is the latest edition” Cadima says. “So, we go from breeding them, to racing, and to retirement. We think we’re the first syndicate that has done that.”

“We realized we had our broodmares that were going to be aging out,” Wilt says. “We needed to start thinking about their retirement needs. It dovetailed into other interests that our charities had.”

“It’s one thing to talk about retirement, you have to actually be able to fund it,” Cadima said.

That’s where the perfume and sausage comes in.

During the course of the week, they hope to raise a few thousand dollars.

Sweet. –E.H.

Kate Wilt and Manny Cadima

7:37 a.m.
Quiet, Please

Trainer Graham Motion is available without any wait this morning, and there are no other reporters to share questions with. His barn has been quiet this week, which is fine with him. His starter, Adriano, has not raced since a March 22 score in the Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) over Polytrack. He's not exactly what you'd call a lock to win the Kentucky Derby.

And Adriano may not be quiet on Derby day. Although he's pleasant in the barn, he knows what happens at the races. And he gets excited about it.

"He's a very nice horse, very pleasant to be around in the barn, and anyone could get on and ride him when he's quiet, but he has a tendency to get very hot-blooded at the races," Motion says. "He gets riled up, so I try to be very repetitive about everything with him, and he's handling that quite well. I think it's a sign of class and maturity that he's responding well, he's growing up and still has a bit to do. He's only a May foal, so he's not really even three yet."

Motion says his colt will definitely school in the paddock, perhaps as many as three times, before the Derby. The pagentry of the crowd and the tension of the afternoon are definitely distracting, even to the most professional runners. 

"He tends to get hot, that's something he's always done even around the barn, so hopefully it'll stay cooler," the trainer remarks. "I think he'll be managable, though." -C.N. 

7:35 a.m.
Blanket Security

Roger Franklin and Dennis White are very, very happy as they close up their folding chairs and pack blankets into backpacks. It's the end of their eight-hour security shift at barn 42, where trainer H. Graham Motion keeps Adriano and four others prepping for the weekend's races.

"I can't wait to go home and get into a nice, warm bed," Franklin says. "It was pretty cold there around 4 a.m."

Franklin passed the dull hours by watching DVDs on his portable player. Showing this morning: Open Season and The Notebook.

"It's just something to pass the time," says Franklin. "The horse was fine, I got up to check on him every 10 minutes. Then I'd get back under my blanket."

Next time, we'll know to bring popcorn. -C.N.

7:30 a.m.
Parade Rest

Trainer Eoin Harty stops outside of Barn 41 to talk about Colonel John, his Derby starter. The Colonel is walking the shedrow after taking a light morning jog once around the track. He is not cranked up, but his strides are rapid and fluid as he swings along. He's definitely feeling his oats. 

"He had a really easy morning, and he was full of himself," Harty sid. "I was just glad I got him around in one piece without him doing something stupid. When you combine a day off with this cooler weather, it puts them on their toes."

Colonel John worked impressively Sunday, blowing through five furlongs in :57 4/5. This morning, he's on parade rest. -C.N.

 7:20 a.m.
Towers of Power

Television satellite towers near the media center on the backstretch

 7:10 a.m.
Standing Tall

In the stand by the main gap on the backstretch, Elliott Walden, the vice president of WinStar Farm is standing with the crew from the IEAH Stables. The IEAH crew got into town yesterday – they figure to cut wide swath through Louisville as owners of two Derby starters: Big Brown and Court Vision. WinStar is in on Court Vision and also owns Colonel John.

Richard Schiavo of IEAH braces the 38 degree weather. Michael Iavarone, wearing a borrowed jacket, braces the fact he’ll have 104 people to take care of Derby weekend.

“We came here unprepared for the cold, “Schiavo says. But they are prepared for the festivities: trainer’s dinner tonight, draw downtown Wednesday. “Thursday, we have most of our people coming in," he says.

“To come here is exciting, to be lucky enough to run one, let alone two, is beyond belief.”

Court Vision gallops by. Colonel John is on the track. It doesn’t get any better than this. –E.H.

6:50 a.m.
Barn 23

Big Brown, the “big horse” for this year’s Kentucky Derby stands in stall 12 in Barn 22. The whole area around his stall has been cordoned off with yellow police tape. A security guard is doing her best to keep away the evil doers.

Across the way, in Barn 23, trainer Steve Margolis is working with his stable of 30 horses. One of his charges, Change Up, may run in Saturday’s Humana Distaff (gr. I). Margolis used to be stabled in the new “House of Brown,” but is now across the row in a bigger barn.

