Homeboykris, shown here working out last week, will enter the Derby off a 63-day break (Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs)

Grade 1 winner HOMEBOYKRIS (Roman Ruler) breezed four furlongs in :48 2/5 under exercise rider Joe Deegan Wednesday morning in advance of Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1), much to the approval of his trainer, Richard Dutrow Jr.

"I couldn't be happier. He went really good. Jockey Joe was really happy with him," Dutrow said. "He said he got over (the track) the right way -- a very good breeze for him. It's all good."

The gelded sophomore turned in splits of :11 4/5, :23 4/5 and :35 3/5 on his way to the :48 2/5, after which he galloped out five furlongs in 1:02 1/5 over Churchill Downs' good dirt.

"I think the track was fine for him today. It was safe enough. It was still a little wet, but I took a shot to breeze him," said Dutrow, who postponed the gelding's final tune-up on Tuesday because of a muddy track. "I think we're OK. He's cooling out good. The rider is as happy as can be with him, so I'm as happy as I can be with him."

Backtalk is no stranger to winning at Churchill (Ted Terquinio/Horsephotos.com)

The announcement came Wednesday morning that neither Endorsement (Distorted Humor) nor Interactif (Broken Vow) would be entered for the Derby, leaving the way clear for BACKTALK (Smarty Jones) to make the field.

"We're fortunate that we're one of the last horses to get in," trainer Tom Amoss said after his charge drew into the Derby field. "Even though we didn't find out until Wednesday that we were going to get in the race, all along we've been planning as if we were going to run so it hasn't affected his preparation."

Backtalk amassed the bulk of his $225,916 in graded stakes earnings as a two-year-old, winning the Bashford Manor S. (G3) at Churchill Downs and the Sanford S. (G2) at Saratoga. In previous years, the earnings from those races alone would have all but assured a horse a spot in the Derby gate if they wanted it. With that in mind, Backtalk's connections intentionally gave him a late start this year so they would have a fresh horse for the first Saturday in May.

"Ironically the design was to have two starts before the Derby not realizing that earnings would come into question," Amoss said.

The plan still worked out, barely, and Backtalk is about to become the second career Derby starter for Amoss, along with Lone Star Sky, who finished 15th in 2003.

Make Music for Me will be making his dirt bow in the Derby (Paula Smith/Horsephotos.com)

Trainer Alexis Barba had mixed feelings when she learned Wednesday morning that MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein) would draw into the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field because of the injury suffered by Endorsement.

"It's very exciting, but you feel bad for the other person," said Barba, whose colt also benefited from trainer Todd Pletcher's announcement that Interactif would not be entered for the Run for the Roses. "You're glad you're in, but you're sad for the other person, that's just the way it is."

Barba, who will have the chance to become the first woman to saddle a Kentucky Derby winner, had entered Make Music for Me in Friday's American Turf (G2) at Churchill Downs in the event that her Pasadena S. winner didn't draw into the Derby field.

Stately Victor will be stretching for the wire on Saturday (Lauren J. Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

The pair of Derby contenders from the barn of Mike Maker -- DEAN'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) and STATELY VICTOR (Ghostzapper) -- arrived at Churchill Downs just before 10 a.m. (EDT) following a 15-minute van ride from Maker's Trackside Training Center base. All were in good shape following the short trip, according to their trainer.

Maker could be at an advantage if rain comes Saturday. He believes both of his horses will thrive on a wet surface, although neither have experience on it in races.

"He's going to come in under the radar," Maker said of Dean's Kitten. "He's not a flashy horse, not a big horse. He's not going to turn any heads and he's not going to impress you working. He's not going to pull any bad antics. He just blends into the crowd but, you know, if the track comes up wet it's going to be to his liking. Nothing's going to bother him, really. He's a very laid-back dude."