11:10 a.m.
Pill Popping

The best drama in Louisville today takes place in the racing office on the backside at Churchill Downs. It’s the pill pull to see what order post positions will be drawn later this afternoon in the made-for-television post position show on ESPN. A few minutes after 11 o’clock, Darrin Rogers, the new media director for Churchill Downs gets everyone’s attention.

The connections of 24 3-year-olds have ponied up $30,000 to pass the entry box. Only 20 can start, so Halo Najib, Tomcito, El Gato Malo, and Kentucky Bear are on the outside looking in in terms of graded stakes earnings and cannot start in the Derby. Then there are the equipment changes: blinkers off for Z Humor and Anak Nakal and blinkers on for Court Vision and Bob Black Jack.

Horsemen nervously shuffle around awaiting the random drawing. Trainer Barclay Tagg, who has two entered for the Run for the Roses with Tale of Ekati and Big Truck, recalls how he wound up with post six for Funny Cide in 2003.

“I wanted either six or 12, and (trainer) Bobby (Frankel) went up and took 12 with Empire Maker,” Tagg said. “That made it easy—I took six.”

Tagg reports Funny Cide is currently at Tagg’s stable in New York.

Jack Wolf of Starlight Stables, in with Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner Monba softly chants “one, one, one, one.”

He’s probably not alone.

The dreaded No. 20 pill is drawn fifth and matched to a sheet of paper that says “Gayego.”

Trainer Paulo Lobo shakes his head.

The next pill he sees may likely be an Excedrin. –E.H.

10 a.m.
Doin the Monba

 Todd Pletcher's pair of Derby runners arrive from Keeneland...here's Starlight Stable's Monba and assistant trainer Michael McCarthy

8:20 a.m.
The Big Tease

You never know what you’ll see on the backside at Churchill Downs on Derby week. A case in point:

In the corner of the Recreation Center behind the media center, a pair of women are receiving makeovers from some professional-looking beauticians. One woman is getting her face done while another is getting her hair done. Wow, there a lot of teasing going on there.

Jack Sturgeon is overseeing this…ahhh…makeshift transformation. His friend Jo Ross will do about 16-18 facials between now and the Derby. It’s big business. Jack tells us they are here to show what is going with Derby fashions this year.

We’re introduced to Gabriel Amar, the Derby hat designer par excellence. He’s the owner of the Frank Olive Hat Company. He’s touted as the most represented designer for Derby hats. He projects he’ll have thousands of hats sold for this year’s Run for the Roses.

This year’s model?

“First off, they need to be light; this year it is about being lightweight,” Amar says. That makes sense considering the size some of the women will be wearing this year.

How about colors?

“Aegean Blue; citreen, red,” Ross tells us. “Because it is the Kentucky Derby, spectator colors like black and white, navy and white.”

Interesting. What about Big Brown?

“Brown is good, too,” Amar says. –E.H.

Some kind of fashion

8:12 a.m.
En Garde

Jefferson County Sherriff's Deputy Howard Bische stands guard outside Barn 38. That would be trainer Steve Asmussen's home base, the location of Derby contenders Pyro and Z Fortune. Bische got in this morning at 5:45 a.m., and he'll be here until 6 p.m. It's a 12-hour shift, voluntary overtime, keeping a close watch on the Derby contenders and those around them.

Across the backside, the deputies have fanned out to cover a wide range of barns. Each Derby horse gets an assigned deputy. They come in today, leave Sunday.

Bische has been assigned to Z Fortune, which is fine with him, no complaints. He'll follow the horse to the track when it works. Follow him to the paddock when he schools. Follow him outside when he's getting a bath. Follow him pretty much everywhere, except into his stall.

"Last year I had Curlin, so you never know," Bische says. "It's not that bad of a job."

He steps aside for a moment to caution a wayward fan. "Ma'am? Could you step away from the concrete, please?"

En Garde!  - C.N.

8:00 a.m.
Button It Up

Tan-coated Churchill Downs employees surround the trunk of a vehicle near the backside press center. Norma O'Berst, a member of the Churchill Downs Host program, is handing out buttons.

"Court Vision! Colonel John! Tale of Ekati! Monba! Big Brown!" she yells.

Corresponding hosts shout back. "Here!" "That's me!" "Yep." "Right here!"

O'Berst tosses ziplock bags full of the pin-backed circles to her team. The hosts will distribute them to owners of Derby contenders.