He got a good look at Big Brown this winter while he was at Gulfstream Park.

“He’s a beast to look at,” Margolis says. “He’s a big, monster looking horse. He’s a beautiful horse; he has a lot of presence to him.”

However, Margolis won’t make a Derby prediction until they draw post positions Wednesday night.

“I’ll tell you what, though, I happened to be over there when Colonel John worked the other day (Sunday), because I was working a few of my own, and that horse, man, he didn’t even look like he was going that fast. He went in 57 and change. I saw him come from the eighth pole home and he looked good.” –E.H.

6:10 a.m.

I Heart Proud Spell


Outside of Larry Jones' barn, assistant Casey York keeps an eye on Eight Belles and Proud Spell. Jones is nowhere to be found. He's taking it easy this morning, won't be at the track until around 7 a.m.

"This is about the only vacation time he gets," York says. "After we go back to Delaware, he's back to getting on 12 head a day. This morning, he only has to gallop two after the break."

Those two would be the fillies, Eight Belles pointed toward a start in the Derby and Proud Spell heading to the Kentucky Oaks.

"I'll tell you one thing, if Proud Spell was the size of Eight Belles, then they'd really be in trouble," York remarks. "Eight Belles is big, she's built like a linebacker. Proud Spell's only knock against her is her size. That's one of the reason we're running her in the Oaks - if she got smashed around a couple times, it would just take the air right out of her. Eight Belles can handle a couple knocks and keep on running. But let me tell you something about Proud Spell - she may be little, but she's got heart." - C.N.


Pop the Cork

5:55 a.m.

Trainer David Carroll is in high spirits this morning. Yesterday, he learned that his horse will make it into the Derby field on the graded earnings list, thanks to the defection of Padua Stables' Behindatthebar. Denis of Cork worked well Monday morning, skipping over the Churchill Downs surface in :48 flat for a half-mile. Today he will walk the shedrow.

A longtime favorite of online Blood-Horse readers has been the "Derby Names" story, about the origins of each Derby contender's title. Carroll gives us the history behind Denis of Cork's.

"Mr. (William) Warren loves to name his horses after people, and he's good friends with priest in Ireland from County Cork whose name is Father Denis Casey, so he named the horse after him."

How appropriate is it, then, that Irish-born Carroll be assigned the traiing duties for the colt?

"Ah, it's ironic. I'm from County Meath and we don't like Corkmen," he says. "But I sure do like Cork horses."  -C.N.



Monday Evening
John With a Capital “E”

What is the Monday night before the Derby without dinner at John E’s Restaurant? The horsemen’s hangout has been a staple on this evening for years. With the sponsorship of Woodford Reserve and most of the Derby trainers on hand for a live radio broadcast with Paul Rogers, Caton Bredar, and Chris Lincoln, that makes for an instant Daily Double with the Thoroughbred set.

Some of the notable people and quotes from the evening:

First up was trainer Carl Nafzger, winner of the Derby last year with Street Sense and in 1990 with Unbridled. Last week, it was announced that Nafzger will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

“You think of who you are in there with: Whittingham, Nerud, you name them all…but then you think of the responsibility this sport has put on you,” he said. “Now, you’re representing the sport. It’s a humbling experience…and then you just keep your mouth shut.”

As for winning the Derby twice, he said: “I thought winning the Kentucky Derby the first time was the greatest trip I ever took,” he said. “It changed me from Carl ‘Who’ to Carl ‘Says.’ The second time around, it was…you know the train you’re on, you just slow down, and say, ‘I’m going to enjoy this.’ It’s a powerful ride.”

Ronnie Lamarque, co-owner of Recapturetheglory with trainer Louie Roussel, stole the show with his comments, remembering his glory ride 20 years ago with Preakness and Belmont (both gr. I) winner Risen Star.

“Twenty years ago, we were here with the greatest horse in America, Risen Star,” he said. “This year, we’re under the radar. We get no respect. 50-1-, 80-1, who cares? Anything can happen on the racetrack.”

"Our horse won a race called the Illinois Derby. They call it a ‘merry-go-round’ race,” he says. “They went around the track and no one improved their position. Maybe they were in the wrong place because we were standing at the finish line and it looked like a great merry-go-round to me.”

Then, as if on cue, Lamarque broke into song: “Way down yonder in New Orleans/Risen Star was the king of kings/Star was the talk of the town there/Oh, you know what I mean…”

Steve Asmussen is asked about both Pyro and Z Fortune.

