American Lion drills bullet for Derby

AMERICAN LION (Tiznow), in his first work since winning the Illinois Derby

(G3) on April 3, drilled a half-mile in :46 4/5 on Wednesday morning at

Keeneland over Polytrack.

With jockey James Graham up, American Lion broke off at the 4 1/2-furlong

pole and reeled off fractions of :11 3/5, :22 4/5, :34 3/5 and out five furlongs

in 1:00 2/5, according to Keeneland clockers. The move was the best of 15 at the

distance.

"He worked good. He went a little faster than expected, but he did it so

easily," trainer Eoin Harty said.

"He'll work five-eighths here next week. We'll see how he's doing, but

probably (the work will come on) Tuesday or Wednesday and then he'll go on over

to Churchill Downs."

MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (Bernstein), who was sixth in the Blue Grass S. (G1) last

weekend, is scheduled to depart Keeneland for Churchill Downs on April 20,

according to Andy Durnin, assistant to trainer Alexis Barba. Owned by Ellen and

Peter O. Johnson, Make Music for Me could secure a spot in the starting gate for

the Kentucky Derby pending the defections of enough horses ahead of him on the

graded stakes earnings list, or he could race in the American Turf S. (G3) on

April 30.