O'Berst used to make the buttons herself, on a hand-punch. This year, popular demand has necessitated the use of commercialized methods; Churchill has mass-produced the pins with the intent of selling them on Derby day, $1 each. To the owners, however, they're complimentary.   

Once the buttons are distributed, O'Berst stops to talk about the host program.

"The program began 20 years ago, when (former track president) Tom Meeker saw it implemented at another track," she says. "The object was to make sure that the owners, who were all wrapped up in getting their horse to the Derby, had someone to help them experience the city and answer questions and get them from one event to the next, like the post position draw or the Derby winners' circle."

And hand out buttons. - C.N.

7:50 a.m.
The Book on Colonel John

Doug Cauthen of WinStar Farm hands us a copy of Colonel John’s ”Official Field Guide to Kentucky Derby 134.” The 28-page color brochure is a pretty clever little book.

As a marketing tool for the farm and for their stallions, WinStar had 200 copies produced. It’s no surprise the main stallion is Tiznow, the sire of Colonel John.

WinStar also has part ownership in another Derby starter, Court Vision. Court Vision’s recent half-mile work in :46 and change while wearing blinkers was “one of the two most impressive moves I’ve seen,” Cauthen reports.

The other?

According to Cauthen, that came last winter in Miami. Their budding star at the time was Any Given Saturday, and the colt worked in company with Cowtown Cat in :58 and change that day.

Cauthen and the WinStar team are loaded for the Derby, especially following Colonel John’s sub :58 move on Sunday. –E.H.

6:55 a.m.
Got the Horse Right Here

Paulo Lobo stands outside of Barn 33 and speaks to a small group of reporters led by the Louisville Courier-Journal's Jennie Rees and The Blood-Horse senior correspondent Steve Haskin. He trains Arkansas Derby (gr. II) winner Gayego, the Gilded Time colt whose prior racing experience came only over synthetic surfaces.

"Everybody is talking about the transition, but these horses are bred for dirt," Lobo says. "What they should be worried about is moving from dirt (to a synthetic surface) like when they have the Breeders' Cup in California."

A few moments later, speaking of a recent work, he remarks, "and then he went :36 and change easy -  easy, not open. It was like, ‘Sheesh!.'"

We think he likes his horse. - C.N.

Tuesday Evening
Dinette Set

The Trainer’s Dinner at the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Louisville is a Kentucky Derby staple on the Tuesday night before the Kentucky Derby. Sponsored by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTOB) and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA), the event brings together Louisville business types, Kentucky horsemen, and the trainers and connections of the Derby participants for a night of fun, food, and conversation.

This year, as is apropos, honors Carl Nafzger, a two-time Derby-winning trainer. He sent out Unbridled to win the 1990 edition and last year’s winner Street Sense. A video tribute draws plenty of applause…as does the introduction of Penny Chenery, owner of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat.

Of this year’s trainers, here are some of the excerpted highlights:

Co-emcee Chris Lincoln mistakenly introduces Pyro and Z Fortune’s assistant trainer as Michael McCarthy.who is the assistant to Todd Pletcher, not Steve Asmussen. Scott Blasi, Asmussen’s assistant, does a nice job of making a save of the awkward moment.

Eoin Harty, trainer of Colonel John says: “I had a lot of good times here with Bob (Harty was a former assistant to three-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert). It was a great experience. I’m fortunate to be up here tonight doing it on my own. I think Colonel John is doing well. He trained very fast here the other day. That’s what I can base my opinions on, so I’m quite confident.”

Jim Kasparoff, trainer of Bob Black Jack: “When I got this horse, I thought he was a route horse. He wasn’t built like a sprinter. He was long and a really, really relaxed type of horse. The first time I sent him out, he was able to relax and sit and he showed a different dimension. We hope with the extra distance, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Michael Matz, trainer 2006 winner Barbaro and this year’s hopeful Visionaire. Last year, his contender, Chelokee, didn’t make the cut last year by earnings: “With Barbaro, everything fell in place and it just went great. Last year, with Chelokee, one problem arose after another and it just wasn’t supposed to be. This year, we’re glad to be here and hope we have good luck.”

Bennie Stutts, trainer of Smooth Air: “I’m here because of the horse and because of the family that owns him, the Burns family from Chicago. They sent this horse to South Florida to me. There’s a reason for that…and I’m here now.

“You ask me if I’m excited? When I got this horse in the spring, I was thinking about the Stallion Stakes at Calder. I had no idea about this.”

Several trainers were no-shows at the dinner, including Steve Asmussen, Rick Dutrow, Todd Pletcher, and Nick Zito. –E.H.

 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.