“Pyro has a lot of experience; knows what is expected of him,” the trainer says of the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner. However, in his next start, Pyro ran 10th over the Polytrack in the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I).

“As far as the synthetic surfaces go, I’ve figured out how to train on them, but you have to figure out how to race on them.”

Assistant trainer Mike McCarthy subbed for Todd Pletcher, who will send out Monba and Cowboy Cal (one-two finishers in the Blue Grass) next Saturday.

“Todd has been sick for the last four or five days,” McCarthy reports. “I guess he has strep throat. He’s fairly happy about that because the last time he had strep throat, he won a classic with Rags to Riches. He’s hoping lightning strikes twice.”

Jockey E.T. Baird (Recapturetheglory) was the only rider on hand, and he spoke out about his late father, R.L. “Bobby” Baird, who rode Raymond Earl in the 1978 Derby with Affirmed and Alydar and was fifth to Needles aboard Pintor Lea in the 1956 running.

“When he rode against Steve Cauthen, who was the youngest rider (Affirmed), at the time, my father was the oldest rider,” he says. “They were side by side in the gate, and he went to the lead. Sensitive Prince went by him down the backside and Affirmed ended up winning it.

“My dad told me he really thought he had a chance in 1956,” Baird says. “He always told me he might have won it that year, but the horse took a bad step and ended up breaking a foot. The day he passed away, he said that was his Derby to win.” –E.H.

E.T. Baird with Erica Nordean

 11 a.m.
Inspiring Artist

Out by section 115, Maureen O’Donnell Lassiter is working hard with her sketch pad. One look up and then down at her paper, you can see her inspiration: the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs.

The Louisville native loves the Downs. She’s getting an up-close look today, but often times she’ll sketch the landscape from memory.

While not an “artist,” Lassiter has a PhD in microbiology. Right now she’s not doing anything with her degree, but relishing her role as a grandmother.

She may, or may not be, at this year’s Derby, but she does have a pick that is perfect for her artist’s palette.

“It’s a wide open race,” she says, now as a handicapper. “But I like ‘brown’ horse: Big Brown. The reason is a personal one. My son works for UPS and I figure, ‘what can Brown do for me?’” – E.H.

 9:09 a.m.
Flying Coach

Richard Migliore bounds through Barn 45 at Churchill Downs at a few minutes past nine. That’s late for a racetracker, but the jet-setting jockey has a valid excuse. He just got into town.

The California-based rider left the Left Coast at 11:30 and took a red-eye flight to Cincinnati, and then had to hop a flight to Louisville. Standiford Field in Louisville is just a few miles from the Twin Spires.

“I got to Cincinnati at 7:30 and I just got here now,” the Mig says. “I booked it so late, I wound up in coach in the middle of two people, but I was able to sleep a little.”

Mig made it town—and left Louisville on an 11:30 flight back to California—to work Bob Black Jack a half-mile over the Churchill Downs strip. It was a successful venture as they got in solid :48 3/5 drill in advance of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Ironically, the pair was ponied to the track by Kim Carroll, the wife of trainer David Carroll. Carroll trains Denis of Cork, who at the moment is 21st on the list by graded earnings and needs a defection to get into the big kahuna. The trainer kids that he instructed his wife to take them to the track…and then right to the outside fence.

That became a moot point by noon, when Behindatthebar was taken out of consideration for the Derby, putting Denis of Cork in at No. 20.

In his first six starts, Bob Black Jack was ridden by David Flores. Migliore was aboard for a runner-up effort in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

“At first, we figured David might ride him, but I told my agent that ‘I feel that we’re going to ride him,’” Mig says. “It was never a question in my mind; I just kind of knew.”

Migliore has had four mounts in the Derby throughout his illustrious career. His first mount, Eternal Prince in 1985, finished 12th. His best finish came in 2000 when he was fifth on Wheelaway. – E.H.

Team Bob Black Jack: Richard Migliore, trainer James Kasparoff, with an assit to Kim Carroll

9 a.m.
A Real Corker

Jockey Calvin Borel is holding court outside David Carroll’s barn. Winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby aboard Street Sense, Borel has just taken a tour of the Churchill Downs racing strip aboard the Carroll-trained Denis of Cork.

As of now, there is a very good possibility Denis of Cork will not run in the Derby. He’s on the outside looking in in terms of graded earnings, the yardstick when the racing office takes entries for the $2-million race tomorrow. Only the top 20 by graded stakes earnings get a shot at the roses.

“He’s peaking right now,” Borel laments. “This horse is getting better, and better, and better. Maybe we’ll get in.”

Carroll has a little rosier outlook on the situation.

“We got ourselves in this pickle…there’s no one to blame,” the trainer says in his thick Irish accent. “Mr. Williams (owner Warren) is a great man and was trying to do the best by his horse. You can’t point fingers anywhere. It is what it is.

“My best friend’s daughter is in the hospital right now, and that’s putting things into perspective. We hope she makes a full recovery. This is just a horse race. We’d love to be in it, but her recovery is more important at the moment to me. If I don’t run Saturday, the sun’s going to come up Sunday and I’ll have a nice, fresh horse.” –E.H.

7:00 a.m.
Smooth Recovery

Mount Joy Stables' Smooth Air takes to the track after a nailbiting weekend - the Benny Stutts Jr. trainee spiked a temp on Friday but is feeling his oats today. He is accompanied on his first circuit of the track by a stout pony who serves as a buffer for his antics as he twists and strikes, ears pinned in playful vice.

Later, back at the barn, Stutts and Mount Joy owner Brian Burns confer in front of the colt's stall. Even after getting some energy out on the track, Smooth Air is on edge. His hotwalker takes a snug hold on the lip chain when she brings him out of the stall.

"Now that's the horse I knew in South Florida," Stutts says. "The vet has been drawing blood every day and you could see the blood cells drop and spike back up after we put him on the antibiotics. He's 100% back to his old self; he's made a smooth recovery."

And as if to accentuate the point, Smooth Air pauses in his circuit of the shedrow to let out a healthy kick.Smooth recovery, indeed. -C.N.

 6:15 a.m.
Hangin’ With Mr. McGinness

The sentinel posted at Gate 10 this morning is an imposing character. Lee McGinness has been a security guard at Churchill Downs for nine years, but this is his first time at this post. In his years on the post, he hasn’t had any major trouble. One look at him and you see why. Not many would mess with Mr. McGinness.

During a series of corporate cutbacks, Churchill Downs let McGinness go, but has hired him back for the season. He’ll have a full plate this week.

In the pre-dawn of Monday morning, cars roll through past his guardhouse and he checks for horseman’s tags to allow entry onto the backstretch. His mantra this morning? “Show your tags, show your tags,” he shouts.

Someone without a tag offers weakly that he’s looking for someone with the Salvation Army. McGinness sends him away for another parking lot.
While he doesn’t wager, he does have a Derby horse.

“Big Brown,” he says. “That’s my mother’s maiden name.”

As good an angle as any. –E.H.

5:30 a.m.

Rookie Rewards

At the Circle K gas station on Third Avenue, horsemen fill their tanks and grab some fuel for themselves as well. A trainer, buying a water and a can of Red Bull, plunks a few power bars down on the counter. He is discussing the schedule of his filly, who will school in the paddock later in the morning, with a buddy who is clearly a rookie when it comes to backside affairs.

"This is great," the rookie remarks. "I'm going to learn about training and betting, all in one week."

The clerk attempts to ring up the power bars. No shot.

"Sir, I'm sorry," she says. "I can't sell these to you, they won't register."

The rookie is holding the same bar. "Try mine," he says.

"$1.49" flashes across the register. Bingo.

"Look at that," the trainer says. "Go figure, you grab the right bar. Must be beginner's luck starting already."

Following the rookie's first selections at the racetrack looks like a good hunch bet to us. -C.N.

5:50 a.m.

Scuttlebutt

Ron Soellner and Wanda Pate are cheery volunteers at Churchill this morning. Wanda drives the media shuttle from the Longfield Avenue parking lot to the backside press center; Ron rides shotgun. They've both been volunteering as shuttle drivers for about five or six years. Pate's husband drives a shuttle as well. Their time is compensated by donations to their associated charities - Pate volunteers through the Salvation Army, while Soellner is with Kiwanas.

"The best part of this job is meeting nice people such as yourself," says Soellner, who donated as many as 98 hours in a two-week span one year. "We're allowed to watch the Derby from the backside, which I like to do. We usually get a few people riding in here who give us the scuttlebutt."

Really? What's the scuttlebutt this year, Ron?

"Everyone's been pretty quiet so far, but it's the beginning of the week. Right now I like that Colonel horse."

"Colonel John," Pate puts in.

"Yeah, him," says Soellner. "I don't consider myself to be a horse person, but at this point I'd say there's about three to five horses that could legitimately win."

The shuttle pulls up to the press center. Soellner opens the door.

"You have a nice morning, now!" he says.

We will, Ron. We're off to find some scuttlebutt. - C.N.

Noon
Street Party

Between the paddock and the Paddock Pavilion, there’s a “Street” party going. Signing copies of the book “Kentucky Derby” are jockey Calvin Borel, trainer Carl Nafzger, and breeder/owner James Tafel. The team won last year’s Kentucky Derby with Street Sense.

Also with them is Churchill Downs’ John Asher.

Business is pretty brisk. A steady stream of fans go through the line getting autographs. Some have books, some just have the day’s program. It’s no big deal.

On offer today is a special, “gold” limited edition of 250 that are going for $60 a pop. After today, it’ll be $125 according to marketer Leonard Lusky.

Behind the table sit Gus Tafel and Wanda Nafzger, wives to the stars.

“Did I think he’d be this famous? No.” Gus says with a laugh. It’s gotten her something, though. An autographed copy of the book. –E.H.

9:45 a.m.
Thunder Over Louisville

Jockey agent Ron Anderson looks out over the backstretch and takes in the vista that is the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs. He was a longtime agent for Gary Stevens throughout the ‘90s and was with Jerry Bailey through his great run at the turn of the century. On Saturday, he’ll be represented by Garrett Gomez, who’ll be aboard Court Vision for trainer Bill Mott.

Anderson won’t be on hand for the Derby. “I’ve been on the road since last October and I need to get back home,” he says.

As an agent, Anderson has won three Kentucky Derbys. Two with Stevens (1995 with Thunder Gulch and ’97 with Silver Charm) and one with the late Chris Antley (Charimatic, ’99).

A favorite?

“Either Silver Charm or Charismatic,” Anderson says diplomatically.

What about Thunder Gulch?

“We were in Hong Kong when we picked that one up,” he says. “We had won the Santa Anita Derby with Larry the Legend and two days later he got hurt. (Trainer D.) Wayne (Lukas) called me. I was with Gary and I said, ‘We’re going to ride Thunder Gulch.’ And he said, ‘I’m not going to ride him.’ He had ridden him in the Remsen when Wayne first got Thunder Gulch from John Kimmel. He lugged in so bad the last part of it, he couldn’t ride him.

“Gary had kind of lost touch because he was riding over in Hong Kong,” Anderson continues. “I knew the horse was OK. I didn’t tell Wayne we wouldn’t ride the horse, I told him we would. Gary never refused to ride a horse while I worked with him, but this was the only one. I went back to L.A. and I got Mike Smith, who had been riding him, to call Gary and tell him it was OK.”

And…it was…more than OK on that day. – E.H.

9: 30 a.m.
Geaux Tigers

Mike Barnes is a big LSU fan. He can’t help but hide it. The exercise rider’s helmet has the distinctive “LSU” logo that adorns the Tiger’s football helmets.

“I bleed purple and gold,” the Louisiana native says. “I’ve been a fan since birth.”

The 31-year-old is an “all-around fan. Baseball, football, basketball, track.

“I did get to go to the LSU/Kentucky game this year,” he says with a sheepish grin. In an upset, Kentucky defeated the then No. 1 LSU Tigers at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington in three overtimes. “It was a long ride out of Lexington.”

LSU did bounce back to win the national championship. If you don’t believe, Barnes has a copy of the game on a DVD in his room above trainer Bob Holthus’ barn. Barnes hasn’t been with Holthus since birth, just the last six years. – E.H.

8:40 a.m.
Yellow Fever

The old saying goes, “if you don’t like the weather in Kentucky…wait 15 minutes.” With a forecast that is less than promising for Monday, Derby and Oaks hopefuls galore hit the track Sunday morning under ideal conditions: cool, sunny, and dry.

Before the renovation break, Court Vision was vision, working five furlongs in a minute and change. After the renovation break, the yellow saddle towels representing Derby runners were everywhere. Visionaire, Colonel John, Adriano, Bob Black Jack, and Tomcito all saunter through the gap by the chute to take to the Churchill Downs oval to stretch their legs.

Perhaps most telling was the towel worn by Proud Spell during her :58 2/5 drill. She was wearing the traditional pink one reserved for starters in the Kentucky Oaks. Moments later, breeder/owner Brereton Jones announces she’ll not go in the Derby, but in the Oaks instead.

Her stablemate in Larry Jones barn, Eight Belles, does work with a yellow Derby saddle towel. And work she does, going five furlongs in :58 1/5. –E.H.

8:15 a.m.
A Little Light Lifting

Inside Barn 43, trainer Larry Jones is getting ready to work his two fillies, Proud Spell and Eight Belles, for either the Kentucky Oaks or the Kentucky Derby. He works with a leather punch to adjust the stirrup length on a new saddle for jockey Gabriel Saez.

Then, he gets on his pony and take a lap or two around the shedrow. Jones’ daughter, Amanda, watches while holding her daughter Haven Shenski.

“You ready?” Larry asks Amanda as he makes another lap. He stops and lifts his 5-year-old granddaughter up and puts her in the saddle with him. They take two more laps of the shed several steps ahead of Proud Spell.

“That was fun,” Haven says after dismounting back into the arms of her mother.

Following Proud Spell’s work, breeder/owner, and former Kentucky Governor, Brereton Jones weighs in on his filly and his trainer.

“She’s right at the right stage of her development for this race and I could not not ask for her to be doing any better,” he says. He’s talking about the Oaks for Proud Spell.

“Larry Jones, and his wife, are two of the most fabulous people and their whole staff is fabulous. It’s a great team that they have. They deserve to win the Derby and they deserve to win the Oaks. If they’re both in the same race, they can’t do that. Let’s try to win both of them for them. That would be the ultimate…and to do it with two fillies, you’d have to say, ‘Ben Jones, move over.’”

It sure would make Haven proud of her Papaw. – E.H.

 7:25 a.m.
Stall Tactics

Trainer Al Stall Jr. watches as one of his horses, County Clerk, stands on the track in the chute.

“Fix that, that figure 8…slide it down a little,” he says to the exercise rider, who adjusts the equipment.

He then exchanges the latest battles with the new security crew at Churchill Downs with fellow trainer Tony Reinstedler. When they arrive, usually around 5:15 a.m., they enter Gate 10. Gate 10 was closed this morning.

Stall then switches gears to talk about this year’s Kentucky Derby.

“I think Colonel John looks like a standout,” the trainer says in his New Orleans drawl. “He looks really comfortable here. When’s his work? Today? If he turns in a ‘Barbaro’ type work, or even a ‘semi-Barbaro’ type work, I’ll be all in. He just looks really good to me. He’s got dirt all over him top and bottom. He just looks like a Derby horse to me. He’s big, long, and stretchy, and just has a smooth way of going…I like (trainer) Eoin Harty’s spot.” -E.H.

Last Week
Field Tripping

Living in the heart of the Bluegrass, it’s easy to catch Derby fever. For the sake of the Thoroughbred industry, let’s hope it’s contagious. Few things on this earth help to spread the spring ailment better than a trip to Keeneland – even on a dark day.

On Tuesday morning, Classroom VI from Providence Montessori School in Lexington was led on a field trip to the local track. The Keeneland Association does a great job of putting their best foot forward with groups, and Howard McKenzie has to be one of their better showmen. He leads the way down to the apron as a few horses continue to gallop out on the track in the bright sunshine.

“No, you can’t ride one the horses,” McKenzie patiently tells one of the children.

The kids tour the winner’s circle. They take turns getting on the jockey’s scales – they all make weight.

As a bonus to the morning’s field trip, one of the parents has arranged for a quick overview of one of the trainer’s barns. The kids—first, second, and third graders--troop out of the track through the paddock and down the path to Barn 35, home of the Steve Asmussen stable.

“No, you can’t ride one of the horses,” assistant Scott Blasi patiently tells one of the children.

Even though it is shipping day, Blasi takes the time to chat with the kids. He discusses the Derby and their chances with Pyro. The children hang in there for the most part, but some lose focus when Blasi starts to describe to them the joys of being a horseman: the hours, the travel, the hard work.

While they can’t ride one of the horses, they are introduced to the colt in stall No. 2. It is the No. 1 horse on the planet: Curlin. He’s getting done up in his travel bandages for his journey to Churchill Downs that afternoon. Curlin nibbles at his hay rack while Blasi describes last fall’s exploits and their recent trip to Dubai.

The next generation of racing fans, or better yet, owners and breeders, peer up at the Horse of the World. You can feel his aura.

I feel better about the future already.  -E.H.

 Scott Blasi addresses the next generation